Director-Toronto, Canada

Diales Plc is a global, multidisciplinary consultancy firm which has operated for over 45 years, providing commercial and dispute related services to the construction, surety, and engineering industries.

Diales Canada, as part of the global Diales Plc group, provide consultancy, dispute resolution and commercial services within Canada and around the globe. These services include expert analysis and testimony for construction and engineering claims.

Our areas of expertise include analysis of technical engineering matters, delays, disruption and additional costs analysis, disputed additional work, duty of care issues and other relevant issues to international engineering, insurance and construction companies, owners, financers, insurers, and other construction industry clients.

The position:

Diales Canada are seeking to appoint an experienced and motivated Director to lead a team in Toronto and grow the business within Ontario and throughout Canada.

As a Director you will be responsible for developing, managing and leading a team of skilled professionals to assist clients through complex issues related to the construction industry.

In collaboration with the Country Director, this key role offers the opportunity to help shape the focus and direction for Diales Canada with the full support of a leading global consultancy.

As the Toronto Director you will need demonstrable experience working within the construction industry and have experience dealing with construction claims . Experience and contacts within the Canadian construction market would be an asset.

Main duties will include:

• Developing, leading, and mentoring a team of construction claim professionals of varying degrees of experience.
• With the support of the Country Director and a global consultancy firm, developing existing and new relationships within the construction and legal industry to bring in fee earning work.
• Undertaking and leading fee earning assignments with respect to live and retrospective claims and disputes.
• Meeting with clients and client’s legal counsel in connection with dispute related work.
• Preparing settlement, adjudication, mediation, arbitration, and litigation expert reports relating to delay, disruption, quantum, duty of care and technical issues in the construction industry.
• Providing verbal expert testimony based on expert reports for delay, disruption, quantum, duty of care and technical issues.
• Advising clients on contract and commercial strategy, schedule, risks, and opportunities.
• Take on Operational Director responsibilities when required by the Country Manager.
• Creating and presenting dispute related presentations to various parties within the construction and legal industry.
• Working with industry organizations such as AACE, SCL-NA, CIOB, CBA and CCA.
• Although Diales works globally in a virtual environment, travel may be required.
• Although Diales works a hybrid work location model, working in the Diales downtown Toronto office will be required one or more days a week.

Key candidate criteria:

• Established contacts and experience in the engineering, construction, and/or legal communities in Canada with a focus on the Ontario market.
• Experience with construction disputes within the Canadian construction industry.
• Demonstrable experience of identifying, bidding, securing, and completing construction claim related fee earning work in Canada with a focus on the Ontario market.
• A degree in Engineering or Architecture and the ability to be qualified by the relevant professional body in Ontario. Those possessing a Master of Law, would possess an advantage.
• Experience as an appointed Expert who has produced expert reports for adjudication, arbitration, or litigation proceedings with references and/or redacted reports available for review.
• Experience as an appointed Expert Witness in adjudication, arbitration, or litigation proceedings with lawyer references available would be an asset.
• Strong leadership and team building and mentoring skills.
• Strong and successful track record in business development.
• Excellent written and verbal technical communication skills in English. Those possessing excellent written and verbal technical communication skills in Canadian French, although not essential, would possess an advantage.
• Excellent public speaking skills.
• Experience engaging with construction industry organizations in Canada, with a focus on Ontario, including but not limited to AACE, OGCA, CCA, SCL-NA.
• Willingness to travel both domestically and internationally when required.

Additional criteria which would be advantageous but not essential for candidates:

• A Master of Laws (LLM) or other legal education
• M.Eng, MBA and/or post-graduate qualifications
• Recognized certification as either a PSP or a CFCC with AACE International
• Experienced on the board(s) of construction industry organization(s)
• Publication of peer reviewed papers