Director of Operations, Transportation (Canada)

Jacobs; Ottawa; Hybrid; CAD 171,000 - 278,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work policy

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking a visionary leader to shape the future of transportation infrastructure across Canada. The role reports to the Executive Director of Operations and includes direct reports from project and department leaders, with travel across Canada.

You will grow market presence, apply financial insights for growth, and foster talent development while promoting a culture of care and inclusion. The position supports hybrid work and requires leadership across multiple offices and client sites.

Qualifications

• Minimum 12 years in leadership roles in operations for infrastructure and/or transportation markets.
• Engineering or business degree.
• Proven success delivering large, complex projects and programs.
• Strong financial acumen, including P&L accountability.
• Experience driving operational improvement and sustainable growth.
• An inclusive, people-focused approach with a passion for coaching, developing talent, and fostering high-performing teams.
• Ability to balance strategic priorities, adapt to changing needs, and execute effectively in a dynamic environment.
• Commitment to advancing global and digital delivery capabilities.
• Strong understanding of transportation market trends, clients, and design-build delivery.

Responsibilities

• Grow our market presence through strategic partnerships and strong client relationships, working closely with sales partners, regional technologists, and design-build teams.
• Apply strong business and financial insights to achieve key performance objectives and identify opportunities for sustainable growth.
• Foster collaboration across the enterprise while coaching, mentoring, and developing future talent.
• Champion attraction and retention initiatives, cultivating a culture of care, belonging, and professional growth that supports high engagement and low attrition.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Financial acumen

People development

Change management

Communication

Education

Engineering or business degree

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

Are you a visionary leader ready to shape the future of transportation infrastructure across our Canada geography? Do you embrace innovative solutions to provide our clients and communities with the very best from a worldwide delivery team? If you are - come join our purpose-driven team where innovation, sustainability, and people-first leadership drive everything we do.

This is a fast-paced role reporting directly to the Executive Director of Operations and will have direct reports inclusive of Department Leaders, Managers of Projects, and select others. The successful candidate will bring a collaborative approach to cultivating partnerships with a wide range of cross-functional teams and leaders from finance, sales and people partners including HR, Talent Acquisition, Health & Safety, and Jacobs Employee Network (JEN) leaders.

Role can be based in any of our major Canadian offices, (Toronto, Vancouver/Burnaby, Calgary, Ottawa) and as a people leader you will be in our offices, projects sites or client offices 3 days a week as per our hybrid policy. You will need the ability to travel across Canada to meet our clients and your Jacobs colleagues.

In this role, you will

• Grow our market presence through strategic partnerships and strong client relationships, working closely with sales partners, regional technologists, and design-build teams.
• Apply strong business and financial insights to achieve key performance objectives and identify opportunities for sustainable growth.
• Foster collaboration across the enterprise while coaching, mentoring, and developing future talent.
• Champion attraction and retention initiatives, cultivating a culture of care, belonging, and professional growth that supports high engagement and low attrition.

Here's what you'll need

• Minimum 12 years in leadership roles in operations for infrastructure and/or transportation markets
• Engineering or business degree
• Proven success delivering large, complex projects and programs
• Strong financial acumen, including P&L accountability
• Experience driving operational improvement and sustainable growth
• An inclusive, people-focused approach with a passion for coaching, developing talent, and fostering high-performing teams
• Ability to balance strategic priorities, adapt to changing needs, and execute effectively in a dynamic environment
• Commitment to advancing global and digital delivery capabilities
• Strong understanding of transportation market trends, clients, and design-build delivery

Innovation, People, Culture & Inclusion

• If selected for this role, how would you build a culture that promotes innovation, inclusion, collaboration, and accountability? How would you develop talent, strengthen leadership capability, foster diversity of thought, and create an environment where people are engaged and empowered to perform at their best?

Delivery Excellence, Operational Performance & Profitability

• How would you drive delivery excellence, operational effectiveness, and profitable growth across the business? What strategies would you implement to improve project execution, increase margins, optimize resource utilization, and leverage global delivery capabilities?

The closing date for this opportunity is Monday, November 16, 2026.

Posted Salary Range Minimum

171,000.00

Posted Salary Range Upper

277,650.00

The base salary range for this position is $171,000.00 to $277,650.00. This range reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across British Columbia, Canada locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.