Director Project Management

Distech Controls' success and reputation are fueled by our world-class team of employees. We look for qualified individuals who are striving to succeed and that wish to actively contribute to our continued growth. Distech Controls values its team members and offers them a modern, motivating work environment, and competitive salaries and benefits.

Who is Distech Controls?

Distech Controls is a Canadian-based company located in Brossard, on the South Shore of Montreal (QC), with a European headquarter in Brignais (Lyon), France. We are proud to be part of the Acuity Brands' family since 2015. Our mission is to connect people with intelligent building solutions for better health, better space, better efficiencies through our forward-thinking technologies and services. Our passion for innovation, quality and sustainability guides our business on a daily basis, as we light the way to a brilliant, productive and connected world.

Why Work for Distech Controls?

• Innovative driven company
• Dynamic workplace
• Open minded company
• Fast-paced company
• Modern work environment designed for our employees
• Indoor and outdoor bistro areas, lounges, coffee stations

DCI - Distech Controls Inc. (North American headquarter)

• Continuous professional development program
• Extensive benefits, including annual performance bonus, group insurance and retirement plan
• 5 floating days and 3 weeks' vacation (prorated) from year one'
• Reward programs
• LEED-Certified building
• Foosball and ping-pong tables
• Situated near quartier Dix30
• On-site gym
• Daily fresh fruit
• Hot and cold beverages stations
• Accessible transportation services including OPUS card reader onsite
• Deep frozen meal prepared by culinary chefs
• Rewards program

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Project Management Leader to oversee and drive the successful delivery of projects that encompass both software and hardware components.

This position reports to the VP of R&D and will be responsible for leading a team of project managers, that work across diverse technical areas, managing project timelines, budgets, and resources, while ensuring alignment with organizational goals. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership skills, a deep understanding of project management methodologies, and a proven track record of delivering complex projects on time and within budget.

Key Tasks & Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

• Leadership & Team Management : Lead the R&D project management team, ensuring effective communication, collaboration, and performance. Provide coaching, mentorship, and development opportunities to team members. Identify and manage team members skills and competencies through a comprehensive development plan.
• Project Oversight & Execution: Oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of projects involving both hardware and software elements, ensuring they meet scope, quality, timeline, and budget objectives.
• Stakeholder Management: Act as a senior point of contact for stakeholders at all levels, ensuring clear communication and alignment on project goals, progress, and expectations.
• Risk & Issue Management: Implement PMO best practices, such as identifying and reporting potential risks and issues specific to both hardware and software components (e.g., supply chain delays, compatibility issues, technical roadblocks) and develop proactive solutions to mitigate them,
• Process Improvement: Continuously evaluate, adapt and improve project management & NPI Processes, tools, and techniques to increase productivity, quality, and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Reporting & Documentation: Prepare and deliver regular project status reports to senior management, highlighting key metrics, progress, risks, and issues. Ensure that all project documentation is maintained accurately and thoroughly.
• Resource Allocation & Budgeting: Manage project resources effectively and within budget constraints. Monitor and control the operational R&D budget and performance metrics, ensuring costs & KPIs are tracked, managed, and aligned with targeted goals.
• Strategy & Alignment: Ensure that all projects are aligned with organizational goals and strategic initiatives.

Skills and Minimum Experience Required

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Bilingual French and English: To serve clients and external service providers across Canada and USA
• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification or equivalent.
• 8-10+ years of experience in project management, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, etc.).
• Proven experience in delivering complex projects that include both hardware and software elements. Proven experience delivering connected products and solutions with both cloud and edge technologies.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficient in project management software (e.g., Microsoft Project, Jira).
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to thrive under pressure and adapt to changing environments.

Additional Qualifications for Hardware and Software Projects:

• Expertise technique : Comprhension approfondie des processus de dveloppement matriel et logiciel, y compris la conception, le prototypage, les tests et le dploiement. Capacit faire le lien entre les quipes techniques (ingnieurs hardware, dveloppeurs de logiciels) et les non techniques.
• Collaboration interdisciplinaire : Exprience dans la gestion de projets qui fonctionnent simultanment dans le domaine hardware et software et capacit d'en assurer une communication et une synchronisation efficaces entre les deux. Gestion du cycle de vie des produits : Solide comprhension du cycle de vie du produit, de la conception la production, y compris la conception du matriel, le dveloppement de logiciels, le prototypage, les tests et la fabrication. Capacit quilibrer le dveloppement itratif de logiciels avec les exigences plus structures du hardware.
• Gestion du budget et des cots des projets: Exprience dans la gestion de budgets de projets qui incluent la fois les cots du matriel et des logiciels. Une bonne comprhension des dfis uniques que chacun prsente en matire d'approvisionnement, de production et de dveloppement.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience in an industry delivering complex connected products, software, and systems.
• Advanced project management certifications (e.g., PMI-ACP, Scrum Master, etc.).
• Familiarity with Agile practices (including Shape-up methodology) in a hardware-software project environment.
• Experience with hardware design software (e.g., CAD tools) or software development platforms (e.g., IDEs, version control systems).
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes and constraints related to hardware development.

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Distech Controls Inc. is owned by Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc., which is located in the United States. These companies share a global recruitment system on which the data you provide will be stored, and which will be subject to the laws of the United States of America.

Knowledge of French is required for positions permanently located in Quebec so incumbents can communicate with their colleagues and suppliers in Quebec as necessary. French-language training is offered to all incumbents in permanent positions in Quebec who do not have a good knowledge of French.

Another language is required for this position in order to communicate with clients, partners and colleagues, who are predominantly located outside Quebec. The company has very few clients in Quebec and must therefore constantly use another language to communicate outside Quebec.