Practice Area Leader - Structural Practice Group

About the Role

This position is for the Practice Area Leader of our Structural Practice Group (SPG) in the Charlotte Office (CLT) of Terracon’s Facilities Division. The ideal candidate will have general experience or knowledge across Structural sub-practice areas, including Structural Diagnostics, Remedial Design and Construction, Construction Phase Monitoring, and New Design and Construction. This role aligns with Terracon’s Group Manager position, overseeing a specialty service line that may include a small number of employees, and is a crucial part of the CLT leadership team. Terracon has prioritized this position as a strategic move toward accelerated growth for the CLT and SPG in the Carolinas Region. During this growth period, the role will also include responsibilities of a Senior Project Manager on proposals and projects, especially those of complexity.

Responsibilities

Practice Area Leader

• Supervise the daily operations of the SPG, including staff training, development, and performance review.
• Oversee utilization of equipment and facilities, safety, quality of services and work product, timely delivery of services and deliverables, and adherence to policies and procedures.
• Prepare and execute the annual business plan for the SPG with support from the Department/Office Manager.
• Manage key SPG metrics such as revenue growth, staff chargeability, project billing and collections, and project profitability.
• Support the growth and development of Terracon at all levels, aligning with corporate values and the Corporate Strategic Plan.

Staff

• Work with the Office Manager (OM) and other Practice Area Leaders to support CLT workload and maintain goals.
• Lead, develop, and manage employee staffing plans, recruitment, selection, and onboarding to support workload and growth initiatives.
• Develop, support, and track individual growth plans for SPG staff.
• Identify cross-training opportunities for SPG staff.
• Empower and delegate SPG staff to support SPG and regional initiatives.
• Develop and support sub-practice area leaders as needed.

Business Development

• Perform business and client development activities to identify, develop, win, and execute project opportunities and build client relationships, with support from the Office Manager and Business Development Coordinators (BDC).
• Support the BDC in the region for external business development activities.

Marketing

• Work with the office BDC and regional marketing staff to develop SPG-specific project profiles and service sell sheets.
• Produce and maintain project profiles, including project information databases for completed projects.

Safety/IIF

• Lead safety efforts for the SPG and ensure the team follows safety rules and guidelines.
• Model a safe work environment and demonstrate safety practices.
• Promote pre-task planning for all projects.
• Monitor safety metrics for the SPG and CLT to meet published goals.
• Ensure SPG staff holds and maintains appropriate safety certifications.
• Perform regular site-safety check-ins and coaching for SPG staff.
• Work with the CLT Office Safety Coordinator to respond to office and external initiatives.

Project Management and Delivery

• Monitor all projects in progress in the SPG to ensure timely execution in accordance with client requirements and company policies.
• Lead project management on large and complex projects, including those involving multiple FAC practice areas and/or service lines.
• Define project scopes, schedules, and budgets in collaboration with clients and internal resources.
• Supervise the preparation of proposals and cost estimates to ensure proper scoping, manpower availability, and pricing for profitability.
• Lead interactions with clients and stakeholders to align project execution with their goals.
• Design, communicate, and implement project plans.
• Lead safety efforts, including preparation and compliance with approved safety plans.
• Resolve operational problems and minimize delays.
• Identify, develop, and gather necessary resources to complete projects.
• Prepare designs, work specifications, schedules, budgets, and forecasts; select materials, equipment, project staff, and contractors.
• Estimate costs, resources, and time required for project completion.
• Prepare expenditure forecasts and manage scope and schedule to meet budget.
• Monitor activities, allocate resources, and assign tasks to meet targets.
• Partner with other departments or offices to secure specialized resources.
• Conduct project meetings and prepare reports to communicate project status.
• Coach and mentor project staff and assist in problem-solving.
• Coordinate with Authorized Project Reviewers (APRs) to ensure appropriate oversight and quality reviews.
• Coordinate with accounting for financial management, invoicing, and collections.
• Develop an understanding of project-related risks and protect the company by adhering to risk policies.
• Promote continuous quality monitoring and improvement on projects.
• Engage APRs at the onset of projects and monitor quality standards and practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.
• Minimum 8-11 years’ experience.
• Master’s degree in Engineering preferred.
• Valid driver’s license with acceptable violation history may be required.

Qualifications

• Terracon Authorized Project Reviewer status required.