CMT Department Manager

ECS Group of Companies; Frederick (MD); On-site; USD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

ECS Group of Companies seeks an experienced CMT Department Manager to lead our Frederick, MD construction materials testing group. This role directs project delivery, technical execution, and staff development while upholding ECS Core Values.

You will oversee engineers, project managers, and technicians, manage P&L, budgets, and growth, and ensure safety, quality, and client satisfaction. A strong leadership record in geotechnical and materials testing is preferred.

Qualifications

• 6 years of related experience with a degree or 10 years of related experience without a degree
• Bachelor's and/or Master's in Civil Engineering or related field preferred
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) or Professional Geologist (P.G.) license preferred
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Advanced understanding of engineering consulting operations and project execution
• Strong financial acumen (P&L, budgeting, forecasting, KPIs)
• Ability to manage multiple teams, priorities, and deadlines
• Client-focused mindset with demonstrated business development success
• Proficiency in construction materials testing principles and regional conditions

Responsibilities

• Directly leads engineers, Project Managers, technicians, and support staff
• Owns performance management, coaching, career development, and succession planning
• Builds a high-performing, accountable, and collaborative team culture
• Leads recruiting, hiring, and retention strategies
• Develops future leaders
• Builds and maintains an effective department structure aligned with workload and growth
• Communicates branch, subsidiary, and corporate initiatives to staff and supports their implementation at the local level
• Ensures quality, consistency, and technical excellence across all department projects
• Oversees project execution through delegation to Project Managers and technical leaders
• Provides escalation support for complex or high-risk projects
• Ensures projects meet standards for safety, quality, schedule, and budget
• Aligns with Associate Principals/Principals on final technical review where required
• Maintains awareness of industry standards, codes, and best practices
• Supports development and improvement of technical practices, training programs, and initiatives
• Coordinates with leadership to align technical practices and resource utilization
• Owns department P&L performance (revenue, margin, utilization, backlog)
• Develops and manages departmental budgets and forecasts
• Monitors KPIs and drives performance improvement
• Oversees invoicing, collections, and contract execution
• Manages staffing levels and workload planning for efficiency and growth
• Ensures compliance with company policies, procedures, and risk controls
• Leads client relationship management and department growth strategy
• Develops new business opportunities and expands key client accounts
• Oversees proposal development, pricing strategy, and scope definition
• Represents the firm in external meetings, networking, and industry engagement
• Drives sustained revenue growth and market presence
• Promotes and enforces a strong safety culture
• Ensures compliance with regulatory standards and company procedures
• Drives quality assurance and continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, innovation, and operational excellence
• Collaborates with other departments and office leaders to share resources, expertise, and best practices
• Aligns departmental objectives with office, subsidiary, and company strategies
• Participates in leadership meetings, company initiatives, and committees as requested

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Financial acumen

Project execution

Staff development

Business development

Client relationships

Safety culture

Problem solving

Multiteam management

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Civil Engineering

PE or PG license preferred

Geology or related field

Job description

ECS Limited is seeking an experienced leader to manage our construction materials testing group in our Frederick office. The CMT Department Manager leads the overall operations, technical execution, and financial performance of the CMT department. This role is accountable for department success, including project delivery, staff development, client satisfaction, and business growth. The CMT Department Manager leads project managers, engineers, and technical staff, aligning with company standards, safety expectations, and strategic objectives while demonstrating ECS Core Values.

Responsibilities

Leadership & People Management

• Directly leads engineers, Project Managers, technicians, and support staff
• Owns performance management, coaching, career development, and succession planning
• Builds a high-performing, accountable, and collaborative team culture
• Leads recruiting, hiring, and retention strategies
• Develops future leaders
• Builds and maintains an effective department 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

Technical & Project Oversight

• Ensures quality, consistency, and technical excellence across all department projects
• Oversees project execution through delegation to Project Managers and technical leaders
• Provides escalation support for complex or high-risk projects
• Ensures projects meet standards for safety, quality, schedule, and budget
• Aligns with Associate Principals/Principals on final technical review where required
• Maintains awareness of industry standards, codes, and best practices
• Supports the development and improvement of technical practices, training programs, and initiatives
• Coordinates with leadership to align technical practices and resource utilization

Financial & Operational Management

• Owns department P&L performance (revenue, margin, utilization, backlog)
• Develops and manages departmental budgets and forecasts
• Monitors KPIs and drives performance improvement
• Oversees invoicing, collections, and contract execution
• Manages staffing levels and workload planning for efficiency and growth
• Ensures compliance with company policies, procedures, and risk controls

Client & Business Development

• Leads client relationship management and department growth strategy
• Develops new business opportunities and expands key client accounts
• Oversees proposal development, pricing strategy, and scope definition
• Represents the firm in external meetings, networking, and industry engagement
• Drives sustained revenue growth and market presence

Safety, Compliance, & Alignment

• Promotes and enforces a strong safety culture
• Ensures compliance with regulatory standards and company procedures
• Drives quality assurance and continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, innovation, and operational excellence
• Collaborates with other departments and office leaders to share resources, expertise, and best practices
• Aligns departmental objectives with office, subsidiary, and company strategies
• Participates in leadership meetings, company initiatives, and committees as requested

Required Qualifications

• 6 years of related experience with a degree or 10 years of related experience without a degree
• High school diploma or GED required
• Bachelor's and/or Master's of Science in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering and Management, Materials Science Engineering, Geology, or related field is preferred
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) or Professional Geologist (P.G.) license preferred
• If driving for or on behalf of any ECS subsidiary, a valid driver's license is required
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Advanced understanding of engineering consulting operations and project execution
• Strong financial acumen (P&L, budgeting, forecasting, KPIs)
• Ability to manage multiple teams, priorities, and deadlines
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making capability
• Client-focused mindset with demonstrated business development success
• Proficiency in construction materials testing principles and regional conditions
• Ability to build, lead, and scale high-performing teams

Military Qualifications

• The following US Military ranks will qualify for this position IF they also meet the education requirements from the above section titled "Required Qualifications":
  • E-6/E-7/O-2/O-3

The expected pay range for this role and location is $125k - $150k/year. The final agreed-upon compensation will be determined based on specific location and other individual qualifications.

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.