Area Leader - Northwest - Forensic Architecture & Engineering

J.S. Held is a leading multidisciplinary consulting firm and we are seeking a senior-level Civil/Structural Engineer (PE or SE) to provide technical and operational leadership within our Forensic Architecture and Engineering (FA&E) practice group.  FA&E consists of certified professionals including professional civil/structural and geotechnical engineers, registered architects, code experts, and geologists. This senior leader will develop and lead a local team of professionals who support our clients throughout the U.S.  

This position is focused on providing operational management and technical guidance to the team of local FA&E professionals regarding project management, inspection methodology, client interaction, and deliverable production. Regular monitoring and auditing of the established guidelines will be necessary to ensure compliance and uniformity throughout the division. This senior leader will be continuously looking to ways for improving protocols and standards to provide our clients with an exceptional experience.  In addition to the technical and operational leadership, the Area Lead will report to a Regional Lead on a day-to-day operational basis.  This senior leader will delegate incoming jobs to their team members and provide daily guidance and direction to the team with a focus on ensuring their team is meeting utilization and billing expectations. The leader will be responsible for the budget and P&L for their Area. At mid-year and year-end, this lead will be responsible for reviews, promotions, and compensation adjustments.

Finally, this position will be tasked with leading and helping to coordinate the performing of forensic investigations, providing consultation and expert witness services, preparing and delivering technical papers; and providing mentoring to other FA&E professionals. Our areas of practice include residential, commercial, and industrial buildings’ roofing, fenestration, and building envelopes; marine and inland structural systems; hazard and resulting damage assessments; design and construction defect evaluation; and premise liability evaluations. Assignments will potentially require some travel. Active involvement in professional associations and societies is encouraged and supported.

Job Responsibilities:

This candidate will oversee a local team of global forensic experts and engineers.

• Monitors team performance and metrics including utilization, job status, billable hours, and job count
• Delegates incoming assignments after careful review of which expert’s skillset best fits the job being assigned
• Manages team quality and execution by providing technical and managerial guidance to the Area experts regarding inspection methodology, client interaction, and deliverable production
• Regularly monitors and audits the established guidelines to ensure compliance and uniformity throughout the division
• Continuously offers new avenues for improving protocols and standards to provide our clients with an exceptional experience
• Provides daily operational support to the FA&E Forensics Regional Leads who will report directly to this senior leader
• Takes responsibility for P&L performance and compensation reviews
• Meets with and presents to peers and clients
• Conducts research and develops technical topics for publication
• Conducts field observations, testing and data collection
• Prepares reports detailing observations made, tests conducted, and results obtained