Senior Technical Director

Founded in 1919, KJ has always looked to the future. With a talented team of professionals and a culture of continuous improvement, we deliver exceptional engineering, environmental consulting, and construction management services, with a focus on innovation and sustainability. Using advanced analytics, technology, and tools, KJ improves designs, reduces risk, and finds better ways to deliver projects from planning through construction. KJ is at the forefront of developing sustainable solutions for clients, including green infrastructure design, strategies to reduce energy use and environmental impacts, award-winning water reuse projects, and efficient construction management practices that ensure quality, safety, and on-time delivery. We are known for our dedication to industry-leading client service and tailored solutions.

Kennedy Jenks is seeking a Senior Technical Director to serve as a recognized technical authority and strategic leader across our firm. This is a high-impact role for a seasoned expert who thrives on solving complex challenges, shaping technical direction, and influencing the future of the industry.

In this role, you will provide firm-wide leadership across major projects and initiatives, guiding technical excellence, innovation, and long-term practice development. You’ll partner with executive leadership, project teams, and key clients to deliver forward-thinking solutions that drive quality, performance, and growth.

What You’ll Do

As a Senior Technical Director, you’ll serve as a firmwide technical authority and trusted advisor, leading technical strategy, quality, innovation, client partnership, business growth, and development of future technical leaders.

• Lead technical strategy: Serve as a firmwide technical authority in your area of expertise, leading strategy and setting standards across complex, high-risk projects.
• Drive quality: Provide expert oversight and peer review to ensure quality, safety, and regulatory compliance.
• Solve Complexity: Lead the resolution of complex technical challenges, bringing clarity to ambiguity and risk.
• Advance innovation: Drive innovation and technical advancement, including methodologies, tools, and emerging technologies.
• Shape pursuits: Shape and support major pursuits, advising on technical approach, risk, and delivery strategy.
• Advise with credibility: Act as a trusted advisor to clients, project managers, and firm leadership.
• Strengthen client relationships: Build and maintain strong client relationships, influencing strategy through credible, data-driven insights.
• Develop leaders: Mentor and develop Technical Directors and senior engineers, strengthening the firm’s technical bench.
• Represent the firm: Represent Kennedy Jenks in industry forums, professional organizations, and client engagements, enhancing our reputation and visibility.

What Makes This Role Different

• Firmwide technical direction: You define and elevate technical standards and direction across the firm, shaping how Kennedy Jenks approaches its most important technical decisions.
• Complex challenges and risk: You deliver solutions to the most complex technical challenges, protecting quality and reducing risk across high-impact work.
• Innovation and long-term strategy: You advance innovation and long-term technical strategy, preparing the firm for future complexity and opportunity.
• Trusted client partnership: You strengthen client partnerships as a trusted advisor, connecting technical judgment to client trust, business performance, and long-term market reputation.
• Business growth through technical leadership: You support business growth through technical leadership on key pursuits, helping teams position, scope, and deliver meaningful client solutions.
• Next-generation technical leaders: You develop the next generation of technical leaders, strengthening technical capability across teams and building the firm’s future bench.

What You Bring

• Technical leadership perspective: The ability to guide technical direction, evaluate risk, and provide practical recommendations on complex work.
• Strategic business judgment: Strong financial and business acumen with the ability to connect technical decisions to project outcomes and firm performance.
• Influential communication: Skill in translating complex concepts for executives, clients, project teams, and technical audiences.
• Collaborative leadership: Proven ability to influence, mentor, and lead through expertise and collaboration.
• Client-centered credibility: The ability to build strong relationships and influence strategy through clear, data-driven insight.
• Innovation mindset: Curiosity and discipline to advance methods, tools, and approaches that improve quality and delivery.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering required; master’s degree preferred.
• Experience: 15+ years of progressive technical experience in an engineering discipline.
• Project background: Demonstrated record leading complex, high-risk projects or initiatives.
• Licenses: Professional Engineer (PE) license required.

Kennedy Jenks supports a healthy work-life balance and utilizes a hybrid model of home and office work, with a minimum of two days per week in the office. This approach empowers our people to thrive, collaborate, and do their best work.

Salary range for this position is anticipated to be $200,000 to $250,000, and may vary based upon education, experience, qualifications, licensure/certifications, and geographic location.

Benefits summary: Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance; a health savings account; a 401(k); bonus programs; tuition reimbursement; employee ownership opportunity; professional registration support; business travel assistance; competitive paid time off and holidays; an employee assistance program; and additional programs that support your wellbeing and professional growth.

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