About McElhanney 

Based in Western Canada for over 110 years, McElhanney offers innovative and practical engineering, surveying, mapping, planning, landscape architecture, and environmental services. As a 100% employee-owned and operated firm, with over 1,400 staff members in 33 locations, we are proud to offer qualified staff with shareholding options in our company. At McElhanney, we work in teams to build strong connections with our staff, clients, and local communities. Our employees enjoy working here because of our varied projects, high levels of autonomy, opportunities for career development, excellent total compensation and benefits package, and collaborating with a team of great professionals. 

The Opportunity:

McElhanney is seeking a results-driven leader to play a pivotal role in driving business transformation and strategic growth initiatives across the organization. As we continue to evolve and enhance our operational efficiency, we have an opportunity for a seasoned professional to lead enterprise-wide initiatives that align with our long-term vision as our Strategic Program Director.

We are seeking a strategic-minded professional with a proven track record of leading large-scale business transformation initiatives that enhance organizational efficiency, drive strategic alignment, and support long-term growth. The ideal candidate has a proven ability to engage and align stakeholders across a complex and multi-disciplinary organization to achieve our strategic objectives.

Reporting to the Strategic Program Steering Committee Chairperson and/or Chief Executive Officer, you will lead cross-functional teams, drive change management efforts, and ensure successful delivery of the projects within the transformation program portfolio. Your ability to manage competing priorities, lead diverse teams, and deliver measurable outcomes will be critical to success. To achieve this, you will champion a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and strategic alignment, ensuring that McElhanney remains an industry leader while delivering value to our people, clients, and partners.

The successful candidate will be based in one of our offices in Western Canada and must be willing to travel primarily between Alberta and British Columbia as needed.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Program Leadership & Execution:

• Lead and oversee the full lifecycle of strategic and transformation projects, from strategic planning and design through execution, delivery, and continual improvement.
• Act as the primary point of contact for all transformation program activities, providing regular updates to executive leadership and key stakeholders.
• Lead, mentor, and coach project managers and teams, ensuring team members are empowered and aligned with the program’s vision.
• Support team development through knowledge sharing and professional growth opportunities.

2. Cross-functional Collaboration:

• Work closely with the Strategic Program Steering Committee and the executive leadership team to ensure alignment of transformation initiatives with overall business objectives.
• Foster collaboration across Business Support Services and Operations teams, ensuring program activities are coordinated and integrated seamlessly.
• Working through influence in a matrix organization and with the support of the executive team, secure project delivery resources and ensure they are leveraged efficiently across projects.

3. Work with the Change Management and Communication Leads:

• Act as a positive change agent by demonstrating high emotional intelligence, adaptability and conflict resolutions skills.
• Champion organizational change management efforts, including stakeholder engagement, communication strategies, and risk mitigation plans to foster a culture of openness and adaptability to new processes and technologies.

4. Program Management:

• Establish and maintain metrics and KPIs to track and report on the progress and impact of transformation initiatives in alignment with organizational priorities, both at an individual project / initiative level, and at an overall Program level.
• Working with the assigned Project Manager, establish project management plans for each project / initiative for approval by the Strategic Program Steering Committee.
• Identify potential risks and issues related to the program, develop and implement mitigation plans.
• Lead problem-solving efforts to resolve program roadblocks, escalating critical issues to senior leadership as needed.
• Conduct regular assessments and audits to ensure alignment with strategic goals, implementing continual improvement best practices.
• Leverage technology and data analytics to inform decision-making and optimize business processes.
• Implement best practices and industry benchmarks to drive continuous improvement within transformation projects.

Key Capabilities and Skills:

• Strategic Thinking & Business Acumen: Ability to understand business drivers and strategically align transformation initiatives with organizational goals.
• Project & Program Management: Proven experience in managing large-scale transformational initiatives and programs.
• Leadership & Influence: Ability to influence and manage senior stakeholders, executives, and cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Analytical & Problem-solving Skills: Strong analytical capabilities with a focus on data-driven decision-making and identifying root causes.
• Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
• Technological Proficiency: Familiarity with project management tools, and emerging technologies that can drive organizational transformation.
• Risk & Financial Management: Experience in managing program budgets and mitigating potential risks to ensure successful delivery.
• Change Management Knowledge: Knowledge of change management frameworks (e.g., ADKAR, Kotter) with the ability to manage complex stakeholder dynamics and drive organizational change.

Educational and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, organizational development, or a technical field related to McElhanney is required.
• 7+ years of experience in program or project management
• Experience focused on corporate transformation initiatives would be an asset.
• Proven track record in leading cross-functional, enterprise-wide programs in fast-paced environments.
• PMP (Project Management Professional) designation and/or Lean Six Sigma certification would be an asset

What Can We Offer You?

The salary range for this position is $100,000 to $200,000 per annum. McElhanney offers fair compensation that is commensurate with the individual’s education, experience, skills, and professional qualifications. The posted base salary/wage range is representative of the required level of qualifications and experience for the position as noted in the job posting. The salary offered will be based on the experience and qualifications of the successful candidate.

In addition to a competitive salary, we also offer:

• Opportunity for the right candidate to become a shareholder in an employee-owned company
• Flexible work hours to accommodate your lifestyle
• Great benefits, including extended health and dental coverage, healthcare spending account, and RRSP matching.
• Relocation assistance if applicable
• Maternity leave top-up and parental leave top-up
• Participation in our generous Performance Bonus Plan
• Employee and Family assistance program, which offers 24/7 support for all employees and their families either online or over the phone
• Continuous support for your professional development and growth 

Application Instructions: 

Please include the following in your application:

1. An updated resume that is relevant to the position.
2. A cover letter that includes: 

• • Your motivation for applying for this position, highlighting what specifically attracts you to the role.
  • Explain how your unique blend of skills and experiences would enable you to make a significant impact in this role and at McElhanney.