What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Engineering position at William H Smith and Associates, Inc.?
WHS provides top quality professional civil engineering, land surveying, construction administration, construction management, inspection and materials testing services for both private and public clients.
The Director of Engineering is a strategic and operational leader responsible for driving the successful execution of engineering services across multiple teams and disciplines. This role partners closely with the Vice President of Engineering to transform organizational strategy into exceptional project delivery, strong financial performance, high-quality outcomes, and a culture of accountability and collaboration.
As a key leader within the organization, the Director oversees the engineering project portfolio, aligns resources to business priorities, and ensures teams are positioned for success. This individual provides leadership and mentorship to Engineering Managers and senior technical staff, fostering professional growth, operational excellence, and consistent client satisfaction.
The Director serves as a trusted advisor for complex project challenges, escalated client concerns, and critical business initiatives. They play an integral role in supporting strategic pursuits, strengthening key client relationships, and driving the long-term success of the engineering organization. While maintaining oversight of technical excellence, this position focuses primarily on leadership, performance, and business outcomes, becoming directly involved in project management or technical production only for major, high-risk, or strategically significant assignments.
PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Operational Leadership and Financial Performance
• Execute the engineering operating plan and annual priorities established by the Vice President, ensuring alignment with WHS and Vistal objectives.
• Manage the consolidated operating budget, forecasts, backlog conversion, utilization, revenue, profitability, and other assigned financial metrics for the engineering group.
• Review operating results with the Vice President and Finance; identify performance variances and implement timely corrective actions.
• Allocate resources among engineering teams, offices, and disciplines, and resolve staffing conflicts that cannot be addressed at the Engineering Manager level.
• Coordinate work-sharing and resource support with other WHS groups and Vistal operating companies.
Project Portfolio and Risk Oversight
• Oversee the engineering project portfolio to ensure projects are properly planned, staffed, managed, and delivered in accordance with approved scope, schedule, budget, quality, and client expectations.
• Establish and enforce project delivery, contracting, project controls, and quality management processes within the engineering group.
• Review and approve major or higher-risk scopes, work plans, fees, schedules, staffing plans, and contract exceptions within delegated authority.
• Monitor significant project risks, write-offs, schedule delays, collection concerns, and client issues; direct recovery plans and escalate material matters to the Vice President.
• Serve as executive sponsor or project leader for selected major, strategic, troubled, or high-risk projects when appropriate.
People Leadership and Organizational Development
• Lead, coach, and hold Engineering Managers and senior technical leaders accountable for team performance, employee development, project delivery, and financial results.
• Develop staffing plans, succession recommendations, career development priorities, and leadership capacity for the engineering group in coordination with the Vice President and Human Resources.
• Participate in recruiting, selection, performance reviews, compensation recommendations, promotions, and retention planning for engineering personnel.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, technical excellence, continuous improvement, and client service.
Client Development and Strategic Support
• Maintain relationships with key clients and assist the Vice President and business development team with major pursuits, interviews, scopes, fees, and win-to-work activities.
• Support development and execution of the engineering business plan by identifying market needs, service opportunities, strategic partnerships, and cross-company capabilities.
• Represent WHS in selected client, industry, community, and professional activities that support the engineering group's reputation and growth.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Minimum of 12 years of progressively responsible engineering experience, including at least 6 years leading managers, multidisciplinary teams, or complex project portfolios.
• Professional Engineer (PE) registration in at least one state, with the ability to obtain registration in additional states as required.
• Demonstrated experience managing group-level budgets, project financial performance, staffing, quality, and operational metrics.
• Strong leadership, judgment, communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Valid driver's license with insurability as required by company policy.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Master's degree in engineering, business administration, or a related field.
• Fifteen or more years of practical engineering experience.
• Eight or more years of management experience, including responsibility for managers or multiple teams.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Experience leading engineering operations across multiple offices, disciplines, or geographic markets.
Benefits
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
The Director of Engineering is a strategic and operational leader responsible for driving the successful execution of engineering services across multiple teams and disciplines. This role partners closely with the Vice President of Engineering to transform organizational strategy into exceptional project delivery, strong financial performance, high-quality outcomes, and a culture of accountability and collaboration.
As a key leader within the organization, the Director oversees the engineering project portfolio, aligns resources to business priorities, and ensures teams are positioned for success. This individual provides leadership and mentorship to Engineering Managers and senior technical staff, fostering professional growth, operational excellence, and consistent client satisfaction.
The Director serves as a trusted advisor for complex project challenges, escalated client concerns, and critical business initiatives. They play an integral role in supporting strategic pursuits, strengthening key client relationships, and driving the long-term success of the engineering organization. While maintaining oversight of technical excellence, this position focuses primarily on leadership, performance, and business outcomes, becoming directly involved in project management or technical production only for major, high-risk, or strategically significant assignments.
PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Operational Leadership and Financial Performance
• Execute the engineering operating plan and annual priorities established by the Vice President, ensuring alignment with WHS and Vistal objectives.
• Manage the consolidated operating budget, forecasts, backlog conversion, utilization, revenue, profitability, and other assigned financial metrics for the engineering group.
• Review operating results with the Vice President and Finance; identify performance variances and implement timely corrective actions.
• Allocate resources among engineering teams, offices, and disciplines, and resolve staffing conflicts that cannot be addressed at the Engineering Manager level.
• Coordinate work-sharing and resource support with other WHS groups and Vistal operating companies.
Project Portfolio and Risk Oversight
• Oversee the engineering project portfolio to ensure projects are properly planned, staffed, managed, and delivered in accordance with approved scope, schedule, budget, quality, and client expectations.
• Establish and enforce project delivery, contracting, project controls, and quality management processes within the engineering group.
• Review and approve major or higher-risk scopes, work plans, fees, schedules, staffing plans, and contract exceptions within delegated authority.
• Monitor significant project risks, write-offs, schedule delays, collection concerns, and client issues; direct recovery plans and escalate material matters to the Vice President.
• Serve as executive sponsor or project leader for selected major, strategic, troubled, or high-risk projects when appropriate.
People Leadership and Organizational Development
• Lead, coach, and hold Engineering Managers and senior technical leaders accountable for team performance, employee development, project delivery, and financial results.
• Develop staffing plans, succession recommendations, career development priorities, and leadership capacity for the engineering group in coordination with the Vice President and Human Resources.
• Participate in recruiting, selection, performance reviews, compensation recommendations, promotions, and retention planning for engineering personnel.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, technical excellence, continuous improvement, and client service.
Client Development and Strategic Support
• Maintain relationships with key clients and assist the Vice President and business development team with major pursuits, interviews, scopes, fees, and win-to-work activities.
• Support development and execution of the engineering business plan by identifying market needs, service opportunities, strategic partnerships, and cross-company capabilities.
• Represent WHS in selected client, industry, community, and professional activities that support the engineering group's reputation and growth.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Minimum of 12 years of progressively responsible engineering experience, including at least 6 years leading managers, multidisciplinary teams, or complex project portfolios.
• Professional Engineer (PE) registration in at least one state, with the ability to obtain registration in additional states as required.
• Demonstrated experience managing group-level budgets, project financial performance, staffing, quality, and operational metrics.
• Strong leadership, judgment, communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Valid driver's license with insurability as required by company policy.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Master's degree in engineering, business administration, or a related field.
• Fifteen or more years of practical engineering experience.
• Eight or more years of management experience, including responsibility for managers or multiple teams.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Experience leading engineering operations across multiple offices, disciplines, or geographic markets.
Benefits
- We're 100% employee owned. Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401K options.
- We offer medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance.
- We recognize the importance of a work/ life balance and offer company- paid holidays, paid parental leave.
- We encourage growth and development of our employees through tuition assistance, professional certification reimbursement and talent development programs.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.