Fire Protection & Plumbing Associate Director

About the role

A nationally recognized engineering consulting firm specializing in mission-critical facilities, advanced infrastructure, and high-performance building systems is seeking a Fire Protection & Plumbing Associate Director to lead technical excellence, operational strategy, and client delivery across a growing portfolio of complex projects. This is a unique leadership opportunity for an experienced fire protection or plumbing engineering professional who thrives at the intersection of technical expertise, team leadership, business development, and strategic planning. The role offers the ability to influence company-wide standards, mentor engineering teams, drive client relationships, and help shape the future direction of a rapidly growing mission-critical practice.

Responsibilities

• Partner with executive leadership to develop and execute department-wide strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Lead staffing, resource planning, workforce development, and succession planning initiatives.
• Drive continuous improvement efforts across engineering operations, quality processes, and project execution.
• Identify organizational gaps, develop improvement plans, and oversee implementation efforts.
• Establish and maintain engineering standards, procedures, and QA/QC processes.
• Oversee departmental staffing, budgeting, workload forecasting, and utilization planning.
• Guide managers and technical leaders while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and professional development.
• Support organizational change initiatives and operational growth.
• Serve as a senior client leader for strategic accounts and critical programs.
• Build long-term relationships with key stakeholders and act as an escalation point for major issues.
• Lead business development activities, pipeline management, and revenue growth initiatives.
• Monitor program performance through financial metrics, KPIs, and client feedback.
• Collaborate with internal teams to develop growth strategies and expand service offerings.
• Champion the use of technology, data analytics, and AI-enabled tools to improve engineering processes and business operations.
• Evaluate and implement new digital platforms, reporting tools, and workflow automation solutions.
• Leverage data-driven insights to improve forecasting, quality, resource planning, and decision-making.
• Promote innovation and continuous improvement throughout the organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Fire Protection Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• 13+ years of fire protection, plumbing, or related engineering experience.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing teams, programs, or engineering operations.
• Strong background in client management, strategic planning, and project delivery.
• Experience overseeing budgets, staffing plans, and departmental initiatives.

Qualifications

• Mission-critical, data center, hyperscale, healthcare, industrial, or other complex infrastructure experience.
• Proven business development and client growth experience.
• Familiarity with CRM, ERP, project management, and data analytics platforms.
• Experience implementing technology-driven process improvements and automation initiatives.

Skills

• Executive-level communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to build and lead high-performing technical teams.
• Strong business acumen with a focus on operational excellence and client success.
• Strategic mindset balanced with hands-on execution capabilities.
• Passion for innovation, technology adoption, and continuous improvement.

Pay

Compensation: $180,000-$250,000 Base Salary + Bonus + Long-Term Incentives + Comprehensive Benefits

Schedule

Travel up to 25% travel throughout the United States. Travel may include client meetings, project site visits, company events, business development activities, and industry conferences.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Multiple healthcare plan options, including HSA-compatible plans.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Generous PTO and paid company holidays.
• Company-paid life insurance, disability, and AD&D coverage.
• Professional development, tuition assistance, and licensing support.
• Paid parental leave.
• Remote work flexibility with nationwide opportunities.