Canada Federal Principal

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?

Watch Our Story:' https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story'

Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

At HDR, our employee‑ownership model shapes everything we do, including how we support and care for our people. Our diverse service lines, including Water, Architecture, Building Engineering Services, Field Services, Power, Waste, Industrial, and Transportation reflect our commitment to shaping resilient, sustainable, and forward‑thinking communities around the world. Across these disciplines, our teams design and deliver solutions that safeguard public health, enhance quality of life, power innovation, and drive responsible growth. Whether advancing clean water, creating healing and learning environments, engineering next‑generation facilities, or building the infrastructure that moves people and energy, our work is rooted in technical excellence and a shared sense of purpose. Our employee‑owners collaborate across specialties, combining creativity, precision, and deep expertise to solve the most complex challenges facing our clients and communities.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership for growing and developing our HDR Federal (Defence) practice within Canada.
• Develop robust strategic plan, in conjunction with senior leadership, to deliver defined Business Group goals, including financial goals.
• Possess high level project knowledge and status of projects including financial performance and ongoing risk mitigation measures.
• Work collaboratively with our Global Federal leadership team to share learnings and opportunities and leverage the expertise of the Global network.
• As part of the Canadian leadership team, work as a team to ensure the success of HDR’s strategic objectives for the Canada region, including through cross Business Group opportunities.
• Assure that HDR’s brand is elevated and maintained through quality design, innovative planning, client service and thought leadership on projects throughout Canada and beyond.
• Strong strategic thinker with operational execution skills, with a history of initiating, leading, and managing organizational and/or team growth.
• Candidates residing in Ottawa are strongly preferred to support DND/DCC relationships.

Client Relationships

• Proactively identify key relationships and opportunities to foster through networking, research and genuine passion and interest for understanding the existing and future market drivers.
• Develop and nurture strong relationships with key clients within the agreed region and/ or target sector area.
• Build robust relationships with key collaborators, including managing contractors
• Actively participate on projects to advise client, and otherwise add value to our service, the project and the team.

Business Development and Marketing

• Establish Federal sector business development priorities and lead strategies in collaboration with other colleagues and Business Group leadership, for research, market trend analysis, competitor analysis, assessment and application of predictive analytics, network building, and associated target clients etc.
• Work collaboratively to build successful pursuit teams both inside and outside HDR; including teaming partners and sub consultants.
• Provide leadership to the pursuit team in developing effective client capture plans, pre-marketing strategies and relationship building with target clients.
• Develop business case, fee strategies and risk assessment in support of GNG reviews
• Produce project cost estimates and advise on fee negotiations
• Identify and pursue additional fees for work outside HDR agreed scope of services
• Identify and develop strategic partnerships within or outside the Defence industry to support and achieve our strategic business initiatives.
• Lead the development of interview presentation strategies, messaging, and team preparations for winning presentations and interviews.
• Demonstrate local leadership by participating as a thought leader in professional organizations, activities and services that further our business vision, value and relationships.
• Increase the awareness and understanding within the community of HDR’s Federal market sector on a local, regional, and global basis.
• Contribute content for external marketing communications; including special initiatives & events, health delta, conference speaking abstracts, social media, design awards.

• Lead the analysis of RFQs and RFP’s and oversee the development of written proposal responses and ensure timely completion of qualifications packages and proposals.

People and Culture

• Lead, motivate, mentor, advise and develop the current and future leaders within our team providing oversight throughout all stages of the project to enable career development and increase performance and effectiveness of our overall practice.
• Champion and demonstrate HDR values and culture
• Establish and maintain positive stakeholder and project team feedback
• Continual development of own professional skills, knowledge and leadership capabilities
• Participates in program / company training, recognition and awards programs
• Take active role in professional development of others, sharing expertise and knowledge across the business, and present in-house education and training where relevant
  

Strategy

• Contribute to creating the annual sector market plan by establishing annual local fee goals, local marketing budgets, and expected planning outcomes based on measurable goals and action items.
• Work closely with the Leadership Team on overall business annual strategic planning efforts.
• Monitor the overall progress for the Federal market sector within the agreed region and/ or target sector area.
• Provide accurate and current content for standardised reports
• Contribute to the development of business strategy, business plans and operational business improvement initiatives.
• Assist with client / project recovery initiatives

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related field or an equivalent combination of education and related professional experience
• 15 years related experience
• A minimum of 7 years project management experience
• Proficient with Microsoft Office, estimating and scheduling software, project management software
• Must have the ability to interact with various design teams, have excellent organizational, project management and communication (both written and verbal) skills
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must

What We Believe
HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment
As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

At HDR, the health and safety of our employees is of the upmost importance. In accordance with local safety, health, and environmental legislation, HDR is committed to developing, maintaining, and enforcing proactive safe work policies, procedures, and standards.

In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and other applicable legislation, we are committed to meeting the accessibility needs of persons with disabilities. Candidates with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment and selection process by contacting our Human Resources team.

HDR is a certified Living Wage Employer in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta.