Operations Leader, Edmonton Engineering

About McElhanney

Based in Western Canada for over 110 years, McElhanney offers innovative and practical engineering, surveying, mapping, planning, landscape architecture, and environmental services. As a 100% employee-owned and operated firm, with over 1,500 staff members in 31 locations, we are proud to offer qualified staff with shareholding options in our company. At McElhanney, we work in teams to build strong connections with our staff, clients, and local communities. Our employees enjoy working here because of our varied projects, high levels of autonomy, opportunities for career development, excellent total compensation and benefits package, and collaborating with a team of great professionals.

The Opportunity:

As the Edmonton Engineering branch continues to advance its growth and diversification strategy, building on the strong foundation, and as part of a planned leadership transition to support the branch's future growth and long-term business strategy, we have a leadership opportunity for an enthusiastic, collaborative, and business-minded leader to provide strategic direction and lead its people, operations, financial performance, client relationships, and business development.

We are seeking a seasoned leader with a proven track record of leading diverse, multidisciplinary teams and building strong relationships within Edmonton, Central and Northern Alberta, and the surrounding markets. The successful candidate is motivated by the opportunity to work with regional and company leaders to strengthen existing client relationships, develop new opportunities, expand service offerings, and support sustainable growth of one of the largest employee-owned engineering consulting companies in Western Canada.

McElhanney’s Edmonton Engineering branch is a well-established, multidisciplinary operation comprising more than 80 professionals who serve public and private sector clients throughout Edmonton, the surrounding region, and across Alberta. As part of McElhanney’s Prairies North Region, the branch brings together expertise in municipal and transportation engineering, water resources, civil, land development, bridges and structures, electrical and mechanical engineering, landscape architecture, environmental services, materials testing, and construction services.

The Prairies North Region is one of McElhanney’s growth-oriented regions, bringing together established, multidisciplinary operations across several Alberta communities. Regional teams provide engineering, geomatics, environmental, and other technical services to public and private sector clients across municipal infrastructure, transportation, energy, resource development, land development, and industrial markets. The region operates through a unified leadership approach that promotes collaboration, collective performance, individual accountability, and the sharing of people, expertise, client relationships, and opportunities across branches and disciplines.

As Operations Leader, you will lead a team of consulting professionals in an established and evolving market while identifying opportunities to expand service offerings, client relationships, and geographic reach. You will execute strategic objectives and deliver results across McElhanney’s four cornerstones: People & Communities, Clients & Partners, Processes & Technology, and Financial. You will cultivate a positive and accountable work culture, champion safety and quality, and serve as a catalyst for excellence within the branch, region, and McElhanney.

Central to your success will be your ability to champion a unified, One McElhanney mindset. You will work with the Regional Vice President, regional leaders, and teams across the company to foster collaboration, share expertise and resources, connect opportunities across service lines, and achieve the best outcomes for our people, clients, communities, and employee-owned company. This approach aligns with the regional strategy of making collaboration the default, strengthening multidisciplinary delivery, and sharing knowledge and technical capabilities across Alberta.

Application deadline: November 13, 2026, 11:59pm local time (the displayed expiry date and time above is the same in Eastern time)

What You’ll Do:

Working closely with the Regional Vice President and the Prairies North Regional Leadership Team, you will shape and lead the Edmonton Engineering branch strategy, strengthen relationships with clients and communities, and pursue sustainable growth across Alberta and Western Canada. As a collaborative leader, you will champion a One McElhanney approach by connecting people, expertise, clients, and opportunities across disciplines, branches, and regions so that we grow stronger together.

Business and Strategic Leadership

• Set the strategic direction for the Edmonton Engineering branch in alignment with regional and corporate priorities.
• Collaborate with the RVP, Regional Leadership Team, and leaders across McElhanney to develop and execute strategies that support sustainable growth.
• Translate strategic priorities into clear branch objectives, measurable outcomes, and effective action plans.
• Identify emerging business opportunities, service gaps, and areas where McElhanney can broaden its impact.
• Champion a One McElhanney mindset by connecting capabilities across the company, sharing opportunities, and supporting collective success.
• Promote collaboration across disciplines, branches, and regions to deliver integrated solutions and create greater value for clients.

Clients, Markets, and Community

• Strengthen relationships with existing clients while developing new relationships and expanding McElhanney’s presence in priority markets.
• Identify and pursue high-value cross-selling opportunities by bringing together complementary expertise from across the company.
• Support business development activities, including strategic pursuits, proposal development, client engagement, and relationship management.
• Represent McElhanney at industry, professional association, and community events, serving as an ambassador for the company.
• Build a strong understanding of evolving client, market, and community needs and position the branch to respond with practical, innovative, and multidisciplinary solutions.
• Work collaboratively with teams across McElhanney to pursue opportunities that benefit multiple branches, disciplines, and regions.
  

People and Branch Leadership

• Build, lead, and support an engaged, inclusive, accountable, and high-performing branch culture.
• Establish effective workforce plans that address current and future business needs, including recruitment, succession planning, performance management, employee development, and retention.
• Support employees in growing their careers, developing their leadership capabilities, and reaching their full potential.
• Encourage knowledge-sharing, mentoring, and collaboration across teams, disciplines, and geographic locations.
• Create an environment where employees understand how their work contributes to branch, regional, and company-wide success.
• Model McElhanney’s Purpose and Values by caring for our people, clients, and communities; demonstrating grit, passion, and perseverance; prioritizing safety and respect for all; and taking ownership of results.

Operational and Financial Leadership

• Lead the branch’s operational and financial performance, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and established key performance indicators.
• Manage annual budgets, quarterly forecasts, financial reporting, invoicing, collections, and overall branch financial health.
• Lead workload and resource planning to support effective project delivery, employee sustainability, and collaboration across the company.
• Promote consistent and effective operational practices, including safety, quality management, project delivery, risk management, and continuous improvement.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, strengthen accountability, and enhance the experience of employees and clients.
• Collaborate with other branches and disciplines to share resources, balance workloads, leverage specialized expertise, and deliver the best possible outcomes for McElhanney and its clients.

What You’ll Bring:

• Professional accreditation in a technical field relevant to McElhanney’s business, with eligibility for registration in Alberta where applicable.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in consulting engineering, environmental consulting, or a related professional services environment.
• 5+ years of leadership experience with accountability for people, financial outcomes, and operational performance.
• Strong knowledge of Edmonton and the surrounding regional market, including municipal infrastructure, transportation, land development, and other public- and private-sector opportunities relevant to the branch.
• Demonstrated success working with municipal clients and navigating complex, multidisciplinary infrastructure and development opportunities.
• A strong track record of delivering business performance, market growth, and building trusted, long-term client relationships.
• Demonstrated success leading and developing multidisciplinary teams, building leadership capability, and supporting succession.
• Proven ability to attract, develop, engage, and retain high-performing employees.
• Experience managing business and operational performance within a consulting or professional services environment.
• A demonstrated commitment to community involvement and building meaningful relationships within Edmonton and the surrounding region.
• A collaborative, enterprise-wide perspective, with the ability to connect clients and opportunities with expertise across McElhanney’s disciplines, branches, and regions.

Skills & Attributes for success:

• Proven people leader with the ability to develop teams, drive performance, and lead through change.
• Strong business, financial, and commercial acumen, coupled with sound judgment and decision-making capabilities.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, with a track record of business development and client growth.
• Entrepreneurial and strategic mindset with the ability to identify opportunities and support sustainable growth.
• Collaborative, enterprise-minded leader who champions a One McElhanney approach across regions, disciplines, and service lines.
• Committed to safety, quality, accountability, and fostering McElhanney's employee-owned culture.

What We Offer:

The salary range for this position is $180,000 to $225,000 per annum along with the opportunity to participate in our generous Performance Bonus Plan and to become a shareholder in our proud employee-owned company.

McElhanney offers fair compensation that is commensurate with the individual’s education, experience, skills, and professional qualifications. The posted base salary/wage range is representative of the required level of qualifications and experience for the position as noted in the job posting. The salary offered will be based on the experience and qualifications of the successful candidate.

In addition to a competitive salary, we also offer:

• Flexible work hours to accommodate your lifestyle
• Great benefits, including extended health and dental coverage, healthcare spending account, and RRSP matching.
• Relocation assistance if applicable
• Maternity leave top-up and parental leave top-up
• Employee and Family assistance program, which offers 24/7 support for all employees and their families either online or over the phone
• Continuous support for your professional development and growth

Application Instructions:

Please include the following in your application:

1. An updated resume highlighting your experience and qualifications relevant to the position.
2. A cover letter outlining:

• • Your interest in leading the Edmonton Engineering branch and the impact you hope to make in the role.
  • How your leadership experience, business acumen, and established relationships within the Edmonton market would enable you to contribute to the branch’s success.
  • Your approach to building a high-performing and engaged branch culture.
  • How you would connect people, expertise, clients, and opportunities across McElhanney to support shared and sustainable growth.

This role is designated as a safety sensitive position.

Tentative Hiring Timeline:

• Posting Date: October 2, 2026

• Application Deadline: November 13, 2026, 11:59pm local time
• Panel Interviews: November 23 - December 4, 2026
• Start Date: January 2027 (flexible based on candidate transition)
  
  

Note to Candidates: The schedule is suggested, tentative and subject to change, and will be reasonably flexible to accommodate what works best for the short-listed candidates and the hiring committee.

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

At McElhanney, our unwavering commitment lies in cultivating a culture that aligns with our core values and fosters diversity, equity, and inclusion. We celebrate the collective achievements of a team rich in expertise, experiences, and perspectives, and welcome applications from individuals of diverse ethnicities, religions, backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities, aboriginal statuses, various age groups, and those with disabilities. Requests for accommodations can be made at any stage of the selection process. If this job description resonates with you, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all of the requirements outlined. We’re interested in getting to know you and explore the unique contributions you can bring to McElhanney!

If this is the opportunity for you, apply now or visit www.mcelhanney.com/careers to learn more. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Learn more about our recognition here: McElhanney Requalifies as a Gold Standard Best Managed Company!

Visit us on Glassdoor to learn more about our employee experience.

Our Purpose: Amaze our clients. Care for our communities. Empower our people.

McElhanney is aware of activities where individuals have received fraudulent job offers. Please be advised that McElhanney will not ask applicants for any form of monetary exchange at any point in the recruitment process. To learn more visit: www.mcelhanney.com/careers/fraud-warning. The disclosure of your information in accordance with this Policy and applicable law, including to third party service providers may result in your personal information being transferred outside of Canada, including to the United States. Such transferred personal information may be subject to the laws of these other countries and the laws of other countries regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information may be different from the laws of Canada.