Geotechnical Branch Manager

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

An established engineering consultancy is seeking an experienced Geotechnical Leader to lead its Milwaukee operation.

This is a senior leadership position combining business development, people management, operational oversight, and technical leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development and Growth

A significant portion of the position will focus on business development and market growth.

• Develop and maintain relationships with contractors, developers, architects, engineers, and public-sector clients
• Identify and pursue new CMT and geotechnical opportunities throughout the local market
• Strengthen existing client relationships and generate repeat business
• Lead proposal development, fee negotiations, and project pursuits
• Represent the branch at industry events, client meetings, and professional organisations
• Develop a clear growth strategy for the office
• Expand the branch's geotechnical service offering and market presence
• Collaborate with internal leaders and technical resources to pursue larger or more complex opportunities

Branch Leadership

• Take overall responsibility for the performance and direction of the Milwaukee branch
• Lead, manage, and develop a multidisciplinary team across CMT and geotechnical services
• Establish clear expectations, accountability, and communication across the office
• Improve team structure, delegation, and day-to-day management
• Recruit, retain, and develop engineers, project managers, laboratory personnel, and field technicians
• Mentor emerging leaders and create opportunities for professional progression
• Build a collaborative, commercially focused, and client-oriented office culture
• Work closely with internal leadership to align the branch with wider company objectives

Operational Management

• Oversee the successful delivery of CMT and geotechnical projects
• Monitor branch revenue, profitability, utilisation, backlog, and operational performance
• Coordinate workloads and resources across engineering, laboratory, and field operations
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and in line with client expectations
• Maintain high standards of quality, documentation, and technical accuracy
• Support effective communication between engineers, project managers, field teams, and laboratory staff
• Identify operational shortcomings and introduce practical improvements
• Ensure the branch has the people, systems, and resources required to support continued growth

Technical Oversight

• Provide senior-level oversight across CMT and geotechnical projects
• Support technical reviews and quality-control procedures
• Ensure appropriate technical professionals are available to review and sign off on work when required
• Maintain compliance with applicable technical standards, accreditation requirements, and company procedures
• Guide teams through technical, operational, and client-related challenges
• Serve as a senior point of contact for key clients and complex projects

Experience and Qualifications

• Significant experience within CMT, geotechnical engineering, or a closely related consulting environment
• Demonstrated success managing technical, laboratory, field, or project-delivery teams
• Strong people-management skills, including the ability to establish accountability and develop employees
• Proven client relationship and business-development capabilities
• Understanding of branch operations, financial performance, resource planning, and project delivery
• Ability to manage both technical professionals and field-based personnel
• Strong communication, leadership, and commercial decision-making skills
• Knowledge of the Milwaukee or wider Wisconsin engineering and construction market would be advantageous
• A bachelor's degree in civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, geology, construction management, or a related discipline is preferred
• A Professional Engineer licence is preferred but not necessarily required, depending on the candidate's background, technical capabilities, and access to appropriate internal sign-off resources

What Will Define Success?

The successful Branch Manager will:

• Build a stronger and more accountable local team
• Improve communication between branch leadership, engineers, laboratory personnel, and field staff
• Protect and expand the established CMT operation
• Grow the geotechnical portion of the business
• Develop strong, long-term client relationships
• Increase revenue, profitability, and market visibility
• Recruit and develop future leaders within the branch
• Create a clear strategy for the office's long-term growth

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Full leadership responsibility for an established local operation
• Significant influence over hiring, team structure, and office culture
• Opportunity to lead both CMT and geotechnical services
• Strong business-development and client-facing responsibility
• Ability to expand an existing geotechnical offering
• High visibility and direct interaction with internal leadership
• Opportunity to make a measurable impact on the office's performance and future direction
• Clear progression beyond departmental management into broader branch and business leadership