Principal, Municipal Engineering

The Walter Fedy Partnership; Kitchener; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

WalterFedy is seeking a Principal to lead the Civil Team, driving technical excellence and growth. You will mentor teams, guide design processes, and secure new municipal projects while upholding quality and client satisfaction.

You will oversee budget, resources, and governance across projects, building a scalable road reconstruction practice with established municipal relationships and market insight.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in engineering.
• 15+ years of experience in engineering design with leadership of large-scale projects.
• Registered Engineer with a valid license to practice.
• Proficiency in engineering software and design principles.
• Strong leadership, mentorship, and team development capabilities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication with clients and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-profile projects from conception through completion, ensuring design elements align with goals.
• Coordinate design teams, manage activities, and meet quality expectations.
• Define scope of services and establish design criteria with clients.
• Lead business development and build municipal client relationships to grow backlog.
• Oversee budget, scheduling, resource management, and contract administration.

Skills

Leadership

Client relationships

Strategic planning

Mentorship

Communication

Budgeting & financial

Contract negotiation

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Engineering

Tools

Engineering software

Job description

Job Overview

The Principal in our Civil Team plays a critical leadership role, driving technical excellence and strategic growth within your division. Your responsibilities will include leading innovative design processes, providing technical oversight, and ensuring the highest quality in project execution. You will mentor and develop your team, fostering a culture of continuous learning and accountability. Additionally, you will contribute to business development by leveraging your reputation, thought leadership, and client relationships to attract and secure new projects. Effective resource management and interdisciplinary coordination will be key to your success, ensuring that all elements of design are seamlessly integrated for holistic project success. The Principal will bring an established municipal client portfolio and be accountable for building, leading, and growing the municipal road reconstruction team and practice.

Responsibility and Duties

• Project Leadership: Lead high-profile projects from conception through completion, ensuring that all design elements align with client goals and project objectives.
• Ensure all projects within your Leadership are coordinated, the activities of the design teams are managed effectively, and quality expectations are achieved.
• Develop and define the scope of services provided by the company on specific projects. Establish the basic design criteria for projects in collaboration with clients, ensuring all project requirements are met.
• Advise on the development of new methods and recommend practical applications of these methods within your domain.
• Be accountable for the overall municipal project portfolio, including appropriate leadership assignment, resourcing, quality, risk management, and client outcomes.
• Business Leadership: Contributing to and/or leading development and execution of strategy for the team that supports the civil division and WalterFedy as a whole.
• Ensure fee reviews are complete, and complete fee review of proposals as delegated by the business unit leader to threshold of Principal role.
• Ensure contract reviews are completed through established processes.
• Maintain overall accountability for the following critical business operations for projects managed by members of your team.
• Invoicing
• WIP
• AR
• Forecasting
• Revenue Recognition
• Project Financials
• Budgeting
• CRM information (leads, contacts, events)
• Bring and grow an established municipal client portfolio that generates sustainable backlog and revenue.
• Build and scale the municipal road reconstruction team in step with client demand and market growth.
• Design and Technical Leadership: Review project technical documentation within your discipline, including specifications, schematic diagrams, and building plans. Ensure compliance with project schedules, construction estimates, and company procedures.
• Oversee the establishment of discipline-specific technical standards and design standards and ensure alignment with both company standards, objectives and industry best practices.
• Ensure the quality of work through review processes, adherence to standards, and implementation of best practices.
• Serve as the ultimate technical expert within your team and provide direct oversight to complex designs or issue resolution.
• Ensure that all practice activities and operations are carried out in compliance with standards of professional practice, applicable regulations and laws governing business operations.
• Under your leadership and guidance, be responsible for continued technology advancement and innovation within the business.
• Oversee and promote quality control procedures as these relate to design, budget and schedule objectives.
• Maintain and continuously enhance the practice’s reputation for high quality design.
• “Responsible Member” in jurisdictions where we practice.
• Establish the technical governance, quality expectations, and escalation support for municipal road reconstruction and linear infrastructure projects.
• Team Leadership: Assign project work to consistent teams within and ensure adequate oversite is maintained throughout the project duration. Ensure design expectations, quality expectations and client expectations are achieved.
• Manage team resources and work to ensure team is utilized and work with other principals in the business to ensure resources are leveled across the business.
• Evaluate team composition of to achieve optimal business resiliency, project oversight, staff development, and efficient delivery of work (driving overall revenue factor of the business).
• Lead the development of your team through mentoring, coaching, and facilitating continuous learning opportunities.
• Lead and engage in the recruitment process, ensuring the team skillsets and roles are aligned with our work and that new hires meet our technical criteria and corporate values.
• Conduct strategic recruitment and resource planning to support not only ongoing operations, but also the anticipated growth and development of the Civil Business Unit..
• Team development and succession planning, including providing training, coaching and mentoring to improve technical capability and production efficiency.
• Management of practice leads on team, and contribution to overall practice leadership of the division.
• Client and Stakeholder Leadership: Establish and maintain strong working relationships with colleagues and clients. Act as a primary point of contact for clients, ensuring effective communication and satisfaction throughout project phases.
• Address and resolve any issues or concerns that arise with clients or stakeholders, ensuring resolution.
• Serve as the senior relationship lead for key municipal clients, using market knowledge to anticipate needs and strengthen long‑term partnerships.
• Marketing and Business Development: Participate in proposal development and client presentations, and critical external engagements along with providing technical support in marketing programs.
• Participate in and contribute to sector and discipline BD meetings and forums.
• Responsible for identifying and securing new business opportunities, contributing to the firm’s financial growth and project portfolio expansion.
• Leverage your reputation and industry standing to enhance the firm’s visibility and attract new business opportunities. Participate in the creation of “White Pages” and “Thought Leadership”
• Act as company ambassador both within and external to the organization promoting brand awareness, values and reputation.
• Be responsible for the business development strategies and implementation for the Business Unit
• Convert established municipal relationships and market knowledge into new pursuits, repeat work, and expanded service opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in engineering.
• Minimum of 15 years of experience in Engineering design, with considerable experience in a leadership role managing large-scale projects.
• Registered Engineer with a valid license to practice in the relevant province or country.
• Proficiency in Engineering software. Strong knowledge of Engineering design principles and construction processes.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities with experience in managing project teams, providing mentorship, and fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively present ideas, negotiate contracts, and build relationships with clients and stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Proven ability to devise innovative solutions and handle complex engineering challenges.
• Advanced project leadership skills, including budgeting, scheduling, and resource management. Experience in contract negotiation and administration.
• Understanding of business development processes, client engagement, and financial management. Ability to identify and pursue new business opportunities.
• Significant experience providing senior oversight of complex municipal road reconstruction and linear infrastructure project portfolios.
• Established municipal client base with demonstrated success generating repeat work and sustainable revenue.
• Deep knowledge of the Ontario municipal infrastructure market, procurement environment, and applicable design standards.
• Proven success building, leading, and developing high-performing engineering teams.

Life atWalterFedy

As a national, innovative, multi-discipline design and construction collective, our ambition goes beyond great design – we are here to enhance the world around us. We need a team of agile, ambitious, and big-picture thinkers who share our drive to harness our collective talents to do something bigger.

Our team is made up of the industry's best. We share a common commitment to questioning the ordinary, infusing everything we do with creativity, and challenging our industry to redefine what’s possible.

WalterFedystrives to create a culture of inclusivity and diversity. We strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals, including those from groups traditionally underrepresented in the workforce. We are committed to equal opportunity hiring practice and will not discriminateon the basis ofrace, religion, colour, creed, national origin, citizenship, status, age, sex, gender identity/expression, marital or domestic partnership status, or disability.

Should you require an accommodation toparticipatein the application process, please contact [e-mail] or call 519-576-2150.