Natural Resources Department Manager

ECS Midwest, LLC; Buffalo Grove (IL); On-site; USD 82,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

ECS Group of Companies seeks an Environmental Department Manager to lead engineers, project managers, and staff, ensuring project delivery, staff development, client satisfaction, and business growth. You will align with safety expectations and strategy while driving department performance across technical and financial dimensions.

The role emphasizes leadership, recruitment, and development of future leaders, with accountability for budget, KPIs, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver

Qualifications

• 6 years of related experience with a degree or 10 years with no degree
• High school diploma or GED required
• Bachelor's and/or Master's in Civil/Environmental Engineering or related field preferred
• Valid driver's license if driving for ECS
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Advanced understanding of engineering consulting operations
• Strong financial acumen (P&L, budgeting, forecasting, KPIs)
• Ability to manage multiple teams, priorities, and deadlines
• Client-focused mindset with business development experience
• Proficiency in construction materials testing principles

Responsibilities

• Directly leads engineers, Project Managers, technicians, and support staff
• Owns performance management, coaching, career development, and succession planning
• Builds a high-performing, accountable team culture
• Leads recruiting, hiring, and retention strategies
• Develops future leaders and aligns department structure with growth
• Oversees project execution, safety, quality, schedule, and budget
• Manages department P&L, budgets, and forecasts
• Drives client relationship management and department growth
• Promotes safety culture and regulatory compliance
• Represents the firm in external meetings and industry engagement

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Communication

Financial acumen

Strategic planning

Staff development

Education

Civil/Environmental Engineering degree

Geology or Environmental Science degree

Job description

Responsibilities

The Environmental Department Manager leads the overall operations, technical execution, and financial performance of the Environmental Department. This role is accountable for department success, including project delivery, staff development, client satisfaction, and business growth. The Environmental Department Manager leads project managers, engineers, and technical staff, aligning with company standards, safety expectations, and strategic objectives while demonstrating ECS Core Values.

Leadership & People Management

• Directly leads engineers, Project Managers, technicians, and support staff
• Owns performance management, coaching, career development, and succession planning
• Builds a high-performing, accountable, and collaborative team culture
• Leads recruiting, hiring, and retention strategies
• Develops future leaders
• Builds and maintains an effective department structure aligned with departmental workload, growth objectives, and service offerings
• Communicates branch, subsidiary, and corporate initiatives to staff and supports their implementation at the local level

Technical & Project Oversight

• Ensures quality, consistency, and technical excellence across all department projects
• Oversees project execution through delegation to Project Managers and technical leaders
• Provides escalation support for complex or high-risk projects
• Ensures projects meet standards for safety, quality, schedule, and budget
• Aligns with Associate Principals/Principals on final technical review where required
• Maintains awareness of industry standards, codes, and best practices
• Supports the development and improvement of technical practices, training programs, and initiatives
• Coordinates with leadership to align technical practices and resource utilization

Financial & Operational Management

• Owns department P&L performance (revenue, margin, utilization, backlog)
• Develops and manages departmental budgets and forecasts
• Monitors KPIs and drives performance improvement
• Oversees invoicing, collections, and contract execution
• Manages staffing levels and workload planning for efficiency and growth
• Ensures compliance with company policies, procedures, and risk controls

Client & Business Development

• Leads client relationship management and department growth strategy
• Develops new business opportunities and expands key client accounts
• Oversees proposal development, pricing strategy, and scope definition
• Represents the firm in external meetings, networking, and industry engagement
• Drives sustained revenue growth and market presence

Safety, Compliance, & Alignment

• Promotes and enforces a strong safety culture
• Ensures compliance with regulatory standards and company procedures
• Drives quality assurance and continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, innovation, and operational excellence
• Collaborates with other departments and office leaders to share resources, expertise, and best practices
• Aligns departmental objectives with office, subsidiary, and company strategies
• Participates in leadership meetings, company initiatives, and committees as requested

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• 6 years of related experience with a degree or 10 years of related experience without a degree
• High school diploma or GED required
  • Bachelor's and/or Master's of Science in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Natural or Environmental Science, Geology, or other degree relevant to the practice of Environmental Consulting is 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
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making capability
• Client-focused mindset with demonstrated business development success
• Proficiency in construction materials testing principles and regional conditions
• Ability to build, lead, and scale high-performing teams

Military Qualifications

• The following US Military ranks will qualify for this position IF they also meet the education and licenses 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 $82,000 - $120,000/year. The final agreed-upon compensation will be determined based on specific location and other individual qualifications.

About Us

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 #60 in Engineering News-Record's Top 500 Design Firms (April 2026), #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.