Geotechnical Department Manager I

Terracon; Springdale (AR); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Terracon in Springdale, AR seeks an experienced department leader to supervise ongoing projects, oversee staff development, and drive client relationships. This role focuses on ensuring timely, quality service and profitability in line with company policies and client requirements.

The position emphasizes proposal development, staffing planning, and annual business planning, with responsibility for safety and quality across projects and adherence to risk policies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Environmental Science or Geology with 5 years’ practice experience (or 9+ years if no degree).
• Master’s degree or PhD preferred.
• Valid driver’s license may be required.

Responsibilities

• Prepare proposals and cost estimates.
• Perform business and client development activities with support from the Office Manager.
• Develop and manage staffing plans, recruitment and onboarding.
• Prepare and execute annual business plan for the department.
• Oversee KPIs: revenue growth, staff utilization, project billing and profitability.
• Lead safety efforts and promote a safe work environment.
• Ensure continuous quality monitoring and delivery of high-quality work.

Skills

Leadership

Proposal writing

Staff planning

Business development

Risk management

Safety leadership

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.