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Carbon Capture & Sustainability Project Manager

Votorantim Cimentos North America (VCNA) • Canada • Added on Sep 9, 2026
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This role takes full ownership of the end-to-end lifecycle for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) initiatives across North American cement plants. You will move projects from early-stage feasibility and technical design through to final investment decisions and onsite execution, managing budgets, technology suppliers, and complex engineering workstreams.

Decarbonizing heavy industry is the frontier of climate action, and this position sits at the very heart of that transition. By implementing industrial-scale carbon removal technologies, you directly enable the company to reach its net-zero targets and help define the emerging CO2 economy within the building materials sector. Your work transforms one of the most carbon-intensive manufacturing processes into a model for sustainable infrastructure.

This suits someone who possesses a strong engineering background and a proven track record in heavy industrial capital projects. You should be a technical leader who thrives on navigating high-stakes regulatory environments and complex cross-border stakeholder networks.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary mission is to lead the technical and commercial development of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) projects. This involves evaluating emerging technologies and suppliers to determine their feasibility within specific cement plant environments. You will be responsible for the entire project lifecycle, including pre-FEED development, budgeting, and securing Final Investment Decisions (FID). Beyond technology, you will manage contract negotiations and ensure that all engineering designs meet rigorous safety and regulatory standards.

Key learning opportunities for this job

Candidates will gain deep expertise in industrial decarbonization technologies, which is one of the fastest-growing fields in sustainability. You will be at the forefront of the new CO2 economy, learning the nuances of carbon transportation and storage logistics. Additionally, the role offers exposure to international project management, involving cross-border coordination between Canada and the US. You will likely develop advanced skills in SAP systems and large-scale industrial procurement within a global corporate framework.

How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

The ideal candidate is a seasoned engineer with 7 to 10 years of experience managing large-scale capital projects in heavy industry, ideally within cement or manufacturing. A PMP certification is highly valued to demonstrate structured project management proficiency. Technical knowledge of fluid mechanics, process engineering, and industrial equipment like high-capacity fans and pumps is essential. You must be a collaborative leader capable of managing diverse teams across legal, financial, and environmental disciplines.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, emphasize your specific experience with process engineering and technology implementation in hard-to-abate sectors. Highlight any past projects where you successfully navigated complex regulatory or environmental permitting processes. Since this role involves significant stakeholder engagement, demonstrate your ability to translate technical carbon capture concepts into sound business cases for executive leadership. Show that you have a 'safety-first' mindset, as this is a core pillar of VCNA’s operational culture.

What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

The role is almost entirely focused on carbon mitigation and climate strategy. You will be the primary driver for reducing the company's Scope 1 emissions through technological intervention at the plant level. Secondary focus areas include circular economy principles, particularly regarding CO2 utilization where captured carbon is repurposed. You will also ensure that these massive infrastructure projects comply with evolving environmental regulations and corporate sustainability reporting standards.

What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

One of the greatest challenges will be balancing economic feasibility with cutting-edge technology that may not yet be fully standardized at an industrial scale. Navigating the differing regulatory landscapes between the US and Canada adds another layer of complexity. You may also face challenges related to stakeholder alignment, as these projects require significant capital expenditure and coordination between operations, procurement, and external technology partners who may have competing priorities.

How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?

A typical day might involve reviewing technical design specifications for a carbon capture pilot followed by a meeting with the procurement team to discuss RFP responses from technology vendors. You might spend time analyzing project budgets and timelines in SAP. Communication is a constant, ranging from internal updates with plant managers to external negotiations with CO2 storage partners. Frequent travel to plant sites (up to 40%) means some days are spent on the ground overseeing construction or commissioning phases.

What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?

Given the strategic importance of decarbonization, this role offers high visibility to senior executive leadership. Success here could lead to global roles within Votorantim Cimentos’ international sustainability or engineering divisions. You could potentially evolve into a Director of Decarbonization or lead even larger regional infrastructure programs as the company expands its sustainable waste management and agricultural solutions ecosystem.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will interact daily with plant operations and engineering teams to ensure project integration is seamless. You will also work closely with Legal and Procurement to manage high-value contracts and regulatory filings. Externally, your primary contacts will be technology suppliers, engineering consultants, and potentially government regulators or industry partners involved in CO2 transportation and storage networks.

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