Operations Manager (Geotechnical and Materials Testing)

ECS Group of Companies; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 175,000 - 205,000; Full time

Job summary

ECS Limited, a leader in engineering consulting, seeks an experienced engineering leader to manage the Denver office. This Office Manager will oversee all departments, drive growth, ensure safety, and deliver strategic objectives across the branch.

You will lead staff development, client relationships, and operational excellence in a fast-paced environment. The role requires strong leadership, financial acumen, and the ability to align branch activities with company goals.

Qualifications

• Extensive leadership experience in engineering or professional services.
• Strong P&L and budget management experience.
• Proven ability to lead complex projects and multi-department teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and direction for the Denver branch, covering all departments and satellite offices.
• Supervise and mentor senior leaders; drive performance management and succession planning.
• Lead recruiting, onboarding, training, and retention efforts; foster a high-performance culture.
• Oversee branch operations, safety practices, quality control, and compliance.
• Manage branch P&L, budgets, revenue targets, and financial reporting.
• Develop client relationships and growth strategies; lead proposals and fee strategies.

Skills

Strategic leadership

P&L management

Operations leadership

Client relationship management

Recruiting & people development

Safety compliance

Cross-functional collaboration

Financial reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or related

MS in Engineering or MBA preferred

Job description

ECS Limited is seeking an experienced engineering leader to manage our Denver office. The Office Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, operational execution, performance, and strategic growth of the branch. This role has full accountability for financial results, operations, staff development, client relationships, safety, and execution of company objectives across all departments, groups, and satellite offices within the branch. The Office Manager leads all staff aligning with company standards, safety expectations, and strategic objectives while demonstrating ECS Core Values.

Responsibilities

Leadership & People Management

• Provides overall leadership and direction for the branch, including all departments, service lines, and satellite offices
• Provides direct supervision, coaching, mentoring, guidance, and accountability for senior leaders, including Department, Group Managers, and Assistant Branch Manager
• Leads performance management processes, including goal setting, evaluations, coaching, promotions, improvement plans, and succession planning for the office
• Leads recruiting, onboarding, training, and retention efforts for the office
• Leads a collaborative, high-performance culture that emphasizes accountability, professional growth, and employee engagement
• Develops, builds, and leads an effective organizational structure aligned with departmental workload, growth objectives, and service offerings
• Communicates branch, subsidiary, and corporate initiatives to staff and leads their implementation at the local level
• Serves as the primary ambassador of company values and leadership expectations with the branch

Technical & Project Oversight

• Oversees branch-wide operational consistency, ensuring adherence to company procedures, standards, and risk management practices
• Oversees the departments and groups and their ability to properly perform work
• Provides senior technical review and oversight of key deliverables, reports, and complex projects, as appropriate
• Ensures consistent application of quality control, safety practices, and standard-of-care expectations across the branch
• Serves as an operational resource for resolving scheduling conflicts, staffing constraints, and interdepartmental coordination issues
• Maintains awareness of industry standards, codes, and best practices relevant to the office
• Supports the development and improvement of technical practices, training programs, and standardization initiatives for the office
• Directs leadership to align technical practices and resource utilization across offices
• Supports, develops, and leads branch-level standardization, training, and continuous improvement initiatives

Financial & Operational Management

• Oversees the office's financial performance, including revenue, profitability, utilization, backlog, overhead control, and key performance indicators (KPIs)
• Oversees invoicing, contract compliance, change management, and collections across departments and/or groups
• Performs staffing forecasts and workforce planning to balance efficiency, growth, and employee development
• Ensures compliance with company policies, procedures, and risk management practices
• Owns full responsibility for office profit and loss (P&L) performance
• Develops and executes office budgets, revenue targets, financial goals, and business plans
• Monitors financial key performance indicators (KPIs) and operational metrics to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement

Client & Business Development

• Develops, maintains, and grows strong client relationships within the market
• Oversees office business development efforts in coordination with office leadership and business development
• Reviews and contributes to proposals, scopes of work, schedules, and fee strategies in accordance with company policies
• Represents the firm in professional organizations, industry events, and client meetings
• Identifies market trends and opportunities to execute growth strategies aligned with branch and company goals
• Serves as the primary client relationship manager for the office

Safety, Compliance, & Alignment

• Develops and models a strong safety culture within the office
• Ensures staff compliance with safety policies, training requirements, regulatory standards, and company procedures
• Oversees continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, innovation, and operational excellence
• Collaborates with other branches, departments, and support teams to leverage company-wide resources, expertise, and best practices
• Aligns office objectives with subsidiary and company strategies
• Participates in leadership meetings, company initiatives, and committees
• Leads and communicates subsidiary initiatives to branch leadership and staff and oversees successful implementation

Required Experience & Skills

• 12 years of related experience with a degree or 16 years of related experience without a degree
• High school diploma or GED required
• Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering and Management, Materials Science Engineering, Geology, or a related field is preferred
• An MS in Engineering or an MBA is preferred
• Maintain licenses and/or certifications as necessary for the work performed or managed per ECS Senior Technical Staff Policies and Procedures
• If driving for or on behalf of any ECS subsidiary, a valid driver's license is required
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Excellent understanding of engineering consulting operations, project execution, and professional services business models
• Excellent ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent judgement, problem-solving ability, and attention to detail
• Excellent ability to work effectively with clients, direct reports, peers, and supervisors, as well as independently
• Excellent ability to build a team, lead through others, and develop leadership teams
• Client-focused mindset with excellent business development skills
• Excellent financial acumen with demonstrated responsibility for P&L performance
• Excellent ability to balance technical excellence, people leadership, and business objectives
• Excellent leadership presence with the ability to influence and align teams
• Strong strategic thinking and execution capability

The expected pay range for this role and location is $175,000 - $205,000/year. The final agreed-upon compensation will be determined based on specific location and other individual qualifications.

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. To learn more, click here.