Department Manager I

Terracon; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Terracon in Baton Rouge seeks a senior professional to supervise multiple projects, oversee proposals and cost estimates, and manage department operations to ensure timely, quality work. The role emphasizes staff development, safety, and profitability while pursuing new business opportunities and strong client relationships.

The ideal candidate holds a technical degree with several years of field and project management experience, and may have an advanced degree.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline with 5 years' practice experience or 9 years' related experience in lieu of a degree.
• Master's degree or PhD preferred.
• Valid driver's license may be required.

Responsibilities

• Supervise or monitor all projects in progress to ensure timely completion and compliance with client requirements and company standards.
• Oversee preparation of proposals and cost estimates for proper scoping, manpower, and pricing to achieve profitability.
• Lead department operations including staff training, performance reviews, and safety oversight.
• Plan and participate in business development to identify and win project opportunities and build client relationships.

Skills

Leadership

Proposals

Cost estimates

Staffing planning

Business development

Safety leadership

Quality monitoring

Project profitability

Client relationships

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Environmental Science/Geology

Master's degree or PhD preferred

Job description

General Responsibilities

Supervise or monitor all projects in progress in the department to ensure that work is executed on time and in accordance with the client’s requirements and within company policies, procedures and standards. Supervise the preparation of proposals and cost estimates to clients to ensure proper scoping of services, availability of manpower and pricing to achieve desired profitability. Supervise the daily operations of a department including staff training, development, and performance review, utilization of equipment and facilities, safety oversight, quality of services and work product, timely delivery of services and deliverables, and adherence to policies and procedure. Plan for and participate in business development activities to identify, develop, win, and execute project opportunities and build and maintain client relationships.

Essential Roles And Responsibilities

• Responsible for preparation of proposals and cost estimates.
• With support from the Office Manager perform business and client development activities.
• With support from the Office Manager develop and manage employee staffing plans, recruitment, selection and on-boarding.
• With support from the Office Manager prepare and execute annual business plan for the department.
• With support from the Office Manager oversee and manage the success of the key department metrics of revenue growth, staff chargeability, project billing and collections, and project profitability.
• Develop understanding and be aware of project-related risk. Be familiar with what could go wrong on a project and how to protect the Company. Be familiar with company risk policies.
• Lead safety efforts for team and ensure team follows safety rules and guidelines. Responsible for creating and modeling a safe work environment; demonstrates safety practices. Promote pre-task planning for all projects.
• Responsible for continuous quality monitoring and improvement on projects. Monitor and promote quality standards and practices.
• Responsible for providing consistent quality standards on project and proposal delivery.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in technical discipline practiced by the Firm including Engineering, Environmental Science or Geology and 5 years' practice experience. Or, in lieu of a degree, a minimum of 9 years' related experience.
• Master's degree or PhD preferred.
• A valid driver's license with acceptable violation history may be required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification or licensure in field of expertise.
• Terracon Authorized Project Reviewer status preferred.