Power Lead - #2989

Wade Trim; Bay City (MI); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Education reimbursement

401(k)

Performance bonuses

Employee stock program

Employee Resource Groups

Job summary

Wade Trim is seeking a Power Lead for its Industrial Commercial Energy group to oversee Power Area Leads and drive strategic growth. The role requires a civil engineering degree and 15+ years in the Power Industry, with strong leadership and organizational capabilities to guide multidisciplinary teams and client relationships.

The Power Lead will manage staffing, budgeting, and performance, ensuring project delivery aligns with Wade Trim’s standards and business plan, while advancing technology

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering is required.
• 15+ years of experience in the Power Industry.
• Strong leadership and organizational skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Oversee project delivery across the Power Group to meet profitability targets.
• Lead and develop Area Leads, Project Directors and Project Managers.
• Drive growth and align resources with business objectives.
• Manage staffing, performance reviews, and salary planning for the Power Group.

Skills

Leadership

Staff planning

Project management

Strategic growth

Client relations

Operations oversight

Education

Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering

Job description

What We Offer:

Our excellent salary and benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short and long-term disability coverage, education reimbursement, 401(k), performance bonuses, and an employee stock program. Employee Resource Groups and Programs offered include the Young Professionals Group, Women at Wade Trim, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Professional Development, Leadership Development, Rotation Program, Mentor Program, Sustainability Program, and Wellness Program.

Position Description:

We are looking for a Power Lead to join our Industrial Commercial Energy group to oversee our Power Area Leads. Candidates should have a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and 15 or more years of experience in the Power Industry. Candidates should have strong leadership and organizational skills, with experience overseeing multidisciplinary teams, workforce planning, and operational performance. This person should be highly motivated and strategic, with the ability to drive business growth, support key client relationships, and align resources to achieve business objectives. This position requires exceptional interpersonal and leadership abilities, with demonstrated success in developing talent, guiding strategic initiatives, and building partnerships within the Power Industry.

Typical responsibilities include:

Operations and Profitability:

Project Delivery and Financial Performance

• Provide oversight of project delivery across the Power Group, ensuring that project profitability targets established in the annual business plan are achieved or exceeded.
• Collaborate with the ICE MSL and Power Project Director to evaluate current operational performance and provide forward-looking forecasts against the annual business plan.
• Lead Power operations through a team of Area Leads, Project Directors, and Project Managers who are responsible for implementing Wade Trim’s project management, quality, and risk management systems.
• Confirm Power teams consistently apply Wade Trim’s standards for project execution, client satisfaction, risk mitigation, and financial performance.
• Adapt leadership structures as needed to align with business growth, organizational changes, and evolving delivery needs.

Staff Management and Workforce Planning

• Maintain overall responsibility for the recruitment, development, advancement, performance management, and retention of all staff within the Power Group.
• Implement Wade Trim’s Performance Development Plan (PDP) process for the Power Group, including goal setting, performance reviews, and career development discussions.
• Oversee annual salary planning and bonus distribution for the Power Group in accordance with firm policy and performance outcomes.
• Identify and hire staff required to meet project delivery demands, strategic growth objectives, and technology initiatives, including both technical and leadership roles.

Quality Management

• Partner with the Director of Projects and Director of Quality to implement and continuously improve Wade Trim’s Quality Management Program within the Power Group.
• Work with Project Directors within the Power Group as well as collaborate with the Practice Leads to ensure proper training and accountability across Project Directors and Project Managers.
• Provide leadership and support to ensure all projects comply with quality standards and firm-wide quality objectives.

Profitability and Resource Management

• Accountable for generating necessary revenue to achieve the Power Groups portion of the ICE market segment business plan objectives.
• Meet or exceed target multipliers and manage indirect expenses to remain within approved budgets.
• Deliver the Power Groups contribution margin goals through effective staffing, pricing, risk management, and operational efficiency.
• Lead and delegate responsibility through Area Leads and other operational leaders, while maintaining accountability for overall financial performance.

Business Development:

Growth Strategy and Business Development Leadership

• Develop and execute annual and long-term strategic growth plans for the Power Group in alignment with Wade Trim’s overall strategic plan.
• Manage business development budgets and resources to achieve growth targets efficiently.
• Work closely with the Chief Business Development Officer (CBDO) and Marketing Director to implement Wade Trim’s GROW business development process throughout the Power Group.
• Provide oversight and leadership to Client Service Directors.
• Maintain active engagement with key clients to understand needs, identify opportunities, and strengthen long‑term relationships.
• Power Lead needs to be forward thinking, looking at the future about where the group should be investing in the future for sustained growth.

Technology and Strategic Growth:

Technology Innovation

• Partner with Practice Leads to identify, develop, and implement technology innovation strategies that enhance Wade Trim’s ability to win and deliver work.
• Contribute to the identification, justification, and oversight of technology investments that support Power Group, Market Segment, and firm‑wide objectives.
• Power Lead must remain current with AI trends and tools. AI must be implemented throughout operations and growth of the Power Group.

Strategic Recruiting and Technical Leadership

• Work with Practice Leads to identify gaps in technology leadership within the Power Group.
• Work with MSL to Integrate strategic recruiting needs into annual business planning and long‑range strategic planning.
• Support the successful hiring, onboarding, and integration of key technology leaders.

Strategic Growth Initiatives

• Lead Power Group strategic growth initiatives that may span multiple practices and the full strategic planning cycle.
• Confirm that the Client Service Directors work closely with and include the practice leads in key pursuits where the Practice Leads’ specific areas of focus will provide valuable input.

Technical Support for Business Development

• Ensure proposals and pursuits receive appropriate technical leadership support, including capture and pursuit plan development, positioning strategy, proposal development, presentations, and contract negotiation.
• Align technical and business development efforts to maximize competitiveness and client value.

Leadership Expectations:

• Demonstrates collaborative, enterprise-focused leadership that reinforces Wade Trim’s culture, values, and commitment to excellence.
• Serves as a visible leader internally and externally, representing Wade Trim with clients, partners, and industry stakeholders. This includes travel to Wade Trim offices when needed, up to three times per month, to connect with Leadership, local staff and meet face‑to‑face with Wade Trim clients.
• Drives accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement across people, processes, and performance.
• The Power Lead role requires understanding and remaining current with industry trends, competitors, and key people specific to the Power Market necessary to direct, manage, recruit, and lead the key resources within the Power Group and deliver the BP while at the same time making sure the Group is positioned for the next opportunity.
• The role is an in‑office and an in‑person position. Candidates must be willing to be present in an office. Remote or hybrid situations will not be considered.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or demonstrated substantial leadership within the Power Industry

Skills/Experience:

• 15+ years of Industry experience
• 10+ years of related Engineering Management experience

About Wade Trim:

Wade Trim is committed to maximizing the value of infrastructure investments. We’ve been solving complex engineering challenges for a century. We customize our work approach to fit each project using a collaborative, friendly style to deliver solutions our clients can stand behind.

Our supportive culture recognizes and strives to fulfill collective client, company, and individual needs. Mentoring and building skills of Wade Trim staff is a priority. Frequent interaction among staff is encouraged, company leadership is easily accessible, and opportunities are provided for staff to help shape the firm’s future through strategic planning. Work/life balance is supported through a flexible, hybrid work schedule that brings team members together in the office at least three days a week and connects them virtually when working from home.

To solve our clients’ toughest challenges, we’ve devoted ourselves to delivering innovative solutions. Our Office of Applied Technology (OAT) is dedicated to seeking new technologies or ways to apply existing technologies to enhance value to our clients and positively impact communities. All staff are encouraged to share ideas and suggestions for innovative technologies or processes to adopt. This open‑minded approach enables us to advance technology, foster innovation, and stay ahead of our clients’ needs.

Wade Trim’s success is shared by the employees that make it happen. Since our beginning, our firm has been 100% employee owned. This cultivates an ownership mindset that benefits our work approach, collaborative culture, and ability to deliver client solutions. We believe employee ownership drives the sustainability and growth of our firm and provides all our employees with opportunities for financial success.

Wade Trim is an Affirmitive Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.