Vice President, Marketing & Strategic Pursuits
McElhanney
Benefits
Job Type
Description
About McElhanney
Based in Western Canada for over 110 years, McElhanney offers innovative and practical engineering, surveying, mapping, planning, landscape architecture, and environmental services. As a 100% employee-owned and operated firm, with over 1,400 staff members in 31 locations, we are proud to offer qualified staff with shareholding options in our company. At McElhanney, we work in teams to build strong connections with our staff, clients, and local communities. Our employees enjoy working here because of our varied projects, high levels of autonomy, opportunities for career development, excellent total compensation and benefits package, and collaborating with a team of great professionals.
The Opportunity
McElhanney is seeking a visionary, results-driven executive to lead our Marketing, Communications, Business Development, and Strategic Pursuits functions. This leader will elevate how we position our business, deepen client relationships, pursue major opportunities, and drive enterprise growth, transforming our marketing and communications function into a high-performing, business-aligned partner.
Reporting directly to the Executive Vice President, Culture, Strategy & Governance (EVP), you will lead a multidisciplinary team responsible for brand, communications, business development, strategic pursuits, digital enablement, and market positioning. As a senior strategic partner, you will shape how McElhanney grows: through stronger client engagement, market‑aligned insights, and a modern, data‑driven go‑to‑market approach.
While Vancouver is preferred, in-office and hybrid work is available from any McElhanney office across Western Canada.
Deadline to apply: March 29, 2026, 8:59pm PST
Who You Are: A Leader, a Strategic Partner, and a Growth Driver.
As a Leader, you lead and strengthen a high‑performing, trusted team that is focused, accountable, and equipped to deliver pragmatic results. You set clear priorities, coach for impact, and create an environment where people feel valued, engaged, and supported. You guide teams across marketing, business development, pursuits, and communications to ensure alignment and excellence. Your leadership will connect insights across all levels of the organization, integrating enterprise, market sector, and regional goals into a cohesive marketing and business development strategy that delivers measurable impact and strengthens business performance.
As a Strategic Partner, you work closely with the executive leadership team and operational leaders to understand our markets, clients, and growth ambitions. You translate business needs into focused strategies that strengthen market position, deepen client relationships, and drive enterprise results. You work closely with business leaders and their teams, offering direct guidance on strategic marketing, pursuits, communications, and business development initiatives. Your clarity keeps people aligned to the priorities that matter most, while your collaborative approach transforms ideas into outcomes embraced by those they impact.
As a Growth Driver, you turn strategy into action. You develop and implement the programs, frameworks, and go-to-market capabilities that enable strong business development and strategic pursuit execution across the organization. You elevate client engagement and drive measurable, profitable revenue growth by bringing discipline, clarity, and accountability to how the company markets, positions, and supports growth.
Key Responsibilities
Executive Leadership & Strategy
- Lead, coach, and develop a multidisciplinary team spanning marketing, business development, communications, sales enablement, and strategic pursuits.
- Serve as a member of the executive team, shaping and executing enterprise strategy with a focus on growth, client engagement, market positioning, and long‑term value creation.
- Develop and execute an integrated marketing, business development, and pursuit strategy aligned with enterprise, market sector, and regional priorities, including targeted campaigns, sector marketing plans, brand stewardship, metrics, and budget management.
Business Development, Pursuits & Client Engagement Programs
- Oversee and elevate McElhanney’s business development and pursuits program, including strategic opportunity assessment, capture planning, win strategies, client account development, and competitive positioning.
- Strengthen enterprise client relationship management by developing programs that enhance client insights, satisfaction, and long‑term retention.
- Drive strategic selling across the organization, including coaching leaders on client development, differentiators, go‑to‑market strategy, and positioning for major opportunities.
- Ensure consistent, high‑quality pursuit practices, including strategic RFQ/RFP responses, presentations, and client‑focused materials.
Marketing, Brand & Communications
- Lead comprehensive rebranding initiatives, including employee value proposition and external brand positioning, and champion McElhanney’s brand at all levels (internally, externally, and in the market), ensuring clarity, cohesion, and strong market differentiation.
- Lead integrated marketing programs, targeted campaigns, and sector marketing plans that support market growth and differentiation.
- Oversee all internal and external communications, ensuring clear, timely, meaningful messaging that supports culture, change, engagement, and reputation.
Digital, Data & Modernization
- Lead digital transformation of marketing, business development, and pursuit practices, including CRM optimization, marketing technology, analytics, and data-driven decision making.
- Implement modern measurement frameworks to track business development, pursuit, marketing performance, providing insights to executive leadership and the Board.
Growth & Strategic Initiatives
- Identify and evaluate new market opportunities, client needs, and industry trends to inform business strategy.
- Support Strategy 2030 growth initiatives across all regions and sectors.
- Provide leadership in reputation management, issues management, and crisis communications in regulated, safety-sensitive, and environmentally complex operating environments
- Support M&A-related integration, ensuring seamless alignment of brand, client and employee communication, and business development practices.
What You’ll Bring
- Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, business or a related discipline; advanced degree and professional certification (e.g., MBA, CPSM) preferred.
- 15+ years of progressive leadership in marketing, communications, business development, or pursuit leadership within the AEC or industrial sectors.
- Strong business acumen and strategic mindset , with demonstrated success driving enterprise growth in a matrixed environment and experience bringing professional services or products to B2B markets.
- Exceptional leadership, communication, and change management capabilities.
- Ability to set priorities, delegate responsibilities, motivate teams, and deliver measurable outcomes.
- Experience with complex pursuits, RFQs/RFPs, negotiated contracts, and long sales-cycle professional services.
- Experience supporting Indigenous partnerships, joint ventures, and culturally informed engagement strategies.
- Experience advising Boards and executives on brand, growth strategy, and reputational considerations.
What Can We Offer You?
The salary range for this position is $200,000 - $230,000 per annum along with the opportunity to participate in our generous performance bonus plan and to become a shareholder in a proud employee-owned company.
McElhanney offers fair compensation that is commensurate with the individual’s education, experience, skills, and professional qualifications which is representative of the required level of qualifications and experience for the position as noted in the job posting. The salary offered will be based on the experience and qualifications of the successful candidate.
In addition to a competitive salary, performance bonus, and shareholding opportunities, we also offer:
- Flexible work arrangements: Balance your personal and professional commitments with flexible hours to fit your lifestyle including hybrid and remote options.
- Comprehensive benefits: Maternity and parental leave top-up program, extended health & dental coverage, RRSP matching, healthcare spending account, and Employee & Family Assistance Program
- Safe & Inclusive Workplace: A workplace culture that is characterized by respect and inclusion for all
- Professional Development: Continuous support for your professional development and growth, reimbursement for professional membership dues, educational assistance, mentorship program, internal committees, and workshops
- Relocation Support: Financial assistance for relocation, if applicable
Application Instructions
Please include the following in your application:
- An updated curriculum vitae that is relevant to the position
- A cover letter that includes your interest in the position, the leadership impact you will have, and a brief summary highlighting 2-3 significant initiatives you have led in your current or most recent roles.
Tentative Hiring Timeline (Note: The schedule is suggested, tentative and subject to change, as McElhanney will be reasonably flexible to accommodate what works best for the shortlisted candidates and McElhanney. McElhanney’s priority is to find the right person and so we are willing to be flexible on the schedule to achieve this.)
- Application Deadline: March 29, 2026, before 8:59pm PST
- Shortlist Interviews: Week of March 30, 2026
- Final Interviews: Week of April 27, 2026
- Start Date: June 2026 or earlier (flexible based on candidate transition)
Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
If this is the opportunity for you, apply now or visit www.mcelhanney.com/careers to learn more. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Visit us on Glassdoor to learn more about our employee experience.
Our Purpose: Amaze our clients. Care for our communities. Empower our people.
This job is found at InterviewStack.io
Skills
About McElhanney
McElhanney is a Canadian consulting engineering and geomatics company providing services in geotechnical engineering, surveying, and related fields. The company operates across Canada with offices including one in Nanaimo, BC, and serves clients in infrastructure, natural resources, and environmental sectors.