Director of Operations - Forensics

LERCH BATES•Salt Lake City, UT

About The Position

Lerch Bates is seeking a strategic leader with extensive experience in forensic engineering consulting and team leadership. The Director of Operations – Forensics drives operational excellence, sets standards for core values and best practices, and ensures the success of both internal teams and client outcomes. This senior role oversees departmental operations, including revenue tracking, contracts, resource management, and forecasting, while fostering strong client relationships. The Director leads collaborative project teams, solves complex operational and strategic challenges, and guides the business group toward its goals. About Lerch Bates: Lerch Bates (LB) is a global technical consulting firm focused on improving how buildings perform for owners, designers, and the people who use them every day. For more than 75 years we’ve partnered on some of the world’s most complex and high‑profile projects. Today we provide Total Building Performance expertise that pairs Building Science and Building Flow with one integrated team delivery. Our work spans design, construction, investigation, repair, management and modernization with one consistent goal: helping clients make confident, well‑informed decisions in an increasingly complex Built Environment. We are each 100% equal owners in the LB ESOP, which drives our ownership mindset and shapes everything we do. At Lerch Bates, your expertise matters, your voice carries weight and your work directly contributes to our shared success as OneLB. We invest in professional growth, collaboration, and technical excellence, supporting challenging and meaningful work alongside people who care about getting it right. If you’re motivated by solving real problems, working on impactful projects, and being part of a team that truly owns both the work and the outcome, you’re ready to be more than an employee. You’re ready to be an employee-owner.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, or a related discipline.
Eight or more years of experience in engineering, architecture, construction management, project management, or forensic consulting.
Two or more years of business unit leadership experience, including people management, revenue accountability, growth strategy, hiring, performance management, and business development.
Strong understanding of the design and construction process from project inception through investigation.
Demonstrated technical expertise with the ability to communicate clearly and build trust with clients, colleagues, and partners.
Proven ability to coach, mentor, and develop teams.
Practical knowledge of building structures and systems.
Ability to anticipate changes in client needs, emerging technologies, and industry conditions.
Strong judgment and discretion in complex and high-impact situations.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to read and interpret drawings and technical documentation.
Highly organized, adaptable, and confident multi-tasker capable of managing competing priorities and deadlines.
High level of financial acumen, including forecasting and operational planning.
Commitment to quality, consistency, organization, and attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

Professional Engineer (PE) or AIA license, preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing forensic team by identifying opportunities for technical growth, project management development, and professional advancement.
Train and coach team members by leading select projects while meeting individual utilization and performance expectations.
Conduct monthly one-on-one meetings with each direct report using a standardized meeting framework, and observe second-level reports during initial team sessions.
Oversee Business Operations Specialists by ensuring contracts are created and maintained, bi-weekly internal contract meetings occur, and periodic client outreach is completed.
Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and technical excellence.
Participate in company-wide initiatives and cross-functional efforts as needed
Coordinate and deliver forensic consulting projects ranging from short-term assignments to complex, long-term engagements.
Lead or co-lead resource scheduling to meet individual utilization goals, team performance targets, and revenue objectives.
Review consultant and specialist deliverables for quality, consistency, compliance, and adherence to reporting standards and timelines.
Provide a two-week lookahead to support efficient staffing and workload alignment, partnering with other leaders to resolve scheduling gaps.
Support business development efforts by providing technical insight and staffing availability for proposals.
Prepare and deliver operational reports, progress updates, and performance metrics as required.
Create, review, and submit final client invoices in alignment with Accounting timelines.
Maintain high-touch client engagement on complex, sensitive, or strategically significant projects.
Build and strengthen relationships with new and existing clients to support both near-term execution and long-term growth.
Anticipate and communicate changes related to client needs, local markets, and industry trends.
Develop and implement strategic plans to optimize performance and mitigate operational or market challenges.
Generate and manage revenue forecasts, backlog planning, staffing strategies, and resource utilization models.
Provide bi-weekly operational updates during leadership huddles.
Own and present department-specific updates during Monthly Town Hall meetings.
Lead monthly progress-tracking meetings to evaluate performance against goals and assess staffing needs.
Co-lead the annual business planning process, including revenue and margin targets, service line expansion, staffing and training needs, and team development initiatives.