Principal/Senior Principal, Geologist/Engineer

Your Opportunity 

We are looking for a highly motivated Principal/Senior Principal Consultant with a demonstrated ability to win work, grow client relationships, and lead high-performing teams in a seller-doer capacity. This leadership role will be focused on expanding our market presence throughout Orange and surrounding Counties (and beyond) by leveraging existing industry relationships, identifying emerging opportunities, and delivering innovative environmental solutions that create value for our clients. The successful candidate will be expected to drive revenue growth, mentor staff, and serve as a visible leader within the regional business community while maintaining excellence in project execution and client satisfaction. 

You will be joining a highly collaborative and client-focused team that is committed to technical excellence, business growth, and professional development. This position offers significant opportunities for career advancement, leadership development, and increased responsibility for the successful candidate, along with the ability to shape the growth and direction of our Orange County practice.

Preferred Location: Orange County/Surrounding Counties (Stantec office Locations: Irvine, Los Angeles, Pasadena, Long Beach Offices) 

Key Roles and Responsibilities

Business Development & Client Growth

• Develop, maintain, and expand relationships with existing and prospective clients throughout Orange County and Southern California.
• Identify, qualify, and capture new business opportunities that align with the firm's strategic growth objectives.
• Lead proposal development, presentations, interviews, and contract negotiations to secure new work.
• Achieve annual sales, revenue growth, and backlog targets through proactive business development efforts.
• Represent the firm at industry conferences, professional associations, and community events to enhance market visibility and generate leads.
• Collaborate with regional and national practice leaders to pursue strategic opportunities and key client accounts.

Client Relationship and Account Management

• Serve as a trusted advisor to clients, providing strategic guidance and technical solutions that support client objectives.
• Foster long-term client partnerships through exceptional service, responsiveness, and successful project delivery.
• Understand client business drivers, regulatory challenges, and capital investment priorities to identify emerging opportunities.
• Lead key account planning and client engagement activities to increase market share and client satisfaction.

Technical and Project Leadership

• Provide senior-level technical oversight and strategic direction for complex environmental consulting projects.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with quality standards.
• Serve as a technical resource and mentor for project managers, technical staff, and emerging leaders.
• Review major deliverables, work plans, reports, and regulatory submissions to ensure technical excellence and defensibility.
• Support innovative solutions that address environmental, regulatory, redevelopment, and sustainability challenges.

Leadership, Collaboration & Team Development

• Mentor and develop staff through coaching, technical guidance, and career development planning.
• Support recruitment, retention, and succession planning efforts within the Orange County practice.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, safety, quality, and client service excellence.
• Build and lead multi-disciplinary teams to pursue and execute strategic projects

Financial Management

• Maintain accountability for the financial performance of projects and client portfolios.
• Support annual business planning, forecasting, and budgeting processes.
• Monitor project profitability, utilization, accounts receivable, and key business metrics.
• Collaborate with operational leadership to achieve revenue, backlog, and margin goals.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Demonstrated success as a seller-doer with a collaborative mindset and proven ability to generate revenue and grow client relationships.
• Established network of client and industry contacts within Orange County and Southern California.
• Strong understanding of environmental consulting, regulatory compliance, due diligence, remediation, redevelopment, and infrastructure projects.
• Excellent communication, leadership, negotiation, and business development skills.
• Proven ability to lead large, complex projects and multidisciplinary teams.

Success in this role will be measured by revenue growth, client retention, new project wins, technical leadership, staff development, and overall contribution to the growth and profitability of the Orange County area and business center.

Your Capabilities and Credentials

• Experience managing projects and portfolios with capital expenditures in excess of $4-10M. 
• Work in the environmental services area on due diligence, site assessment and remediation projects for a diverse range of existing and new/targeted clients across multiple sectors.
• Supervision of up to 5-8 project managers and project geologic, engineering and scientific staff. 
• Extensive experience with working with public sector, city and county clients within federal/state/county/city regulatory jurisdictions.
• Good driving record and valid driver’s license. 

Education and Experience

• Geologic, Engineering, or Science Degree
• Minimum 15 years of engineering experience. 
• OSHA 40-Hr. HAZWOPER - preferred

Typical office environment working with computers and remaining sedentary for long periods of time. Field work may include exposure to the elements including inclement weather.

This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee and other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice.

About Stantec
Stantec is a global leader in sustainable engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting. The diverse perspectives of our partners and interested parties drive us to think beyond what’s previously been done on critical issues like climate change, digital transformation, and future-proofing our cities and infrastructure. We innovate at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships to advance communities everywhere, so that together we can redefine what’s possible.
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