Project Manager - America in Houston

Do you want to be a part of a forward thinking team, challenging how things are done today to find improved solutions for tomorrow? Are you energetic and driven, with real hunger to progress? The MDL brand is centred on a unique personality that shapes us in the development of our team and guides us on how we select who should be part of it. We live Ingenious Instinct by always being open minded to ideas, whatever they are and whomever they come from. We encourage creativity and problem solving, we challenge our team, our processes and our offering to customers, and we celebrate our successes.

About the Role

The Project Manager (America) is MDL’s sole project delivery authority in North America. The role leads all regional projects from award to close‑out, owns the commercial performance of each project, and is the primary MDL delivery interface with North America clients. The PM establishes and professionalizes localized project delivery in a region currently served from a new US base, reducing reliance on UK-based project management and the time‑zone dependency that comes with it. The Project Manager directs the Operations Coordinator (America), who manages in‑country mobilization, equipment logistics and customs clearance, local procurement, the Houma yard interface, and the UK project‑controls interface on their behalf. Together, the two roles form the core of MDL’s North America delivery capability, scaling with the regional pipeline.

Key Result Areas

• Lead delivery of all North America projects from award to close‑out; maintain a live Project Execution Plan (PEP) for each active project.
• Manage all project personnel in region—MDL technicians, subcontractors, and vessel operators—ensuring they are correctly briefed, equipped, and supported.
• Direct the Operations Coordinator (America) to maintain accurate project controls data across cost, schedule, procurement, and action tracking; use those outputs to actively manage project performance.
• Own mobilizations and demobilization through the Operations Coordinator, including the Houma yard interface, ensuring equipment and personnel arrive on time, on budget, and correctly cleared through US customs.
• Monitor project progress against PEP commitments; take corrective action promptly when schedule, cost, or quality is at risk—do not hold problems.
• Maintain the monthly Project Management Report (PMR) to the standard required for UK Global project delivery (GPD) review and, where applicable, client submission.

Experience & Qualifications

• 5+ years in project management within offshore services, subsea construction, or a related oil and gas sector - required.
• Proven delivery track record: multiple projects managed concurrently from award to close‑out, with demonstrable margin accountability.
• Commercial competence: hands‑on change control management, contract administration, and cost‑to‑complete forecasting.
• Strong client relationship management experience in the US Gulf / North America offshore market—required.
• Familiarity with the US offshore regulatory and operational environment (BSEE / USCG requirements, Jones Act considerations, and offshore operational standards)—required.
• Experience with rental or integrated services delivery models (as distinct from EPCI or long‑term charter operations) - strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, project management, or a related field — desirable.

Language

• English — fluent written and spoken — essential. All UK GPD reporting, governance, and commercial approvals are conducted in English.
• Spanish or Portuguese — useful for cross‑Americas working with the Brazil base and Gulf of Mexico clients — desirable.

Systems

• Microsoft 365 suite: Outlook, Teams, Excel, Word, Project, SharePoint — required.
• Focal Point ERP — required for project management and cost reporting; training provided if not already familiar.

Personal Attributes

• Commercially sharp: identifies scope growth early and acts on it — does not let variations drift unpriced.
• Self‑directed: operates at full capacity in region without daily oversight from UK; escalates decisions, not problems.
• Technically credible: conversant enough with MDL equipment and operations to have substantive delivery and client conversations.
• Team enabler: creates the conditions for the Operations Coordinator to do their job effectively — does not bypass or duplicate their function.
• Resilient and adaptable: operates in a complex, multi‑stakeholder environment where priorities can shift rapidly, and helps build a new regional capability from the ground up.