Associate Director of Engineering, Protection & Control

The Substation Engineering Department is seeking an Associate Director to help lead our Protection & Controls group. This hybrid position is based in Columbus, OH; Jackson, MI; or Orlando, FL, and plays a critical leadership role in engineering operations, staff development, project performance, and client engagement.

The Associate Director will work closely with the Director of Engineering to provide hands-on leadership and strategic insight. This individual will guide technical teams, ensure successful project execution, promote process efficiency, and contribute to department-wide improvements and growth strategies.

Key Responsibilities:

Team & Operations Leadership

- Lead the Protection & Controls team, driving accountability for quality, efficiency, and performance

- Communicate department goals, monitor progress on goals and help develop action plans for achievement of goals.

- Communicate corporate updates effectively to team members

- Discuss and plan project pipelines with Managers, Project Managers, and Business Development for proper staff utilization

- Develop succession and realignment plans to support future growth and technical delegation

People Development & Engagement

- Mentor direct and indirect staff, supporting technical development and career advancement

- Lead staff retention strategies through meaningful engagement and strategic staffing decisions

- Provide input and coordinate discussions around training, hiring, and other staffing decisions such as promotions, raises, and performance.

Project Delivery & Collaboration

- Ensure coordination between project management and design staff, resolving issues related to scope, schedule, and budget

- Collaborate with PMs to manage risk, project write-offs, and deliver results on time and within cost expectations

- Apply a structured approach to balancing new client opportunities with existing workload capacity

- Support reporting requirements from Director of Engineering

Strategic Growth & Business Development

- Contribute to marketing and proposal development activities

- Participate in client engagement and relationship-building initiatives

- Business development and client visits

- Provide input on revenue growth strategies and help identify opportunities outside of core competencies with calculated risk management

- Continually evaluate internal processes to improve performance and team productivity

Qualifications:

- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline

- Professional Engineer (PE) license required

- 12+ years of experience in Protection & Controls or Physical Electrical projects (consulting environment preferred)

- Minimum 5 years of experience leading engineering teams and managing technical projects

- Strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills

- Experience balancing technical depth with team mentorship and business strategy

- Ability to travel 25% of time or more as required