Assistant Department Manager-Mechanical

Job Description

Dewberry's Elmhurst, IL office is seeking an Assistant Department Manager-Mechanical, who will be responsible for knowing how to deliver the work committed to in proposals and assigning / leading the appropriate resources to do the work for each discipline area. The Department Manager will also assist Project/Client Managers by providing engineering resources – a design team - to help meet the client’s desires and budget. Duties would also include some involvement in direct MEP sales and assisting with sales efforts for multidiscipline projects. In short, provide the design/engineering resources and guidance to accomplish our commitments. Experience with Design/Build projects is a plus.

Dewberry has a large team of Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Structural (MEPS) engineers focused on design services for nationwide clients in specialized facility types and specialized design services. Our experience includes high performance buildings, net zero energy design, renewable energy technologies, microgrid and energy storage system design, energy and climate resilience, and services related to decarbonization/electrification of the built environment.  Our MEPS group contains subject matter experts in leadership roles in international professional organizations such as ASHRAE.  Our repeat clients include universities, and state, local, and federal government agencies, and large global industrial manufacturers, among others. Our MEPS service line is ranked #30 Nationally among MEP Giants.

Dewberry is a leading, market-facing professional services firm with more than 60 locations and 2,500 professionals nationwide. What sets us apart from our competitors is our people. At Dewberry, we seek out exceptional talent and strive to deliver the highest quality of services to our clients. Whether you’re an experienced professional or a new graduate, you’ll have the chance to collaborate with the best and brightest and work on innovative and complex projects at the forefront of the industry. Our commitment to excellence stems from our personal integrity and from other defining attributes, which we call “Dewberry at Work,” that have inspired our employees to be successful for more than a half-century.

Dewberry offers a comprehensive and very competitive package of insurance programs to regular full-time employees and their eligible dependents the first of the month following their date of hire. The insurance package includes: medical, dental, vision, and supplemental life. Additional insurances, at no cost to the employee: life (employee only), accidental death and dismemberment, business travel and accident, and short- and long-term disability are also provided. Employees pay a share of Dewberry’s premium expenses (on a pre-tax basis) for medical and dental insurance plans.

Dewberry offers a wide range of other employee benefits, including: 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan, 529 College Savings Plans, Travel Assistance, Tuition Reimbursement, Flexible Spending Accounts and Supplemental Life Insurance for employee, spouse, and children.

Positions within our officer program are also eligible for an annual bonus and stipend.  Both vary based on level within the program and bonuses are dependent upon company performance.

In addition, a host of discounted purchase programs are available to all employees.

Responsibilities

Supervisory responsibilities of a Department Manager include:

• Growing, mentoring, and developing the staff within the department to allow each person to achieve their maximum potential
• Minimum annual evaluations for each direct report
• Providing leadership for department
• Organizing staff in a way to allow career advancement, professional development, quality client service, and operational efficiencies to meet business and project financial goals
• Taking a very active role in recruitment of staff in department including networking, recruitment, interviewing and “deal closing”
• Establishing/improving standards for department operation and workflow
• Ensuring the department is equipped with the tools necessary to be efficient and thorough in producing the work
• Working closely with Principal Engineers within the MEP Department to establish, update and adhere to design standards

Required Skills & Required Experience

Responsibilities:

Department Managers are expected to provide the following to others on the design team to effectively and successfully complete projects:

• Work schedule for department showing:
• Project assignments and priorities
• Delivery due dates for group project commitments
• Forecast of Workload/Capacity
• Participate in Go/No Go decisions for commitment of resources necessary to complete projects
• Participate in developing fee proposals and establishing project budgets
• Review project objectives and provide detailed scope of services for contracts
• Identify staff performing design of the project, along with a senior staff member if required
• Identify Engineer of Record
• Adherence to project design schedule
• Notification to Project/Client Managers, in enough time to appropriately handle the situation, if established project design schedule cannot be met
• Adherence to department project budgets.  Review and provide updates on project budgets at milestone dates.  Review discipline budgets weekly.
• Provide general updates of projects (status in the process, tasks to complete, percentage complete currently, etc.)
• Simply put – Department Managers control all production resources and all commitments must come from department leaders.  Conversely – accountability for our deliveries comes from Department Managers.

Qualifications:

Bachelors Degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering 

Accomplished (10+ years of experience) Professional Engineer; knowledgeable of construction process, familiar with AIA construction contracts; self-motivated with highly developed verbal, written and interpersonal skills. Experience in staff management/department management. Experience in the design of various MEP systems. Well organized, takes good notes. Good conceptual understanding of plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems with general knowledge of system operation, space requirements, cost.

The projected range for this position is $150,000-$193,000 annually. Depending upon other factors, i.e., skills, experience, location, market conditions, the range may vary slightly.

*At this time, Dewberry will not sponsor a new applicant for work authorization.

*Dewberry is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or sexual orientation.

*Only recipients of an offer of employment from Dewberry, will be required to submit to a background screening which may include, but is not limited to, employment verification, educational and other credential verification, driving record check, criminal background check, and an investigative consumer report. These screenings will be conducted by Dewberry’s background vendor of choice and will be conducted in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local law.

Notice to Third Party Recruiters:  Dewberry only compensates job placement recruiters that have a valid Dewberry-approved written agreement in place for recruiting services. Dewberry does not compensate third party recruiters for unsolicited job placement candidate information.

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