Department Manager Jobs in Alberta (NOW HIRING)

Opportunity Overview:

WATT Consulting Group is expanding its geotechnical practice as part of a broader growth strategy, and we're looking for a Practice Lead, Geotechnical to help shape what that practice becomes. This is a build role, not a maintain role for someone who wants real input into technical direction, team structure, and how geotechnical fits into WATT's integrated delivery model, rather than stepping into a department that's already fully built out.

WATT is a multidisciplinary consulting firm with established capabilities in civil, geotechnical, and transportation engineering, as well as geomatics and is backed by a platform focused on growing AEC firms across Western Canada. This role has a clear path to expand in scope as that growth materializes.

We're looking for a senior geotechnical professional who brings strong technical judgment, client credibility, and comfort building a practice from a strong existing base. You'll own technical standards and delivery quality for the geotechnical practice, mentor and develop staff, and have a direct hand in how the team grows all while contributing to a broader full-service offering for WATT's clients.

This role is well suited to someone who enjoys technical leadership, client relationships, team development, and the opportunity to shape a growing practice within an established consulting business.

The Role:

As Geotechnical Practice Lead, you will provide senior technical and practice leadership for WATT's geotechnical services working closely with our civil, transportation, geomatics, land development, municipal, and infrastructure teams to integrate geotechnical input early into project planning, design, construction, and client service. With the support of a BD team, you'll grow the practice's client base and service offering while maintaining direct technical oversight of its core work investigations, construction monitoring, proposals, reporting, and field program coordination and setting the technical and safety standards the rest of the team works to.

What This Role Offers

• The chance to build and shape a growing technical practice not inherit a finished one
• Direct influence over technical standards, service offerings, and team growth
• A running start alongside WATT's established civil, transportation, geomatics, and land development teams
• Room to stay technically engaged while growing into a broader leadership and business development role
• Mentorship from WATT's senior leadership as you build the practice

Areas of Technical Leadership:

The ideal candidate will bring broad consulting and engineering design experience in areas such as:

• Shallow and deep foundations
• Deep excavations and shoring systems
• Retaining structure design
• Slope stability analysis
• Ground improvement
• Micropiles and specialty foundations
• Pavement and subgrade support
• Earthworks and construction monitoring
• Drainage and groundwater control
• Utility installation, including open cut and trenchless construction
• Transportation and municipal infrastructure
• Low impact development support
• Value engineering and constructability input

The successful candidate does not need to have experience in every area listed, but should bring the technical breadth, professional judgment, and leadership ability to help expand WATT's geotechnical capabilities over time.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Practice Leadership & Growth
   • Lead the continued development of WATT's geotechnical practice services, staffing, technical standards, and growth priorities
   • Identify and pursue opportunities to integrate geotechnical work into WATT's civil, transportation, land development, municipal, and geomatics projects
   • Build client relationships and support business development, proposal strategy, and market positioning
   • Partner with the team on business planning and staffing strategy for the practice
2. Technical Leadership & Quality
   • Provide senior technical oversight for investigations, analysis, design, and construction monitoring
   • Review and sign technical reports, drawings, and recommendations; provide Engineer of Record support where required
   • Set and strengthen quality assurance, risk management, and professional practice standards
   • Support multidisciplinary teams with geotechnical input from early planning through construction
3. Project & Team Management
   • Manage geotechnical projects end-to-end: scope, schedule, budget, quality, and financial performance
   • Ensure team coordinates labs, drilling contractors, subcontractors, and internal teams
   • Recruit, mentor, and develop geotechnical engineers, technologists, and field staff
   • Build a team culture grounded in safety, accountability, and technical excellence
4. Practice Leadership & Growth
   • Accountable for the financial performance, utilization, and growth of the geotechnical practice
   • Develop annual business plans, growth targets, and resource requirements for the practice
   • Monitor project and practice-level financial performance and implement corrective actions as required

Desired Experience and Qualifications:

• Professional Engineer registered with APEGA, or eligible for registration in Alberta
• Ideally 10+ years of progressive geotechnical consulting experience; strong candidates with less experience and clear leadership capability may also be considered
• Broad technical experience across investigations, foundations, slopes, retaining structures, excavation support, pavements, groundwater, and infrastructure
• Demonstrated experience leading geotechnical work within multidisciplinary teams, including client development and proposal work
• Experience managing teams, projects, budgets, schedules, and quality assurance
• Strong understanding of Alberta and Western Canadian geotechnical conditions and consulting markets is an asset

The Ideal Candidate

You've likely been a senior engineer, team lead, manager, principal, or owner in a consulting environment someone who understands both the technical and commercial sides of professional services, and who's ready to grow your career and build something rather than maintain it.

Why WATT

WATT values Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Respect, and Teamwork and is looking for someone who brings strong professional judgment, care for people, and pride in high-quality work to a practice they'll help define.