The Project Support Lead is a proactive, analytical, hands-on role that enhances the effectiveness of Project Managers and project teams by strengthening coordination, follow-through, and execution support across projects. This role brings structure, consistency, and visibility to essential project operations while also directly contributing to day-to-day project support activities as needed—allowing Project Managers to remain focused on leadership, planning, decision-making, and client engagement.
While this role helps shape how project support is delivered, it is not purely strategic in nature. The Project Support Lead is expected to actively engage in project support work, particularly for complex or high-priority efforts.
The Project Support Lead serves as a strategic partner to Project Managers by ensuring coordination-heavy and execution support activities are handled intentionally, consistently, and driven through to completion. This role:
• Acts as a steward of project support activities across the project portfolio
• Helps distinguish between project leadership responsibilities and execution support needs
• Brings clarity and structure to follow-through, documentation, tracking, and logistics by both defining and performing support work where appropriate
• Translates project workload, complexity, and risk into clear support priorities
• Balances hands-on execution with continuous improvement of project support practices
• Operates effectively in evolving and partially defined environments
Strengthen Project Execution Support
• Actively support projects by managing deliverable tracking, maintaining documentation, assisting with closeout activities, and coordinating follow-ups across teams
• Assess project workflows and determine where direct, hands-on support will improve flow, reliability, and follow-through
• Ensure critical execution details are organized, visible, and progressing as expected
Enable Project Managers
• Take ownership of routine coordination and follow-through tasks that do not require PM-level involvement
• Prepare status updates, summaries, and action trackers that support informed decision-making
• Allow Project Managers to remain focused on leadership, stakeholder engagement, and risk management
Drive Consistency and Visibility
• Implement and maintain tracking tools, templates, and communication practices
• Improve visibility into commitments, milestones, and outstanding actions
• Support timely and organized project closeout activities
Lead and Guide Project Support Resources
• Provide clear direction, prioritization, and context to Project Support Specialists
• Step in directly when workload, complexity, or timing requires experienced, hands-on support
Improve the Support Model Over Time
• Identify recurring coordination challenges and adjust processes accordingly
• Balance immediate execution demands with longer-term improvements to how project support is delivered
What Success Looks Like
• Project Managers consistently spend more time on leadership, planning, and strategic decision-making
• Coordination, tracking, and closeout activities are handled in a predictable, well-organized manner
• Project support efforts are visible, intentional, and aligned across projects
• Project Support Specialists operate with clarity, focus, and accountability
• Project teams experience dependable, high-quality internal support
• Projects move smoothly through execution and closeout with fewer delays tied to operational follow-through
• Typically 5–9 years of experience in project coordination, project controls, operations support, or a related role within an engineering, construction, or professional services environment
• Demonstrated experience working closely with Project Managers and cross-functional technical teams
• Proven ability to operate effectively in evolving or partially defined environments, including assessing needs, identifying gaps, and developing practical solutions without step-by-step direction
• Strong organizational, analytical, and follow-through skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and shifting priorities
• Effective communicator with the ability to synthesize information and provide clear, concise updates for project teams and leadership
• Customer-service-oriented mindset with a focus on enabling project teams and improving execution consistency
• Formal education preferred in Business, Project Management, or a related field; equivalent experience, training, or professional development will also be considered
Skills Required
- 5-9 years experience in project coordination, project controls, operations support, or related role within engineering, construction, or professional services
- Demonstrated experience working closely with Project Managers and cross-functional technical teams
- Proven ability to operate in evolving or partially defined environments; assess needs and develop practical solutions without step-by-step direction
- Strong organizational, analytical, and follow-through skills; ability to manage multiple workstreams and shifting priorities
- Effective communicator able to synthesize information and produce clear, concise updates for teams and leadership
- Customer-service-oriented mindset focused on enabling project teams and improving execution consistency
- Experience implementing and maintaining tracking tools, templates, communication practices, and managing deliverable tracking, documentation, and closeouts
- Formal education in Business, Project Management, or related field (equivalent experience accepted)
What We Do
Zachry Nuclear Engineering, Inc. provides comprehensive engineering, design, and project management services for the nuclear industry. The company supports the modification of existing nuclear power plants and the development of new facilities, including small modular reactors. With over 50 years of experience, it offers expertise in electrical, mechanical, structural, and controls engineering, as well as turnkey construction and maintenance services.
