Senior Director, Operations

About the client:

Our client is a boutique strategy and advisory consultancy specializing in permitting, regulatory affairs, and environmental advisory services. They support clients across the mining, energy, infrastructure, and broader natural resource sectors, as well as provincial government partners. Their work often intersects directly with executive leadership teams, CEOs, and Boards, guiding high-stakes projects that require exceptional precision, strategic insight, and cross-sector coordination.

They operate with deep respect for and collaboration with First Nations communities and work closely with provincial and federal regulators to advance responsible, sustainable development. With offices nationwide and a rapidly expanding presence in Vancouver, their firm is recognized for a unique business model that aligns risk and reward through performance-based outcomes rather than traditional fee structures.

RESPONSIBILITIES

People Leadership

• Inspire, support, and guide a team of
  8–10 direct reports
  across senior managers, managers, senior coordinators, and coordinators.
• Provide
  ongoing coaching and mentorship
  , including:
• Professional development planning
• Conducting performance reviews
• Holding team members accountable for brand and service delivery
• Foster an office culture rooted in
  collaboration, curiosity, critical thinking
  , and openness to challenging the status quo.
• Create, maintain, and evolve a
  workplace culture aligned with company values and mission
  .
• Facilitate
  staff meetings, leadership meetings, and team-building events
  in an inclusive and empowering manner.
• Lead
  organizational design
  , including workforce and growth planning, succession planning, recruitment strategies, and talent management.
• Promote
  employee engagement, well-being, and psychological safety
  .
• Oversee company
  policies, procedures, and operational standards
  (leave, flexible work, travel, safety, office protocols).
• Provide senior leadership presence to reinforce the
  brand, culture, and shared organizational purpose
  .

Operations & Business Delivery

• Oversee
  resourcing, utilization, and workload forecasting
  , ensuring balanced distribution across teams.
• Lead ongoing
  workload re-balancing
  to optimize efficiency and team well-being.
• Maintain approximately
  50% billable time
  delivering project work for key clients.
• Lead
  Account Teams
  by integrating multidisciplinary workstreams, including regulatory, Indigenous, public affairs, government relations, and environmental considerations.
• Ensure consistent
  brand delivery and quality assurance
  across all client engagements.
• Oversee the development and execution of
  strategic regulatory and permitting plans
  for major client accounts.
• Direct
  proactive regulatory engagement
  , including managing permitting pathways, timelines, and regulator relationships.
• Lead and support
  Indigenous engagement
  , including partnership discussions, relationship building, and alignment with best practices and legal frameworks.
• Supervise the implementation of
  government relations, public affairs, stakeholder relations
  , and issues management programs.
• Support
  corporate reputation management
  , crisis planning, and risk mitigation strategies for clients.
• Contribute to
  business development
  , including networking, proposal development, pitches, and strategic growth initiatives.
• Identify operational improvements and implement
  process efficiencies, resource strategies, and system enhancements
  that strengthen service delivery and cross-team integration.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 10–15+ years of experience as a
  consultant
  , natural resource sector professional, or advisor to resource, infrastructure, or community development projects.
• PMP certification
  (good to have).
• Post-secondary degree in a
  relevant field
  (e.g., environmental studies, natural resources, business, public policy).
• Strong knowledge of
  government decision-making processes
  , regulatory pathways, and permitting environments.
• Experience in:
• Mining, energy, resource industries, infrastructure, or major project development
• Indigenous engagement, including understanding of Canadian law and jurisprudence related to rights and title
• Building relationships with government officials, industry partners, and other stakeholders
• High-level client service, strategic advisory, and integrated project management
• Leading multi-disciplinary teams; talent development; and organizational leadership

Skilled in:

• Interpersonal communication and client relationship management
• Clear, concise written and verbal communication tailored to diverse audiences
• Negotiation, mediation, facilitation, and conflict resolution
• Vancouver-based
  with ability to work full-time on-site.

Assets

• Experience with
  Canadian federal and provincial regulatory processes
  , including Environmental Assessment, Fisheries Act Authorizations, impact assessment frameworks, and other permitting regimes.
• Proven track record in
  client acquisition, proposal leadership, and building new business lines
  .
• Background in crisis communications, issues management, public affairs, or advocacy programs.

Candidate Characteristics

• Strategic, creative, and solutions-oriented thinker.
• Entrepreneurial, ambitious, and aligned with growth-driven environments.
• Organized, autonomous, and efficient in managing complex workstreams.
• Confident leader who inspires trust and drives accountability.
• Curious, innovative, and collaborative mindset.

Salary: Up to $205,000 | 20 days paid vacations | Health benefits | Bonus

Location: Vancouver, BC