Operations Leader, Edmonton Engineering

McElhanney Ltd.; Edmonton; Hybrid; CAD 180,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Maternity / parental leave top-up

RRSP matching

Job summary

McElhanney Ltd. is seeking an Operations Leader to guide the Edmonton Engineering branch. You will shape strategy, grow market presence, and lead a multidisciplinary team toward sustainable profitability.

You will oversee client relationships, cross-selling opportunities, and regional collaborations, while maintaining a strong safety and quality culture across the branch and region.

Qualifications

• Professional accreditation in a technical field with eligibility for registration in Alberta where applicable.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in consulting engineering/environmental consulting or related professional services.
• 5+ years of leadership with accountability for people, financials, and operations.
• Strong knowledge of Edmonton and surrounding regional market and municipal infrastructure opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Shape and lead the Edmonton Engineering branch strategy and pursue sustainable growth.
• Strengthen client relationships, pursue cross-selling, and expand regional presence.
• Lead workforce planning, recruitment, succession, and performance development.
• Manage branch operations and financial performance including budgets and KPIs.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Business development

Client relationship

People management

Education

Professional accreditation (relevant technical field)

Tools

Budgeting

Forecasting

Job description

The Opportunity: As the Edmonton Engineering branch continues to advance its growth and diversification strategy, building on the strong foundation, and as part of a planned leadership transition to support the branch's future growth and long-term business strategy, we have a leadership opportunity for an enthusiastic, collaborative, and business-minded leader to provide strategic direction and lead its people, operations, financial performance, client relationships, and business development.

We are seeking a seasoned leader with a proven track record of leading diverse, multidisciplinary teams and building strong relationships within Edmonton, Central and Northern Alberta, and the surrounding markets. The successful candidate is motivated by the opportunity to work with regional and company leaders to strengthen existing client relationships, develop new opportunities, expand service offerings, and support sustainable growth of one of the largest employee-owned engineering consulting companies in Western Canada.

McElhanney's Edmonton Engineering branch is a well-established, multidisciplinary operation comprising more than 80 professionals who serve public and private sector clients throughout Edmonton, the surrounding region, and across Alberta. As part of McElhanney's Prairies North Region, the branch brings together expertise in municipal and transportation engineering, water resources, civil, land development, bridges and structures, electrical and mechanical engineering, landscape architecture, environmental services, materials testing, and construction services.

The Prairies North Region is one of McElhanney's growth-oriented regions, bringing together established, multidisciplinary operations across several Alberta communities. Regional teams provide engineering, geomatics, environmental, and other technical services to public and private sector clients across municipal infrastructure, transportation, energy, resource development, land development, and industrial markets. The region operates through a unified leadership approach that promotes collaboration, collective performance, individual accountability, and the sharing of people, expertise, client relationships, and opportunities across branches and disciplines.

As Operations Leader, you will lead a team of consulting professionals in an established and evolving market while identifying opportunities to expand service offerings, client relationships, and geographic reach. You will execute strategic objectives and deliver results across McElhanney's four cornerstones: People & Communities, Clients & Partners, Processes & Technology, and Financial. You will cultivate a positive and accountable work culture, champion safety and quality, and serve as a catalyst for excellence within the branch, region, and McElhanney.

Central to your success will be your ability to champion a unified, One McElhanney mindset. You will work with the Regional Vice President, regional leaders, and teams across the company to foster collaboration, share expertise and resources, connect opportunities across service lines, and achieve the best outcomes for our people, clients, communities, and employee-owned company. This approach aligns with the regional strategy of making collaboration the default, strengthening multidisciplinary delivery, and sharing knowledge and technical capabilities across Alberta.

Application deadline: October 30, 2026, 11:59pm

What You’ll Do:

Working closely with the Regional Vice President and the Prairies North Regional Leadership Team, you will shape and lead the Edmonton Engineering branch strategy, strengthen relationships with clients and communities, and pursue sustainable growth across Alberta and Western Canada. As a collaborative leader, you will champion a One McElhanney approach by connecting people, expertise, clients, and opportunities across disciplines, branches, and regions so that we grow stronger together.

Business and Strategic Leadership

• Set the strategic direction for the Edmonton Engineering branch in alignment with regional and corporate priorities.
• Collaborate with the RVP, Regional Leadership Team, and leaders across McElhanney to develop and execute strategies that support sustainable growth.
• Translate strategic priorities into clear branch objectives, measurable outcomes, and effective action plans.
• Identify emerging business opportunities, service gaps, and areas where McElhanney can broaden its impact.
• Champion a One McElhanney mindset by connecting capabilities across the company, sharing opportunities, and supporting collective success.
• Promote collaboration across disciplines, branches, and regions to deliver integrated solutions and create greater value for clients.

Clients, Markets, and Community

• Strengthen relationships with existing clients while developing new relationships and expanding McElhanney's presence in priority markets.
• Identify and pursue high-value cross-selling opportunities by bringing together complementary expertise from across the company.
• Support business development activities, including strategic pursuits, proposal development, client engagement, and relationship management.
• Represent McElhanney at industry, professional association, and community events, serving as an ambassador for the company.
• Build a strong understanding of evolving client, market, and community needs and position the branch to respond with practical, innovative, and multidisciplinary solutions.
• Work collaboratively with teams across McElhanney to pursue opportunities that benefit multiple branches, disciplines, and regions.

People and Branch Leadership

• Build, lead, and support an engaged, inclusive, accountable, and high-performing branch culture.
• Establish effective workforce plans that address current and future business needs, including recruitment, succession planning, performance management, employee development, and retention.
• Support employees in growing their careers, developing their leadership capabilities, and reaching their full potential.
• Encourage knowledge-sharing, mentoring, and collaboration across teams, disciplines, and geographic locations.
• Create an environment where employees understand how their work contributes to branch, regional, and company-wide success.
• Model McElhanney's Purpose and Values by caring for our people, clients, and communities; demonstrating grit, passion, and perseverance; prioritizing safety and respect for all; and taking ownership of results.

Operational and Financial Leadership

• Lead the branch’s operational and financial performance, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and established key performance indicators.
• Manage annual budgets, quarterly forecasts, financial reporting, invoicing, collections, and overall branch financial health.
• Lead workload and resource planning to support effective project delivery, employee sustainability, and collaboration across the company.
• Promote consistent and effective operational practices, including safety, quality management, project delivery, risk management, and continuous improvement.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, strengthen accountability, and enhance the experience of employees and clients.
• Collaborate with other branches and disciplines to share resources, balance workloads, leverage specialized expertise, and deliver the best possible outcomes for McElhanney and its clients.

What You’ll Bring:

• Professional accreditation in a technical field relevant to McElhanney's business, with eligibility for registration in Alberta where applicable.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in consulting engineering, environmental consulting, or a related professional services environment.
• 5+ years of leadership experience with accountability for people, financial outcomes, and operational performance.
• Strong knowledge of Edmonton and the surrounding regional market, including municipal infrastructure, transportation, land development, and other public- and private-sector opportunities relevant to the branch.
• Demonstrated success working with municipal clients and navigating complex, multidisciplinary infrastructure and development opportunities.
• A strong track record of delivering business performance, market growth, and building trusted, long-term client relationships.
• Demonstrated success leading and developing multidisciplinary teams, building leadership capability, and supporting succession.
• Proven ability to attract, develop, engage, and retain high-performing employees.
• Experience managing business and operational performance within a consulting or professional services environment.
• A demonstrated commitment to community involvement and building meaningful relationships within Edmonton and the surrounding region.
• A collaborative, enterprise-wide perspective, with the ability to connect clients and opportunities with expertise across McElhanney's disciplines, branches, and regions.

Skills & Attributes for success:

• Proven people leader with the ability to develop teams, drive performance, and lead through change.
• Strong business, financial, and commercial acumen, coupled with sound judgment and decision-making capabilities.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, with a track record of business development and client growth.
• Entrepreneurial and strategic mindset with the ability to identify opportunities and support sustainable growth.
• Collaborative, enterprise-minded leader who champions a One McElhanney approach across regions, disciplines, and service lines.
• Committed to safety, quality, accountability, and fostering McElhanney's employee-owned culture.

What We Offer:

The salary range for this position is $180,000 to $225,000 per annum along with the opportunity to participate in our generous Performance Bonus Plan and to become a shareholder in our proud employee-owned company.

McElhanney offers fair compensation that is commensurate with the individual’s education, experience, skills, and professional qualifications. The posted base salary/wage range is representative of the required level of qualifications and experience for the position as noted in the job posting. The salary offered will be based on the experience and qualifications of the successful candidate.

In addition to a competitive salary, we also offer:

• Flexible work hours to accommodate your lifestyle
• Great benefits, including extended health and dental coverage, healthcare spending account, and RRSP matching.
• Relocation assistance if applicable
• Maternity leave top-up and parental leave top-up
• Employee and Family assistance program, which offers 24/7 support for all employees and their families either online or over the phone
• Continuous support for your professional development and growth

Tentative Hiring Timeline:

• Posting Date: October 2, 2026
• Application Deadline: October 30, 2026, 11:59pm
• Panel Interviews: November 23-27, 2026
• Start Date: January 2027 (flexible based on candidate transition)

Note to Candidates: The schedule is suggested, tentative and subject to change, and will be reasonably flexible to accommodate what works best for the short‑listed candidates and the hiring committee.