Transmission Department Manager (Phoenix)

The Transmission Department Manager will provide leadership and direction for the Southwest Region (SWR) department within the Transmission & Distribution (T&D) Global Practice. This pivotal role will lead a dynamic team of engineering professionals, ensure technical and project delivery excellence, and drive strategic initiatives that support profitable, sustainable growth. The position will balance execution excellence and innovation with a strong emphasis on culture, diversity, safety, and talent development.

Key Responsibilities

People Leadership, Culture & Development

• Lead by example and foster a dynamic department focused on creating an atmosphere and environment for all.

• Actively embody and foster a culture based on MacCulture principles, quality, diversity and inclusion, team cohesion, camaraderie, ownership, innovation, and teamwork.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of engineers and designers through effective recruitment, coaching, performance management, and regular check-ins.

• Provide leadership across multiple offices within the SWR footprint, ensuring consistency, collaboration, equitable support, and in-person intra-departmental coordination.

• Serve as a mentor and coach to the team you directly manage, advocate for staff, and support individualized career development and growth plans.

• Identify training needs, assist in the development of training, and support execution of training and mentorship programs that strengthen technical excellence and EPC delivery skills.

• Organize, lead, and conduct the annual performance appraisal process, and work with Human Resources to prepare, communicate, and monitor performance improvement plans as needed.

Recruiting, Interviewing, Hiring, Onboarding & Retention

• Proactively recruit top college graduates and experienced engineers and designers through coordinated efforts with Human Resources, staff referrals, universities, and industry networks.

• Interview with intention, assess and hire prospective candidates while remaining diligent to uncover and combat unconscious bias throughout the interview process.

• Oversee onboarding for interns, new graduates, experienced hires, transfers, and converted contract employees transitioning into the business line.

• Support Human Resources on educational partnerships and internship programs, and establish measures that increase staff retention.

Project Execution & Technical Excellence

• Serve as a senior technical advisor on transmission projects across the region and support QA/QC processes as needed to advance department staff and maintain delivery excellence.

• Monitor project performance and take corrective actions to ensure targets for quality, schedule, and budget are met.

• Support compliance with the T&D Quality Management System and advocate for safety within the transmission business line, driving a culture focused on safety and compliance with company and site safety policies.

• Encourage an innovation culture that challenges the norm and utilizes tools, technology, and processes to drive continuous improvement, engineering outcomes, and project efficiency.

• Collaborate with Burns & McDonnell India and cross-regional leadership to optimize resource planning and technical direction.

Strategic Planning, Business Growth & Collaboration

• Set policies, procedures, and strategic goals for the department and contribute to the development and execution of the transmission business plan, including SWOT analysis and vision setting.

• Be proactive in thought leadership to enhance profitability and growth, and actively participate in conferences and related activities to promote the firm’s capabilities.

• Partner with Marketing, Projects Director, Account Management, Project Managers, and other key leadership to pursue opportunities, support sales strategies, strengthen client relationships, and evaluate alignment with regional priorities.

• Proactively share information with the local team, regional partners, national transmission business line leadership, and other department managers to share best practices and continue process improvements.

• Collaborate on shared client work with other T&D departments and regional offices to reinforce One Burns & McDonnell.

Operational, Resource & Financial Oversight

• Establish and proactively communicate the vision, expectations, requirements, processes, and guidelines needed to meet department, global practice, and company objectives.

• Regularly review staff utilization to ensure employees have a clear development path, are supported appropriately, and are leveraged to their strengths and skill sets.

• Lead coordination of work in the department, including making assignments and reviewing performance to ensure efficient, cost-effective utilization of staff.

• Ensure profitable and sustainable growth of the transmission department through effective staffing, workload balance, chargeability oversight, overhead labor investment, and project performance monitoring.

• Lead continuous improvement efforts in delivery efficiency, processes, organizational consistency, and implementation of project management systems and specialized market offerings, including EPC and program management solutions.