Business Center Operations Leader (BCOL)

About the Role

Reporting to the Regional Business Leader (RBL), the BC Operations Leader (BCOL) is primarily responsible for operational excellence for the BC—achieving financial (bottom line) and performance objectives. The BCOL is responsible for attracting, growing, and retaining top talent while ensuring efficient resource management that is responsive to available workloads. The BCOL will prepare and implement annual operating budgets and BC business plans, partnering with the BC Practice Leader (BCPL) to ensure financial, talent, and growth objectives are met. All leadership roles have a maximum term of 5 years, with the opportunity to reevaluate at the end of the term for succession and company growth.

Responsibilities

• Lead Operations and Drive Business Performance
  • Accountable for continuous improvement and effective management of operational areas within the BC.
  • Reviews BC monthly financial statements, including discretionary spend, and ensures issues are addressed.
  • Monitors forecasting, backlog, EVA, WIP, AFDA, DSO, and utilization to identify and resolve issues.
  • Leads the BC’s annual budgeting process in collaboration with the BCPL.
  • Oversees the BC budget and achieves net revenue, gross margin, SG&A, and operating income targets.
  • Proactively identifies underperformance and develops improvement plans for underperforming operations.
  • Ensures efficient resource management responsive to workloads.
  • Oversees risk management related to office matters, including employee relations.
  • Achieves utilization rate and backlog targets, collaborating with other BCs to drive firmwide utilization.
  • Partners with other BCOLs and RBLs to drive collaboration and work sharing across regions.
• People Leadership
  • Develops, attracts, engages, and retains top talent to increase engagement scores and decrease voluntary turnover.
  • Establishes employee connectedness to leadership through frequent interactions.
  • Partners with BCPL to conduct quarterly office visits and BC-wide meetings to communicate vision, strategy, and progress.
  • Drives improvement of employee engagement by identifying issues and preparing action plans with HR.
  • Recruits talent through internal and external scans, ensuring appropriate staff mix for current and future needs.
  • Maintains correct staffing levels based on workloads.
  • Oversees the talent management lifecycle, including career development, succession planning, coaching, mentoring, diversity and inclusion, and leadership development.
  • Manages performance and compensation in accordance with Stantec’s philosophy, including YEPR, rate review, and STIP/bonus allocation.
  • Ensures compliance with employment legislation and Stantec’s people practices and policies by partnering with Risk Management and HR.
  • Direct reports may include Supervisors/Team Leads and administrative staff.
• Health and Safety
  • Primarily responsible for health and safety performance within the BC, monitoring leading and lagging indicators, and executing the BC Improvement Plan.
  • Ensures compliance with company safety procedures and regulatory requirements, including HSSE management systems and COR audits.
  • Accountable for achieving a Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) of [target] and a Total Injury Rate (TIR) of [target].
  • Aims for a minimum LISI target of 1.0, with a goal of 2.0.
  • Supports RL and RBL with regionally and business-line-focused HSSE processes and communications.
• Broad Leadership Influence
  • Acts as a highly regarded leader, thought partner, and advisor for the BC.
  • Proactively identifies opportunities to reinforce Stantec’s high-performance culture, focusing on talent, productivity, and financial performance.
  • Fosters a success-oriented, accountable environment within the BC.
  • Upholds a corporate culture promoting ethical practices, individual integrity, and customer-focused service delivery.
  • Provides ongoing support to BCPL and RBL for diagnosing and resolving operational issues.
• Practice Support Functions
  • Supports BCPLs in compliance with the ISO-certified Integrated Management System and Project Management (PM) Framework.
  • Holds teams accountable for delivering innovative design solutions and project excellence.
• Client Focus
  • Supports BCPL by ensuring the right people are in the right roles to deliver excellent work and grow market position.
  • Personally involved in key client relationships, strategic project pursuits, and major project leadership.
  • Serves as a key member or lead account manager for major clients of the BC or business line.
  • Aims for individual target utilization of 45% for a BC of less than 50 people and 40% for a BC of more than 50 people.
• Business Development and Collaboration
  • Supports BCPL in promoting collaboration and cross-selling to win new work within the region.
  • Provides market intelligence, competitor insights, pricing trends, and compliance with local labor laws.
  • Participates in risk reviews as necessary.
  • Enhances marketplace reputation by maintaining Stantec’s Integrated Practice in the region, including:
    • Developing and maintaining a cohesive Stantec brand.
    • Key client and account development.
    • Market and community outreach and engagement.
    • Maintaining relationships with local municipal clients, universities, economic development agencies, etc.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in a related field with a minimum of 10 years of related work, leadership, financial management, and consulting experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Professional registration in a related field.
• Typical office environment working with computers and remaining sedentary for long periods of time.
• Field work may include exposure to the elements, including inclement weather.

Pay

In compliance with pay transparency laws, pay ranges are provided for positions in locations where required. Final compensation is based on individual education, qualifications, experience, and work location. Certain roles are bonus-eligible. Part-time compensation will be pro-rated based on agreed working hours.

Benefits

• Regular full-time and part-time employees (working at least 20 hours per week) have access to:
  • Medical, dental, and vision plans.
  • Wellness program, health saving accounts, and flexible spending accounts.
  • 401(k) plan and employee stock purchase program.
  • Life and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) insurance.
  • Short-term/long-term disability plans.
  • Emergency travel benefits and tuition reimbursement.
  • Professional membership fee coverage and paid family leave.
• Regular full-time and part-time employees receive ten paid holidays annually.
• Vacation accrual between 10 and 20 days per year, and paid sick leave (or more if state/local law requires).
• Temporary/casual employees have access to 401(k) plans, employee stock purchase program, and paid leave, in accordance with state and local law.

Schedule

Full time.

Primary Location: United States | TN | Nashville. Other locations may include: United States | FL.