Assistant Office Manager

Engineering Consulting Service; Williamsburg, Northern (VA, KY); Hybrid; USD 114,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development

Job summary

ECS Group of Companies in Williamsburg, VA seeks an Assistant Office Manager to support the Office Manager in leading operations, financial performance, personnel, and strategic initiatives. The role is central to driving operational consistency and growth across multiple departments.

This position develops future office leaders, enhances client satisfaction, and aligns branch objectives with corporate strategies. Requires strong leadership, risk management, and cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• 10 years of related experience with a degree or 14 years of related experience without a degree
• High school diploma or GED required
• B.S. in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering and Management, Materials Science Engineering, Geology, or related field preferred
• MS in Engineering or MBA preferred
• Maintain licenses and/or certifications as necessary for ECS Senior Technical Staff Policies and Procedures
• Valid driver's license if driving for/and on behalf of ECS subsidiary
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Experience in engineering consulting operations, project execution, and professional services business models

Responsibilities

• Supports the Branch Manager in leading branch-wide operations and multiple departments
• Provides supervision, coaching, and accountability for Department and Group Managers
• Leads performance management, evaluations, and succession planning
• Leads recruiting, onboarding, training, and retention for the office
• Drives a high-performance culture emphasizing accountability and growth
• Ensures alignment of branch objectives with company strategies
• Oversees invoicing, contracts, and collections
• Supports staffing forecasts and workforce planning
• Develops strong client relationships and leads office business development
• Represents the firm in professional organizations and client meetings
• Ensures safety, quality, and risk management practices across the branch
• Participates in leadership meetings and company initiatives

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Business development

Financial acumen

Project oversight

Strategic thinking

Team building

Education

B.S. in Civil Engineering / related field

MS in Engineering or MBA (preferred)

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Position & Office Overview

The Assistant Office Manager supports the Office Manager in leading office operations, financial performance, personnel management, and strategic initiatives. This role serves as a key member of the office leadership team with responsibility for supporting multiple departments, managers, and operational functions while ensuring alignment with company policies, procedures, and objectives. The Assistant Office Manager helps drive operational consistency, employee development, client satisfaction, and business growth while serving as a leadership resource for managers and staff throughout the office. The role is designed to develop future Office Managers and organizational leaders while demonstrating ECS Core Values.

Responsibilities

Leadership & People Management

• Supports the Branch Manager in leading branch-wide operations, including multiple departments, groups, and satellite offices
• Provides direct supervision, coaching, mentoring, guidance, and accountability for Department and Group Managers
• Leads performance management processes, including goal setting, evaluations, coaching, promotions, improvement plans, and succession planning for the office
• Leads recruiting, onboarding, training, and retention efforts for the office
• Leads a collaborative, high-performance culture that emphasizes accountability, professional growth, and employee engagement
• Builds and leads an effective organizational structure aligned with departmental workload, growth objectives, and service offerings
• Communicates branch, subsidiary, and corporate initiatives to staff and supports their implementation at the local level
• Serves as a primary ambassador of company values and leadership expectations with the branch

Technical & Project Oversight

• Assists with branch-wide operational consistency, ensuring adherence to company procedures, standards, and risk management practices
• Oversees the departments and groups and their ability to perform work properly
• Provides senior technical review and oversight of key deliverables, reports, and complex projects, as appropriate
• Ensures consistent application of quality control, safety practices, and standard-of-care expectations across the branch
• Serves as an operational resource for resolving scheduling conflicts, staffing constraints, and interdepartmental coordination issues
• Maintains awareness of industry standards, codes, and best practices relevant to the department
• Supports the development and improvement of technical practices, training programs, and standardization initiatives for the office
• Coordinates with leadership to align technical practices and resource utilization across offices
• Supports, develops, and leads branch-level standardization, training, and continuous improvement initiatives

Financial & Operational Management

• Supports the Branch Manager in overseeing the office's financial performance, including revenue, profitability, utilization, backlog, overhead control, and key performance indicators (KPIs)
• Oversees invoicing, contract compliance, change management, and collections across departments and/or groups
• Supports staffing forecasts and workforce planning to balance efficiency, growth, and employee development
• Ensures compliance with company policies, procedures, and risk management practices
• Shares responsibility for office profit and loss (P&L) performance
• Assists in the development and execution of office budgets, revenue targets, financial goals, and business plans
• Monitors financial key performance indicators (KPIs) and operational metrics to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement

Client & Business Development

• Develops, maintains, and grows strong client relationships within the market
• Leads office business development efforts in coordination with office leadership and business development
• Reviews and contributes to proposals, scopes of work, schedules, and fee strategies in accordance with company policies
• Represents the firm in professional organizations, industry events, and client meetings
• Identifies market trends and opportunities to execute growth strategies aligned with branch and company goals
• Serves as a primary client relationship manager for the office

Safety, Compliance, & Alignment

• Develops and models a strong safety culture within the office
• Ensures staff compliance with safety policies, training requirements, regulatory standards, and company procedures
• Leads continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, innovation, and operational excellence
• Collaborates with other branches, departments, and support teams to leverage company-wide resources, expertise, and best practices
• Aligns office objectives with subsidiary and company strategies
• Participates in leadership meetings, company initiatives, and committees
• Leads and communicates subsidiary initiatives to branch staff and oversees successful

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• 10 years of related experience with a degree or 14 years of related experience without a degree
• High school diploma or GED required
  • Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering and Management, Materials Science Engineering, Geology, or a related field is preferred
  • An MS in Engineering or an MBA is preferred
• Maintain licenses and/or certifications as necessary for the work performed or managed per ECS Senior Technical Staff Policies and Procedures
• If driving for or on behalf of any ECS subsidiary, a valid driver's license is required
• Very strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Advanced understanding of engineering consulting operations, project execution, and professional services business models
• Very strong ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Very strong judgement, problem-solving ability, and attention to detail
• Very strong ability to work effectively with clients, direct reports, peers, and supervisors, as well as independently
• Very strong ability to build a team
• Client-focused mindset with very strong business development skills
• Very strong financial acumen with demonstrated responsibility for P&L performance
• Very strong ability to balance technical excellence, people leadership, and business objectives
• Very Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence and align teams
• Strong strategic thinking and execution capability

Military Qualifications

• The following US Military ranks will qualify for this position IF they also meet the education, certification, and licenses requirements from the above section titled "Required Qualifications":
  • E-7/E-8/O-3

The expected pay range for this role and location is $114k - $125k/year. The final agreed-upon compensation will be determined based on specific location and other individual qualifications

About Us

ECS Group of Companies (ECS) was founded in 1988 with the goal to raise the standards of professional engineering consulting. Today, we are a leader in geotechnical, construction materials, environmental and facilities consulting services. We are employee-owned with more than 3,000 employees in 100+ offices and testing facilities coast to coast. ECS is currently ranked #60 in Engineering News-Record's Top 500 Design Firms (April 2026), #148 in Engineering News-Record's Top 200 Environmental Firms (October 2025) and #50 in Zweig Group's Hot Firm List (May 2025). For additional information about ECS, visit: www.ecslimited.com.

ECS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To learn more, click here.