Job Description

About McElhanney

Based in Western Canada for over 110 years, McElhanney offers innovative and practical engineering, surveying, mapping, planning, landscape architecture, and environmental services. As a 100% employee-owned and operated firm, with over 1,400 staff members in 30+ locations, we are proud to offer qualified staff with shareholding options in our company. At McElhanney, we work in teams to build strong connections with our staff, clients, and local communities. Our employees enjoy working here because of our varied projects, high levels of autonomy, opportunities for career development, excellent total compensation and benefits package, and collaborating with a team of great professionals.



The Opportunity



At McElhanney, we care about each other, our clients, and our communities. With 110+ years of industry leadership and more than 30 offices across Western Canada, we are proud to be employee-owned and values-driven. We are seeking a visionary Environmental Practice Lead to oversee and advance our environmental services across Western Canada and beyond.

Reporting to Executive VP or VP for Market Sectors, this role will shape the future of our Environmental practice by providing enterprise-wide leadership, strategic growth, technical excellence and training and mentoring the next generation of environmental leaders. The Practice Lead will mentor a distributed team of 65+ greenfield and brownfield professionals, foster innovation, strengthen client relationships, and ensure McElhanney remains a trusted advisor for sustainable, technically sound solutions aligned with Strategy 2030.

You will provide enterprise-wide leadership for our growing environmental practice, integrating environmental services across multiple offices to elevate McElhanney's market presence, technical bench strength and develop future leadership capacity. You will influence strategic growth, champion innovation, and position McElhanney as the "go-to" consulting firm of choice.

The successful candidate will likely hold a dual role, depending on their home office location:

1. Environmental Practice Lead (Company-Wide):

Provide strategic leadership for McElhanney's environmental services across Western Canada, acting as the "captain" of our environmental leaders located in other offices.

2. Environmental Manager (Local/Regional):

Directly oversee and support a team of environmental professionals within the office or region where the candidate resides.

The position may be based out of any McElhanney office; however, preference will be given to candidates located in one of our larger offices such as Vancouver/Langley, Victoria, Kelowna, Calgary, or Edmonton with the flexibility to travel periodically to other McElhanney locations as needed.



Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

Lead the development and implementation of McElhanney's Environmental Practice strategy, in collaboration with senior leadership, ensuring alignment with our business strategy Collaborate with Vice Presidents, Branch Managers, Division Managers, and technical leaders to ensure consistent, high-quality service delivery across all offices Lead annual practice planning, quarterly reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives in partnership with local leadership Position McElhanney as the "go-to" environmental service provider for clients and top talent in Western Canada

Client & Market Development

Act as a senior advisor to clients on complex and/or strategic environmental projects Identify and support strategic pursuits, partnerships, and key hires that advance the Environmental Practice Represent McElhanney at industry associations, conferences, and stakeholder forums to raise visibility and strengthen thought leadership Cultivate and support long-term client relationships, ensuring trusted, proactive, and results-driven engagement

Technical & Project Excellence

Provide senior technical direction, guidance, and peer review across environmental disciplines with applicable skill set (e.g., site assessments, remediation, ecology, permitting, water/natural resources, closure planning) Sponsor key projects and pursuits, mentoring project managers and technical staff to ensure positive outcomes Support teams in meeting or exceeding regulatory compliance, schedule, and quality standards, with accountability resting at the branch level Champion the adoption of innovative methods, digital tools, and sustainability approaches to improve service delivery

Talent Development

Mentor and coach environmental professionals across multiple offices to develop our future environmental leaders Act as a practice-wide resource for knowledge sharing, training, and leadership development Foster a culture of safety, collaboration, inclusion, and continuous learning across the environmental discipline Liaise with Technical Service Groups to build discipline-specific organizational capacity by identifying development needs and supporting technical training programs

Practice Integration & Advisory Role

Monitor practice-wide workload, resource sharing, and knowledge transfer, ensuring efficiencies across branches Provide input and advisory support on budgets, forecasts, and KPIs for the Environmental Practice; work with Market Sector Vice Presidents, Branch, and Division Managers to inform financial performance Influence resource allocation and practice priorities in collaboration with business and operational leaders, without direct P&L ownership

Qualifications

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Environmental Science, Environmental or Civil Engineering, Ecology, Geology, or a related field (preferred). A relevant diploma combined with substantial experience will also be considered. Professional designation required (e.g., P.Eng., R.P.Bio., Eng.L. or; equivalent credentials) Minimum of 15 years of progressive environmental consulting experience, ideally in Western Canada, with a record of success in strategic leadership, practice development, technical mentorship, and/or advisory roles. Demonstrated expertise in as many of the key environmental disciplines (e.g., site assessment, remediation, redevelopment, permitting, ecology, natural resource management, waste management & pollution). Proven ability to grow, diversify, and strengthen environmental services in Western Canada. Experience advising clients on environmental approvals and navigating complex infrastructure projects. Exceptional leadership and mentorship skills, with experience managing distributed teams, developing future leaders, and fostering knowledge sharing across the organization. Established reputation with clients, regulators, and peers within the industry. Experience shaping practice strategies, pursuing strategic opportunities, and driving market growth. Strong business acumen, including financial management, forecasting, and strategic planning. Excellent communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels, both internally and externally.

What Can We Offer You?



The salary range for this position is $150,000 to $200,000 per annum along with the opportunity to participate in our generous Performance Bonus Plan and to become a shareholder in our proud employee-owned company.



McElhanney offers fair compensation that is commensurate with the individual's education, experience, skills, and professional qualifications. The posted base salary/wage range is representative of the required level of qualifications and experience for the position as noted in the job posting. The salary offered will be based on the experience and qualifications of the successful candidate.

In addition to a competitive salary, we also offer:

Flexible work hours to accommodate your lifestyle Great benefits, including extended health and dental coverage, healthcare spending account, and RRSP matching. Relocation assistance if applicable Maternity leave top-up and parental leave top-up Employee and Family assistance program, which offers 24/7 support for all employees and their families either online or over the phone Continuous support for your professional development and growth

Application Instructions

Please include the following in your application:

1. An updated resume that is relevant to the position.

2. A cover letter that includes:

Your motivation for applying for this position, highlighting what specifically attracts you to the role. Explain how your unique blend of skills and experiences would enable you to make a significant impact in this role and at McElhanney.

Tentative Hiring Timeline



Application Deadline: October 13, 2025 Screening & Shortlist for Interviews: Week of October 14, 2025 Interviews & Offer: Week of October 27, 2025 Start Date: Before January 31, 2026 (flexible based on candidate transition)

Note to Candidates:

The schedule is suggested, tentative and subject to change, as McElhanney will be reasonably flexible to accommodate what works best for the short-listed candidates and McElhanney. McElhanney's priority is to find the right person and so we are willing to be flexible on the schedule to achieve this.



Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion



At McElhanney, our unwavering commitment lies in cultivating a culture that aligns with our core values and fosters diversity, equity, and inclusion. We celebrate the collective achievements of a team rich in expertise, experiences, and perspectives, and welcome applications from individuals of diverse ethnicities, religions, backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities, aboriginal statuses, various age groups, and those with disabilities. Requests for accommodations can be made at any stage of the selection process. If this job description resonates with you, we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all of the requirements outlined. We're interested in getting to know you and explore the unique contributions you can bring to McElhanney!



If this is the opportunity for you, apply now or visit www.mcelhanney.com/careers to learn more. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.



To learn more about our recognition as Canada's Top 100 Employers (2025), visit Top Employer: McElhanney Ltd. (canadastop100.com).



Visit us on Glassdoor to learn more about our employee experience.

Our Purpose:

Amaze our clients. Care for our communities. Empower our people.



McElhanney is aware of activities where individuals have received fraudulent job offers. Please be advised that McElhanney will not ask applicants for any form of monetary exchange at any point in the recruitment process. To learn more visit: www.mcelhanney.com/careers/fraud-warning. The disclosure of your information in accordance with this Policy and applicable law, including to third party service providers may result in your personal information being transferred outside of Canada, including to the United States. Such transferred personal information may be subject to the laws of these other countries and the laws of other countries regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information may be different from the laws of Canada.