Vice President of Engineering Services

About the role

As the operational vice president at Ayres, you’ll lead a diverse team spanning all four U.S. time zones, with operational control of consulting services for private and public clients locally, regionally, and nationally. You’ll provide administrative leadership to our Engineering Services division, delivering innovative, client-focused solutions for community infrastructure—from planning and design through construction. We seek a vice president with an entrepreneurial spirit and collaborative mindset to drive strategic growth, engage in cross-disciplinary leadership, and play an integral role on our company’s leadership team.

Responsibilities

• Create a divisional vision aligned with the firm’s strategic plan.
• Collaborate and lead the Engineering Services team in executing the divisional strategic plan.
• Foster a work environment rooted in collaboration, transparency, work quality, and client service.
• Prepare the annual divisional budget, complete quarterly forecasts, oversee monthly revenue recognition, and report on financial performance.
• Grow the division in and beyond existing markets in Wisconsin, St. Paul, Minnesota, and Raleigh, North Carolina.
• Pursue business development opportunities, including client contact, marketing initiatives, and client/partner satisfaction.
• Engage in local, state, and/or national professional organizations.
• Champion staff development and mentorship to support career growth.
• Adhere to Ayres policies and procedures while overseeing quality assurance and control measures.
• Build and maintain respectful working relationships with managers and leaders to facilitate decision-making.
• Approve and oversee the preparation and negotiation of contract documents, including scope of work, project schedule, and fee estimates.
• Provide leadership on project production, ensuring work is completed on schedule, profitably, and in conformance with quality standards and contract requirements.
• Make strategic hires in core focus areas to grow the team and develop talent bench strength.

Requirements

• Consulting experience in the A/E (Architecture/Engineering) industry.
• A minimum of 10 years of combined experience in:
  • Strategic planning: leading a business unit toward a clear vision.
  • People development: proven leadership, collaboration, and growth.
  • Market growth: building relationships, leveraging data, and securing projects with a winning strategy.
• Ability to delegate responsibilities and manage multiple priorities.
• Willingness to travel regularly to any company location.
• Valid driver’s license with a good driving record.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering, civil engineering, or a related field. A master’s degree in business is a plus.
• Professional engineering license (desired).
• Proven success in collaborative leadership and cross-selling across service lines.
• Ability to grow the division geographically through expansion of existing service lines.
• Track record of meeting annual business plan goals, including revenue, profitability, staffing, workload backlog, billing, accounts receivable, ROI on capital purchases, and image development.
• Desire to build the Ayres brand at local, state, and national professional meetings/conferences.
• Strong communication skills, client service focus, and business development/marketing experience.
• Ability to think creatively to capture new clients and market share.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Short- and long-term disability and life insurance.
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and 401K with company match.
• Paid time off (PTO), paid holidays (including two floating holidays), and a flexible work schedule.
• Professional development opportunities.

Note: Benefits vary depending on job status. For more details, visit Ayres’ benefits page.