Director of Geotechnical Engineering

Plutonic Search Group; Calgary; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible employee ownership program

Job summary

Plutonic Search Group in Canada is seeking a Director of Geotechnical Engineering to lead and grow a geotechnical practice, with emphasis on dam safety, containment systems, and infrastructure. You will work with senior leadership to define strategy and deliver high-impact projects.

This senior role combines technical authority, team development, client engagement, and business growth, offering opportunities to shape projects across Western Canada and to influence regulatory and industry

Qualifications

• 15+ years of consulting geotechnical experience.
• Expertise in dam safety, embankment design, and containment systems.
• Strong leadership, mentoring, and team development abilities.
• Proven business development and client relationship skills.
• Excellent report writing and stakeholder communication.
• Knowledge of Canadian regulatory practices for dam safety.
• Commitment to health, safety, and wellness.

Responsibilities

• Lead as senior technical leader for dam safety projects.
• Direct and mentor a high-performing geotechnical team.
• Support growth and expansion of the geotechnical practice.
• Build relationships with clients, regulators, suppliers, and industry stakeholders.
• Contribute to firm reputation and visibility in geotechnical sector.
• Collaborate with environmental and consulting teams on cross-disciplinary opportunities.
• Provide technical oversight and QA across complex projects.

Skills

Geotechnical leadership

Dam safety expertise

Business development

Client engagement

Team mentoring

Technical reporting

Regulatory knowledge

Education

P.Eng. designation

Job description

Our client is an employee-focused Canadian environmental and engineering consulting firm with an established presence across Western Canada. The organization is committed to technical excellence, collaborative project delivery, and sustainable growth, offering professionals the opportunity to help shape and expand specialized engineering services within a multidisciplinary consulting environment.

The Opportunity:

As the Director of Geotechnical Engineering, you'll work closely with senior leadership with the mandate to build and grow a geotechnical engineering practice. You'll provide strategic direction for geotechnical engineering services with particular emphasis on dam safety, containment systems, and related infrastructure.

This senior leadership role is the ultimate combination of technical authority, team development, client engagement, and business growth responsibilities.

What You'll Do:

• Serve as the senior technical leader for dam safety and containment system engineering projects.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of geotechnical professionals.
• Support the growth and expansion of the geotechnical engineering practice.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, regulators, suppliers, and industry stakeholders.
• Contribute to the firm's reputation and visibility within the geotechnical engineering sector.
• Partner with environmental and consulting teams to identify cross-disciplinary opportunities and support business development initiatives.
• Provide technical oversight, guidance, and quality assurance across complex geotechnical projects.

What You'll Bring

Non-Negotiable

• Minimum of 15 years of consulting geotechnical engineering experience with expertise in:
• Geotechnical site investigations;
• Embankment and impoundment design;
• Dam safety engineering and Canadian regulatory practices;
• Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation.
• Demonstrated business development success and a well-developed network of clients, regulators, and industry contacts within the Canadian geotechnical and dam safety sectors.
• Proven leadership experience managing and mentoring technical teams;
• Excellent report writing, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills;
• Strong commitment to health, safety, and wellness;
• Highly organized, adaptable, and committed to delivering high-quality work;

Nice to Haves

• Experience with landfills, containment ponds, geomembranes, and geosynthetic systems.
• Experience with Engineer of Record (EOR) services.

What's In It For You

• Joining a people-focused organization that values work-life balance and professional development.
• Opportunity to establish and shape a growing geotechnical engineering practice.
• Significant influence on technical direction, team development, and business growth.
• Exposure to multidisciplinary projects alongside environmental and consulting professionals.
• Flexible employee ownership program with opportunities to participate in the future success of the business.

The Plutonic Take

This opportunity is well suited to a senior geotechnical leader with deep dam safety and containment systems experience who wants to help build and shape a growing practice. It offers a rare combination of technical leadership, team development, and strategic influence within a collaborative consulting environment.