Operations Manager

MatchBox Consulting Group is seeking an Operations Manager – Bridges on behalf of our client for a newly created, highly strategic leadership position within their Bridge sector. Based in either Calgary or Edmonton, this role sits between the Project Management team and Sector Director and will take ownership of the operational and financial performance of the group.

The Operations Manager will oversee approximately 30 direct and indirect reports, including Discipline Leaders, while remaining connected to project delivery with a target of approximately 50–60% project utilization. Candidates from either an engineering consulting environment or the client/owner side will be considered.

• Location: Calgary or Edmonton, AB – Hybrid
• Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time

Responsibilities

• Take full P&L accountability for the functional group, including revenue, margin, profitability, utilization, backlog, and financial performance.
• Develop and own the group's annual operating budget and manage performance against plan.
• Lead the day-to-day operational performance of the Bridge group across multiple projects, teams, and disciplines.
• Oversee approximately 30 direct and indirect reports, including Discipline Leaders and other technical/project leadership.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on time, on budget, and to required quality standards.
• Monitor project portfolios, budgets, schedules, margins, write-offs, work-in-progress, accounts receivable, and backlog.
• Balance project workload, utilization, staffing levels, and future resource requirements.
• Maintain approximately 50–60% project utilization, remaining involved in engineering and project delivery.
• Support Project Managers when project, client, financial, or delivery issues require senior-level intervention.
• Lead staffing decisions, including hiring, performance management, resource allocation, retention, and succession planning.
• Establish and monitor KPIs and operational performance metrics across the group.
• Contribute to annual sector business planning, portfolio planning, and broader strategic initiatives.
• Identify operational, financial, project, resource, and client risks and implement corrective actions.
• Support pursuit planning, client engagement, and business development activities.
• Monitor client satisfaction and profitability across group-managed accounts.
• Mentor technical and project leadership staff and support professional development across the team.
• Work collaboratively across other groups and sectors to share resources, expertise, and opportunities.
• Support the ongoing development of the Bridge sector's organizational structure and leadership capacity.

Qualifications - Must-Haves

• 15+ years of relevant engineering and industry experience.
• Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation.
• Minimum 3+ years of direct P&L responsibility, including ownership of a business unit, cost centre, operational group, or comparable portfolio.
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing annual operating budgets and delivering against financial targets.
• Strong financial literacy with experience managing revenue, margins, profitability, utilization, backlog, and project performance.
• Significant leadership experience managing multidisciplinary technical and/or project teams.
• Experience overseeing project delivery, including budget, schedule, quality, staffing, and performance.
• Strong people leadership experience, including hiring, performance management, mentoring, resource planning, and team development.
• Experience developing and monitoring operational KPIs and performance metrics.
• Strong understanding of engineering project delivery and the ability to remain involved in technical/project work.
• Background within engineering consulting or an owner/client-side engineering organization.
• Relevant post-secondary degree.

Nice-to-Haves

• Experience within bridge, transportation, or major infrastructure engineering.

• Previous leadership of a group of approximately 20–30+ technical professionals.
• Experience leading Discipline Managers, Project Managers, Team Leads, or other technical leaders.
• Experience managing multiple projects, disciplines, geographies, or service lines.
• Consulting experience with responsibility for client relationships, business development, and pursuit planning.
• Owner/client-side experience managing engineering consultants and major infrastructure portfolios.
• Experience with organizational growth, restructuring, succession planning, or building leadership teams.
• Experience progressing from senior technical/project leadership into broader operational or business leadership.

For more current job opportunities, Follow MatchBox at linkedin.com/company/matchbox-recruitment/

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About MatchBox

Headquartered in downtown Vancouver and serving clients nationally, MatchBox is one of the leading recruitment and solutions firms that specializes in the fields of IT & Technology, Engineering & Technical, Real Estate & Construction, and Accounting & Finance. We offer unrivaled expertise with our team's extensive experience in the recruitment and professional services industry. We are dedicated to building great connections and creating strong opportunities within the workforce and the labor market.

Equal Opportunities

MatchBox is committed to providing equal opportunities for all applicants. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, including members of minority groups such as racialized individuals, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and Indigenous peoples. It is a priority for us that all candidates are treated fairly and without discrimination. Our recruitment teams receive ongoing training on using objective criteria for evaluating candidates and other related topics to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.

Work Permits

Please note that we require all interested candidates to obtain the necessary work permits from the Government of Canada prior to submitting an application. This position is open exclusively to individuals residing in Canada and legally authorized to work in Canada. Applications not meeting these criteria will not be considered.

Further Consideration

We receive a high volume of applications and are only able to contact candidates who are selected for further consideration.

Find out more at www.matchboxhr.com
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