Construction Materials Testing Department Manager

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

Job summary

A leading engineering consulting firm in Denver, CO seeks a Construction Materials Testing Department Manager to oversee operations and expand the business. The ideal candidate will possess 8+ years of relevant experience, strong leadership and project management skills, and expertise in client relations. This role includes responsibilities in overseeing a team, driving revenue growth, and ensuring compliance with testing standards. Offering competitive salary between $125,000 and $150,000 annually, dependent on qualifications.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of related experience in construction materials testing or geotechnical materials testing.
• Experience in managing and mentoring technical teams.
• Strong understanding of lab and field testing workflows.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations for geotechnical and construction materials testing.
• Manage and mentor a team of engineers and technicians.
• Drive revenue growth through business development and client meetings.

Skills

Leadership

Business development

Client management

Communication skills

Project management

Education

BS or MS in Civil Engineering

Tools

ACI certification

ICC certification

NICET certification

Job description

ECS is hiring a Construction Materials Testing (CMT) Department Manager to lead a growing CMT operation in Denver, CO. As a CMT Department Manager at ECS you will own people leadership, project delivery, lab operations, client development, and departmental financial performance, with a clear mandate to expand revenue and strengthen key client relationships across the region.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead day‑to‑day operations for geotechnical and construction materials testing (CMT) and special inspections in the Denver market, covering office, laboratory, and field workflows.
• Manage and mentor a team of engineers, project managers, inspectors, and technicians, including hiring, training, scheduling, performance coaching, and development.
• Drive revenue growth through business development, client meetings, account expansion, and coordination with regional leadership on capture strategy.
• Oversee project delivery for materials testing and inspection services, including construction observation, field quality assurance testing, site grading observation, and laboratory testing.
• Ensure compliance with applicable standards and jurisdictional requirements for special inspections and related documentation, including review and sign‑off of reports where appropriate.
• Review and approve technical deliverables, including field reports, test results, laboratory data summaries, and final reports, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and client alignment.
• Prepare and manage proposals, scopes of work, pricing, and staffing plans for CMT and special inspections projects.
• Own departmental performance including budgeting, forecasting, and P&L management, with accountability for utilization, margins, backlog health, and growth targets.
• Maintain and expand relationships with owners, developers, contractors, and design teams, supporting repeat work and long‑term accounts in Denver and the Front Range.
• Partner with senior staff to market ECS capabilities across materials testing, inspection, construction QA/QC, and special inspections.

Basic Qualifications

• 8+ years of related experience in construction materials testing (CMT) and/or geotechnical materials testing, including a strong understanding of lab and field testing workflows.
• People management experience, including hiring, leading and mentoring technical teams.
• Demonstrated experience in business development, client management, and proposal support within engineering, testing, inspection, or construction services.
• Experience with project management, budgeting, and leadership responsibilities tied to operational or departmental performance.
• Practical experience with some combination of:
  • Field and in‑situ testing
  • Laboratory testing (construction materials lab operations)
  • Construction observation
  • Field quality assurance testing
  • Site grading observation
  • Oversight of CMT field technicians and testing programs
• Active, relevant certifications such as ACI, ICC, NICET, or comparable credentials aligned with construction materials testing and inspection.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to interact with clients and review technical reporting.
• If driving for, or on behalf of, any ECS subsidiary, a valid driver’s license is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• BS or MS in Civil Engineering from an ABET‑accredited college or university.
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) license, or ability to obtain licensure within 6 months of hire.
• Track record of growing a service line or department through measurable client expansion, proposal wins, or revenue growth.

Military Qualifications

• The following U.S. 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 $125,000 - $150,000/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 #66 in Engineering News‑Record’s Top 500 Design Firms (April 2025), #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.