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 an entrepreneurial, collaborative leader to drive strategic growth and secure a seat on our company’s leadership team.

Responsibilities

• Create a divisional vision aligned with the firm’s strategic plan.
• Collaborate with and lead the Engineering Services team to execute 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 beyond its existing footprint 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 support decision-making.
• Approve and oversee the preparation and negotiation of contract documents, including scope, schedule, and fee estimates.
• Provide leadership on project production, ensuring work is on schedule, profitable, and meets quality standards.
• Make strategic hires in core focus areas to grow the team and develop talent.

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.
• 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.
• Experience growing a division geographically through expansion of existing service lines.
• Track record of meeting annual business plan goals, including revenue, profitability, staffing, and workload backlog.
• Desire to build the Ayres brand at professional meetings and conferences.
• Strong communication skills, client service focus, and business development experience.

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.

Pay

The salary range for this role is $180,000–$215,000, determined based on market data, education, training, skills, experience, and geographic location.