What are the responsibilities and job description for the Vice President of Engineering position at Purple Squirrel Advisors?
The Vice President of Engineering/Chief Operating Officer will play a pivotal role in leading and optimizing the operations of a growing civil engineering firm with a strong foundation and ambitious plans for the future. Reporting directly to the Owner, this executive will oversee both engineering and business operations, driving efficiencies, improving profit margins, and supporting sustainable, strategic growth.
This role is centered on executive leadership rather than day-to-day project design. The ideal leader brings a deep understanding of how an engineering firm operates, with the ability to identify operational bottlenecks and implement scalable processes that enhance performance across teams.
Working closely with the existing leadership team, including the current operational lead who is expected to retire in the coming years, this position offers a clear runway to assume broader day-to-day leadership of the business. In partnership with technical and business development leaders, the Vice President of Engineering/COO will help shape strategy, support client growth particularly in municipal and commercial markets, and ensure that resources, workload, and pricing are aligned for long-term success.
With the autonomy to refine operational structure, strengthen culture and retention, and reinforce a people-first philosophy, this role represents a unique opportunity to step into a key executive position within a profitable, growing firm. The impact will be both immediate and lasting, influencing not only performance today but the leadership structure and trajectory of the organization for years to come.
Operational & Business Leadership
- Partner closely with ownership and senior leadership on staffing strategy, workload planning, and responsible growth pacing.
- Help optimize utilization, project flow, and handoffs across engineering, surveying, and field services.
- Evaluate and improve internal processes, particularly within engineering, where systems and workflows are improving but still evolving.
- Support forecasting, analytics, and financial discipline including capture rates, billable versus non-billable time, pricing strategy, and margin improvement.
Client & Public-Facing Leadership
- Represent the firm in planning commission meetings, public hearings, and homeowner or community forums.
- Confidently address objections, manage public sentiment, and proactively anticipate stakeholder concerns.
- Support business development efforts by strengthening relationships with developers, builders, municipalities, and strategic partners.
Strategic Growth Support
- Contribute to executive discussions around long-term growth, service expansion, and potential acquisitions.
- Help ensure engineering capacity scales in line with demand without sacrificing quality, culture, or profitability.
- Provide technical leadership and mentorship to senior engineers, project managers, and EITs who are still developing full project ownership capability
Experience & Background
- Proven leadership experience in civil engineering or closely related land development services, with responsibility for project delivery, team performance, and profitability.
Leadership Style & Personal Attributes
- Polished, confident communicator with executive presence, comfortable presenting projects in public forums, handling homeowner and community questions, and serving as a key face of the firm with municipalities and clients
- Demonstrated success managing and growing client relationships with developers, builders, and/or commercial clients, and comfort representing the firm in municipal settings such as planning commissions and public meetings
- Excellent communication and client-facing skills, demonstrating a team-first attitude and the ability to work closely with senior leadership and external stakeholders, confidently representing the firm in planning commission meetings, public hearings, and homeowner forums.
Additional Preferences
- Experience in residential engineering
Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or related field
- Professional Engineer license strongly preferred.
- Experience with AutoCAD Civil 3D is a plus
- 10-15 years of experience in a civil engineering, land development, or land surveying environment.
- Advanced proficiency in Excel
- Strong written and verbal communication skills