Operations Leader, Terrace

McElhanney; Terrace; On-site; CAD 170,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work hours

Extended health and dental coverage

Healthcare spending account

RRSP matching

Relocation assistance

Maternity leave top‑up

Parental leave top‑up

Employee and Family assistance program

Professional development support

Job summary

McElhanney in Terrace, BC is seeking an Operations Leader to guide the branch’s growth, lead a multidisciplinary team, and strengthen client partnerships across Northwest BC. You will oversee strategic planning, operations, and financial performance, build future leaders, and foster a safe, collaborative culture while delivering outstanding project outcomes.

Based in Terrace or willing to relocate, you will work closely with regional leaders to execute Strategy 2030 and ensure high‑quality

Qualifications

• Professional accreditation in a technical field is required.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in consulting engineering, geomatics, environmental or related professional services.
• 5+ years of leadership experience with accountability for people, financial outcomes, and operations.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and develop future leaders.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary team of consulting professionals.
• Shape and execute growth strategy for the Terrace branch in collaboration with regional leadership.
• Strengthen client partnerships and expand services across Northwest BC.
• Oversee branch financial performance, budgeting, forecasting, and performance metrics.
• Foster a safe, collaborative, accountable workplace culture and effective operations.

Skills

Leadership

Business development

Strategic thinking

Financial acumen

Communication

Client relationship management

Education

Professional accreditation in a technical field

Job description

About McElhanney

Based in Western Canada for over 110 years, McElhanney offers innovative and practical engineering, surveying, mapping, planning, landscape architecture, and environmental services. As a 100% employee‑owned and operated firm, with over 1,500 staff members in 31 locations, we are proud to offer qualified staff with shareholding options in our company. At McElhanney, we work in teams to build strong connections with our staff, clients, and local communities. Our employees enjoy working here because of our varied projects, high levels of autonomy, opportunities for career development, excellent total compensation and benefits package, and collaborating with a team of great professionals.

The Opportunity

McElhanney’s Terrace operations are a cornerstone of our Northern & Interior BC (NIBC) region, supporting clients and communities throughout Terrace, Kitimat, Prince Rupert, Smithers, and surrounding areas. Our multidisciplinary team delivers engineering, geomatics, environmental, and community infrastructure services across municipal, transportation, development, resource, energy, and Indigenous community projects.

As part of a planned leadership succession resulting from an upcoming retirement, we are seeking a business‑minded and people‑focused leader to guide the next chapter of growth and success for our Terrace branch. The successful candidate will bring experience leading diverse, multidisciplinary teams, a strong understanding of the broader Northern BC market, and the ability to build trusted relationships with clients, employees, and communities. As leader of the Terrace Branch you will be working closely with the Prince Rupert Operations leader collaborating across teams, clients and communities.

This is a unique opportunity to build on an established and successful operation, lead a talented team, strengthen our client partnerships, and continue expanding McElhanney’s presence and impact throughout Northwest British Columbia.

Working closely with regional and sub‑regional leadership, you will help shape and execute the branch’s growth strategy while benefiting from the resources, expertise, and collaboration of a larger employee‑owned organization.

As Operations Leader, you will be accountable for the overall leadership and performance of the Terrace branch, executing strategic objectives and delivering results across McElhanney’s four cornerstones: People & Communities, Clients & Partners, Processes & Technology, and Financial.

Success in this role will require a balanced focus on people leadership, business development, operational excellence, financial performance, community engagement, and building a collaborative, safe, and accountable workplace culture.

The successful candidate is based in Terrace, BC, or willing to relocate to Terrace to provide strong, visible leadership for the branch and actively engage with clients, employees, and the local community.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Business & Strategic Leadership
  • In alignment with Strategy 2030, regional priorities, and sub‑regional opportunities co‑lead the strategic direction for the north west sub‑region alongside the Operations Leader of our Prince Rupert branch.
  • Build on the branch’s strong reputation and long‑standing legacy of serving communities throughout Northwest BC.
  • Identify and pursue strategic growth opportunities across existing and emerging markets.
  • Expand cross‑selling and collaboration across McElhanney’s service lines to bring the full capabilities of the firm to our clients.
  • Identify opportunities to improve branch operations, service delivery, and overall business performance.
• Clients, Markets & Community
  • Strengthen relationships with municipal, Indigenous, provincial, industrial, resource, and private‑sector clients.
  • Develop new business opportunities throughout Terrace, Kitimat, Prince Rupert, Smithers, and surrounding communities.
  • Maintain a strong understanding of regional market conditions, client priorities, and emerging opportunities.
  • Represent McElhanney through active participation in industry associations, community initiatives, client engagement, and business development activities.
  • Build strong partnerships across McElhanney to support integrated service delivery and regional growth.
• People Leadership
  • Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary team of consulting professionals.
  • Establish effective workforce plans that support current business needs and future growth, including recruitment, succession planning, and leadership development.
  • Create meaningful development opportunities for employees and strengthen the branch’s future leadership pipeline.
  • Foster an engaged workplace culture built on collaboration, accountability, inclusion, safety, and employee growth.
  • Set clear expectations and effectively manage individual and team performance.
• Operational & Financial Leadership
  • Take accountability for branch financial performance, including annual budgets, forecasting, utilization, invoicing, collections, and key performance indicators.
  • Lead workload management and resource planning to support effective project delivery and sustainable team performance.
  • Maintain strong operational discipline across safety, quality, risk, and business processes.
  • Monitor branch performance and proactively identify opportunities to improve efficiency, profitability, and service delivery.

What You’ll Bring

• Professional accreditation in a technical field applicable to McElhanney’s business.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in consulting engineering, geomatics, environmental consulting, or a related professional services environment.
• 5+ years of leadership experience with responsibility for people, financial outcomes, and operational performance.
• Demonstrated success leading and developing multidisciplinary teams and building future leaders.
• Proven ability to attract, develop, engage, and retain high‑performing employees.
• A strong track record of business development, market growth, and building long‑term client relationships.
• Strong understanding of Northern BC markets, including municipal, transportation, development, industrial, energy, natural resource, and Indigenous sectors.
• Experience working with clients and communities throughout Northwest British Columbia is considered a strong asset.
• Experience managing business or operational performance within a consulting or professional services environment.
• A demonstrated commitment to community involvement and building meaningful relationships within regional markets.

Skills & Attributes for Success

• Strong people leadership, coaching, and team development capabilities.
• Business‑minded approach with an understanding of how consulting organizations generate revenue, manage performance, and achieve sustainable growth.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen.
• Exceptional communication, relationship‑building, and interpersonal skills.
• Sound judgment with strong problem‑solving and decision‑making capabilities.
• Proactive, entrepreneurial mindset with the drive to identify and pursue opportunities.
• Ability to lead through change and adapt to evolving client, market, and business needs.
• Demonstrated ability to grow client relationships, expand services, enter new markets, and identify strategic opportunities.
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to build partnerships across regions, disciplines, and service lines.
• Ability to balance strategic leadership with the day‑to‑day operational needs of the branch.
• Strong commitment to safety, quality, accountability, and McElhanney’s employee‑owned culture.

What We Offer

The salary range for this position is $170,000 to $200,000 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

• Application Deadline: September 11, 2026
• Shortlisting for Interviews: September 14 – September 25, 2026
• Panel Interviews: September 28 – October 9, 2026
• Start Date: End of October or early November (depending on candidate transition)

Application Deadline: September 11, 2026, 11:59pm PT

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

At McElhanney, our unwavering commitment lies in cultivating a culture that aligns with our core values and fosters diversity, equity, and inclusion. We celebrate the collective achievements of a team rich in expertise, experiences, and perspectives, and welcome applications from individuals of diverse ethnicities, religions, backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities, aboriginal statuses, various age groups, and those with disabilities. Requests for accommodations can be made at any stage of the selection process. If this job description resonates with you, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all of the requirements outlined. We’re interested in getting to know you and explore the unique contributions you can bring to McElhanney!