Operations Manager

Overview
At UES, we're a team of more than 4,000 engineers, scientists, geologists, inspectors, technicians, and drillers united by a shared purpose—to make a meaningful impact in the communities we serve. As a national leader in geotechnical engineering, environmental consulting, and materials testing and inspection, we collaborate on transformative projects across transportation, energy, water, healthcare, and more. Learn more about the benefits of joining Team UES and our core values at
Position Overview
The Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing daily operations, project scheduling, personnel coordination, and overall execution for the branch's Union Pacific Railroad and Burlington Northern Santa Fe projects. This role ensures projects are appropriately staffed, budgets are tracked, client expectations are met, and internal processes operate efficiently.

Reporting to the Branch Manager, this individual serves as the primary operational lead and works closely with Project Managers, field staff, and subcontractors. The ideal candidate is a strong communicator, highly organized, and comfortable managing people, schedules, and multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

About The Work
UES supports major railroad clients by surveying and assessing a wide range of assets—including buildings, bridges, railcars, and other infrastructure—for environmental concerns such as asbestos, lead, PCB-containing materials, and mold throughout territories west of the Mississippi River. In addition to assessments, UES manages abatement and demolition projects, coordinating and overseeing qualified subcontractors to ensure work is completed safely, compliantly, and to client standards.

Following fieldwork, project data is compiled into a centralized system where reports are generated, reviewed, and submitted for final client approval. The Operations Manager plays a critical role in keeping this end-to-end process organized and on track.

What You'll Do

• Coordinate schedules, resources, and deliverables across multiple concurrent projects
• Support and collaborate with field personnel and Project Managers
• Oversee subcontractor coordination and operational execution
• Assist with estimating, report review, and broader program management over time
• Manage a high volume of work, supporting 20-70 active projects and coordinating 10-15 team members across various locations

What Sets You Up for Success

You're highly organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing multiple priorities at once. You enjoy being the go-to coordinator who keeps projects moving forward and teams aligned. This is a strong opportunity for someone looking to gain broad visibility into operations, project execution, and program management.

Responsibilities
Project & Scheduling Management

• Oversee project scheduling for all railroad-related work, aligning staffing, timelines, and client requirements.
• Coordinate assignments with Project Managers, field personnel, and subcontractors.
• Maintain current status of all active and upcoming projects, ensuring accurate tracking of progress, risks, and resource needs.
• Attend and coordinate pre-bid walkthroughs as required.
• Review daily fieldwork summaries to ensure accuracy, completeness, and alignment with project budgets.

Operational & Financial Oversight

• Track project budgets versus actual performance; communicate variances and implement corrective actions.
• Assist with managing change orders—identifying needs, obtaining approvals, and documenting impacts.
• Review equipment requirements, coordinate rentals, and support procurement activity.
• Assist with client invoicing, troubleshooting discrepancies, and supporting timely collections.
• Contribute to short-term forecasting (3-6 month projections) related to staffing, revenue, workload, and resource needs.

Personnel Leadership & Coordination

• Oversee and support Project Managers and survey/inspection management staff.
• Provide guidance, coaching, and performance input to promote employee development and operational consistency.
• Assist with training, workload balancing, and personnel planning to prevent staff overload.
• Help maintain compliance with required certifications, licenses, and training schedules.
• Serve as the operational point of contact for cross-trained team members involved in project oversight, inspections, reporting, and field coordination.

Client & Subcontractor Relations

• Act as an operational liaison with railroad clients and subcontractors to ensure smooth coordination and project delivery.
• Maintain prequalification databases and subcontractor records for assigned projects.
• Communicate with clients to confirm schedules, resolve issues, and ensure satisfaction with project outcomes.

Process Improvement & Operational Support

• Work with the Branch Manager to develop and maintain workflows, templates, and internal processes.
• Assist with report quality control and troubleshooting rejections or budget overages.
• Identify opportunities for efficiency improvements in scheduling, staffing, and project execution.
• Represent the branch in meetings or business development activities as needed.
• Act as the primary branch operational lead in the absence of the Branch Manager.

Qualifications

• Preferred: Bachelor's/Master's degree in Civil Engineering or Master's in Construction Mgmt. or similar
• Preferred: Active Florida Engineering Intern (EI) or Professional Engineering License (P.E.) or Licensed Architect (AIA)
• 5+ years' experience in A/E/C consulting industry
• 3+ years of supervisory or management experience within an engineering firm or consulting environment.
• Strong knowledge of relevant engineering codes, standards, and practices
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills
• Proficient in engineering and project management software (e.g., AutoCAD, Civil 3D, gINT, Microsoft Project)
• Sound business acumen, with understanding of utilization, margins, and backlog metrics
• Valid driver's license with ability to travel as needed

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in construction, commercial contracting, environmental services, or related fields.
• Background in budgeting, forecasting, or financial tracking.
• Experience working with subcontractors, field crews, or distributed teams.

Travel Requirements
This position requires moderate travel, approximately up to 40% of the time, in support of business objectives

and client engagements. Travel may be both scheduled and on short notice, depending on project needs.

Destinations typically include job sites, field locations, or regional offices, where work may be conducted in

outdoor or operational environments. Adherence to all company safety protocols and use of PPE is required

during travel and on-site work.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions such as precipitation, extreme cold or heat, dusty and noisy work environments.

• Office work requiring long-term sitting and computer work

• The position may involve sitting for extended periods, performing data entry, and engaging in frequent communication via email, phone, and in-person interactions.

• The role involves regular communication with team members, clients, and stakeholders, both in person and through virtual platforms.

• The physical demands of the job may include occasional standing, walking, bending, and lifting of office materials up to 15 pounds.

• The physical requirements for this position may include and are not limited to:

• Ability to lift and/or carry up to 40 lbs

• Ability to stand and walk for long periods of time as well as drive long distances
• Frequent use of fingers, hands and arms for typing, cellphone
• Ability to bend, twist, reach, stoop, pull, kneel, lift, carry, and push repetitively
• Ability to speak and hear effectively to communicate sometimes with noisy environments
• Ability to see, smell, hear and touch as well as reach, climb or balance, crouch, stoop, crawl, kneel and sit
• Ability to regularly lift and/or move/shake up to 40lbs. (soil and/or concrete tests and related apparatus); frequently lift and/or move up to 60lbs. (soil and sand samples, and nuclear density equipment); and occasionally move more than 100lbs. (such as a loaded wheelbarrow of concrete samples)

EEO Statement
UES is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is proud to recruit the most qualified candidates. Please see our full EEO Statement at the bottom of the page
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