Group Leader- Materials Testing/Inspection

Independent Solutions; Lake Elsinore (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Work Environment

Paid Parental Leave

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life and AD&D Insurance

Short-Term and Long-Term Disability

401(k) with Company Match

Paid Time Off + Holidays

Job summary

Verdantas is seeking a Group Leader for Testing & Inspection in California to shape operations, grow the team, and win new business. You’ll lead field ops, lab throughput, and QA, while driving client engagement and strategic growth across our T&I group.

You will mentor staff, stay current with industry standards, and ensure projects meet high-quality, regulatory, and accreditation requirements. A strong leadership and field-testing background is essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10+ years in construction materials testing, with 3–5 years in a leadership/management role.
• Hands-on fluency with construction materials testing and special inspection scopes.
• Certifications such as ACI, NICET, Caltrans ICC, AWS/CWI, or ASNT are a big plus.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day testing & inspection operations (field, lab, scheduling, QA).
• Lead business development, client relations, and contract negotiations.
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior staff and teams.
• Provide senior review and quality control of reports and projects.
• Align operations with company growth strategies and client needs.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Strategic growth planning

Project management

Business development

Education

California Registered Civil Engineer licensure

Job description

Welcome to Verdantas, where innovation meets sustainability, and your career finds purpose! At Verdantas, we’re redefining environmental consulting and sustainable engineering through our use of cutting‑edge modeling and digital technology and our genuine commitment to people. Our work spans high‑growth sectors like water resources, resilient land use, energy transformation, and civil infrastructure. Our commitment to excellence, across more than 90 offices, is championed by a team of over 2,000 experts, scientists, engineers, geologists, and technical specialists, embedded in a people‑focused culture, prioritizing the well‑being of our employees, clients, and the communities we serve. We partner with clients to deliver smart, data‑driven solutions to complex environmental and infrastructure challenges. We don’t just solve problems; we help shape a more sustainable future. Join a people‑first culture that values your well‑being, empowers your growth, and amplifies your impact. At Verdantas, your career goes beyond the expected, and your work helps build a better world. Ready to shape the future of resilient communities? The Role As Group Leader for Testing & Inspection, you'll have the authority and the accountability to shape how this group operates, grows, and wins. This role is a blend of operational leadership, creative thinking, business development/strategic growth, and mentorship, requiring a a strong technical background. You'll be the person who sets the bar on quality, fills the pipeline, develops the next generation of Testing and Inspection (T&I) professionals, and makes sure our clients never have a reason to look elsewhere. The Group Leader will be instrumental in growing our market through people development, sustainability, and client engagement.

What You'll Actually Be Doing

Operational Leadership (~40% of your time)

• Run the day‑to‑day of the T&I department — field ops, lab throughput, scheduling, and quality oversight — without losing sight of the bigger picture.
• Develop and implement quality control procedures to ensure the accuracy and reliability of all testing results.
• Monitor and report on departmental performance metrics; maintain strong knowledge of sales pipeline and hard backlog.
• Monitor maintenance of equipment and tools used for testing, ensuring they are properly calibrated and functioning correctly.
• Oversee lab Quality Management and accreditations — we're talking AASHTO, Caltrans, , AMRL, CCRL, DSA, OSHPD,— and make sure we stay current on all of them.
• Manage resource allocation.
• Oversee subcontractor relationships, compliance and AP approvals, ensuring proper credentials and procedure are implemented throughout their engagement.

Business Development (~20% of your time)

• Identify and pursue new business opportunities; build and maintain relationships with clients, stakeholders, and industry partners.
• Lead proposal development and contract negotiations.
• Represent Verdantas at industry conferences, seminars, and networking events.
• Know your pipeline. Own your pipeline. Whether it's a municipal roadway job or a high‑rise with complex special inspection requirements, you'll be the one making sure Verdantas is the first call.
• Develop and maintain relationships with clients and partners to promote the services of the T&I department.

Mentorship & Technical Leadership (~10% of your time)

• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior staff and project teams.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning and professional development.
• Be the person your personnel come to when a field situation gets complicated — and have the depth to back it up.
• Stay current with industry/emerging trends, regulations, and best practices, with communication to the team.
• Support and shape the company's people‑focused culture by promoting inclusivity, diversity, and collaboration — reinforcing positive workplace values and encouraging teamwork and cross‑functional collaboration.

Senior Review / Project Management (30% of your time)

• Provide senior review and quality control of daily and final reports.
• This role may require project management of special projects that demand dealing with kye sustaining clients or new clients.

What You Bring

• Minimum of 10+ years of experience in construction materials testing, with at least 3–5 years in a leadership or management role.
• Hands‑on fluency with construction materials testing and special inspection scopes — you’ve been in the field, you know what it takes, and your team will respect you for it.
• Relevant certifications, current or prior — ACI , NICET, Caltrans ICC, AWS/CWI, or ASNT credentials are a big plus.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven track record in operational management and business development in the A/E industry.
• Strong understanding of industry standards and regulations related to construction materials testing.
• Ability to create, implement, and execute a strategic growth plan.
• California Registered Civil Engineer licensure.
• Experience managing lab accreditation programs (AASHTO, USACE, AMRL, DSA, OSHPD).
• Familiarity with Verdantas end markets: buildings, power, infrastructure, transportation, and government.

Salary Range: $140,000-$200,000

Benefits

• Flexible Work Environment
• Paid Parental Leave
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Paid Time Off + Holidays

Verdantas strives to develop new ways to increase diversity awareness within our organization. We recruit and reward our employees based on capability and performance — regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, lifestyle, age, educational background, national origin, religion, or physical ability. For us, it is imperative to build balanced teams from all walks of life and we believe that a diverse workforce is a stronger workforce. Verdantas is an EOE race/color/religion/sex/sexual orientation/gender identity/national origin/disability/vet