Senior Principal – Advisory Services Market Lead

Management and Technology Consulting (MTC) is Stantec’s industry leading management consulting team, recognized in providing asset and organizational performance, financial, economic, funding, planning, and Operational Technology (OT) consulting services to communities and utilities across North America. We partner with our clients to tackle complex problems and design fit-for-purpose solutions and business strategies that address their unique needs. Our team is comprised of experts in their fields that guide our work with analytical rigor, an innovative spirit, and a vision for growth. We’re a place where you can apply your passion and collaborate with top talent on work that’s critical to ensuring sustainable quality of life services in communities of all shapes and sizes. The MTC team is also responsible for the business development and delivery of business technology and consulting services embedded in broader engineering/infrastructure projects and stand-alone projects. Our solutions and services are delivered to clients via stand-alone projects and also embedded in larger projects and programs. OT and MTC are often key differentiating services in these large pursuits.  

Stantec’s OT services span strategy, master planning, condition and readiness assessments, control system planning and design, network / security architecture, vendor selection, procurement support, program management, system integration oversight, commissioning support, staff enablement, governance, and ongoing lifecycle support. We serve as owner’s advisor, owner’s engineer, program manager, technical integrator, or implementation partner depending on client needs and delivery model. We are seeking an experienced candidate to provide leadership, direction on complex and strategic projects, and to drive and deliver growth of our suite of advisory service offerings for MTC and OT across multiple sectors throughout North America.

• Engage with clients and potential clients to understand their needs and problems and apply MTC & OT solutions, solution history, and personal solution history to help Stantec grow.
• Engage as a senior advisor/technical lead in the delivery of projects, providing direction for the delivery of high-quality services on time and within budget fit for the circumstances.
• Work closely with regional leadership throughout North America to identify, create, and incubate opportunities for MTC/OT in multiple regions and across multiple business lines.
• Actively contribute to business development for the MTC/OT team and support Stantec business development in multiple geographies. Lead business development strategies/activities for multiple MTC/OT service offerings and portfolios.
• Engage with and build a network of technology partners, key OT system vendors, and “trusted” delivery partners to identify low-cost opportunities and increase capture rates.
• Recruit, mentor, train, develop, and deploy technical talent and business developers.
• Position OT and MTC as differentiating services in large engineering and infrastructure pursuits, including progressive design-build, design-build, CMAR, program management, and owner’s engineer assignments.
• Work dynamically with project teams to identify best-fit solutions to business, strategic, infrastructure, and operational issues, that involve elevated risk/complexity.
• Engage in and contribute to strategic planning of the MTC and OT teams, focused on business planning and development as well as service offerings/initiatives in response to market drivers.
• Utilize business development tools to maintain and track opportunities, conferences, initiatives, as well as support development of papers on “hot topics” and improve digital presence/branding. 
• Maintain and grow client relationships, participate in industry events/conferences, and lead/engage in responses to client requests, RFQs, and RFPs. Identify and implement process efficiencies.
• Maintain knowledge of water resources financial, organizational, regulatory, funding, asset management, data analytics, AI, and technology issues and emerging trends.
• Serve as an independent reviewer of analysis prepared by peers or junior staff to ensure technical accuracy and appropriateness of methods and tools used and solutions evaluated.
• Meet performance goals and objectives as assigned, with respect to client-specific demands, business development targets, stated delivery milestones, quality standards, project management framework, mentoring of junior staff, and all required training activities.

Your Capabilities and Credentials

• Demonstrated proficiency in utility management and related areas such as (including but not limited to), strategic planning, finance, organizational performance, digital solutions, process improvement, data analytics, PLC and DCS architectures and technology implementations.
• Working knowledge of water and power systems and optimization approaches and techniques. 
• Network of active client contacts and relationships with business development experience.
• Ability to lead and deliver complex assignments that require the application of broad knowledge with a high degree of initiative and independence. 
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office 365 suite of tools including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and MS Teams. Proficiency with Adobe Acrobat Pro and other business systems required.
• Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills.
• Capable of presenting/sharing analyses in an interactive work setting while being able to adjust in a live setting.
• Self-starter capable of efficiently and proactively working independently as well as with a geographically dispersed team on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong sense of Team. Always willing to step in and take on additional responsibility for the good of the entire Team.
• Ability to recommend and implement changes to policies and establish procedures. Provides input to the annual performance process and career development goals of team members.  
• Strong attention to details, as MTC/OT deliverables are open to public review and scrutiny.
• Experience and ability to work across disciplines.
• 20+ years of direct management and supervision responsibilities.
• Experience with municipal and utility services, including asset management, data analytics, and various business and operational technology environments.
• Beneficial to have certification or background in Prosci change management or other equivalent change management or process improvement methods. 
• Beneficial to have experience with project management and PMP certification. 

• Advisory business development: Successful candidates will take the initiative to research and approach new clients and markets to drive growth. They will actively participate in and support sales and account management processes for existing and new clients.
• Collaboration and co-creation; Successful candidates will have the ability to work effectively with individuals of diverse cultures, disciplines and abilities in a cooperative and generative manner, to achieve a common goal.
• Organizational analysis mindset: Top performers will understand the client organizational system, present issues and group dynamics, determine requirements, apply digital fluency in the compilation of data and findings, conducting analyses, and make recommendations for initiatives and mandates.
• Strategic and systematic thinking; Top performers will be able to synthesize different sides of an issue by examining a range of options and outcomes, considering the interconnectedness of elements as parts of a whole system, and building intellectual frameworks to guide decisions, solve problems, support innovation and inform analysis and action.
• Consulting and advising: Top performers will have the ability to think about a task or a problem in a new or different way, to create strategies for disruption, breakthrough and transformation relevant to the organizational environment.
• Creativity and adaptability; Top performers will have the ability to think about a task or a problem in a new or different way, to create strategies for disruption, breakthrough, and transformation.
• Entrepreneurial mindset; Strong candidates will both seek and thrive on all opportunities and risks; Top performers will leverage tenacity and optimism to innovate, effect change, break orthodoxies and create new value for clients.
• Sincere desire to please our clients: Top performers seem to have an innate drive, beyond personal gain, for ensuring that our clients are pleased with our performance and our deliverables, and they realize that providing rigorous, error-free, and unbiased advisory services is a critical step in ensuring the client’s long-term sustainability. Top performers draw on this deeper motivation, as it takes time and effort to drive change with our clients.

B.A. or B.S. in Business, Economics, or Engineering disciplines. MBA or MPA is preferred. 

25 plus years of progressive experience in utility management and/or technology implementations within the water infrastructure industry (or other utility industry) either with a utility and/or as a consultant.

Typical office environment working with computers. Field work may include exposure to the elements including inclement weather.

Willing to travel as needed; mostly regional. Travel may be 20 to 30%. Valid driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record are required.

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.

Stantec is a place where the best and brightest come to build on each other’s talents, do exciting work, and make an impact on the world around us. Join us and redefine your personal best.