Geotechnical Department Lead - Strategy, Growth & Delivery

ECS Group of Companies; Wilmington (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

ECS Group of Companies in Wilmington, NC seeks an experienced Geotechnical Department Manager to lead the geotechnical engineering team, oversee operations, and drive financial performance. You will manage project managers, engineers, and staff to ensure safety, quality, and adherence to ECS standards and strategic objectives.

The role emphasizes leadership, client development, and technical excellence, requiring strong communication and financial acumen to grow the department and deliver client

Qualifications

• 6+ years of related experience with a degree or 10+ years without a degree
• High school diploma or GED required
• 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
• Client-focused mindset with demonstrated business development success
• Proficiency in geotechnical principles and regional conditions
• Ability to build, lead, and scale high-performing teams

Responsibilities

• Directly leads engineers, Project Managers, technicians, and support staff and owns performance management, coaching, and succession planning
• Builds a high-performing, accountable, and collaborative team culture and leads recruiting, hiring, and retention strategies
• Develops future leaders and builds an effective department structure aligned with workload, growth, and service offerings
• Communicates branch, subsidiary, and corporate initiatives to staff and supports their local implementation
• Ensures quality, consistency, and technical excellence across all department projects and oversees execution via Project Managers
• Provides escalation support for complex or high-risk projects and ensures safety, quality, schedule, and budget adherence
• Owns department P&L performance and develops budgets and forecasts; monitors KPIs and drives improvements
• Leads client relationship management, develops new business opportunities, and oversees pricing strategy and scope definition
• Promotes safety culture and ensures regulatory compliance; drives continuous improvement across safety, quality, and operations
• Collaborates with other departments and office leaders to share resources and align objectives

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Project management

P&L / budgeting

Strategic thinking

Client relationship management

Education

B.S. or M.S. in Civil Engineering / Geology / related field

Job description

ECS Group of Companies in Wilmington, NC seeks an experienced Geotechnical Department Manager to lead the geotechnical engineering team, oversee operations, and drive financial performance. You will manage project managers, engineers, and staff to ensure safety, quality, and adherence to ECS standards and strategic objectives.

The role emphasizes leadership, client development, and technical excellence, requiring strong communication and financial acumen to grow the department and deliver client