National Director - Transmission And Distribution Lines

Your future role on our teamNorth America is in the midst of an unprecedented transmission build‑out. From coast to coast, new high‑voltage lines are being planned, permitted, and constructed to support grid modernization, electrification, and the energy transition. BBA’s Transmission and Distribution group is at the centre of this demand surge, delivering complex, multi‑phase projects across Canada and internationally.
Type of position:
Regular
Our multidisciplinary teams span the country—from St. John’s to Vancouver—bringing together engineers and technicians across offices. As we scale to meet this demand, we are seeking a National Director – Transmission and Distribution Line to lead the discipline nationally: a seller‑doer leader who can set direction, win and shape work, build high‑performing teams, and own delivery outcomes across the country.
This is a leadership role with a national vision—comparable to a discipline director or department manager, but accountable for the performance, growth, and reputation of the Transmission and Distribution Line practice. You will be the bridge between Operations and the Business Line, the steward of the order backlog, and the person clients and the market recognize as the face of transmission line engineering at BBA.
Strategic and market leadership
Maintain a global vision of transmission line projects—from opportunity identification through development, permitting, detailed engineering, and construction support—and an understanding of how the multidisciplinary aspects and engineering disciplines come together to execute successfully
Hold a clear market vision: anticipate where the sector is heading and translate evolving client expectations across utilities, industrial, and renewables markets into BBA’s strategy
Leverage a strong transmission line network and market recognition to position BBA, open doors, and strengthen the firm’s reputation as a transmission line leader
Define and drive the growth strategy for the national Transmission Line group, in alignment with the Business Line and Operations
Represent BBA at industry conferences and working groups (IEEE, CIGRE, CEATI, etc.), reinforcing the firm’s national profile and your professional network
Backlog ownership and operational leadership
Be accountable for the order backlog of the Transmission Line group—bridging Operations and the Business Line and ensuring the pipeline is healthy, balanced, and aligned with capacity
Own the key trade‑off decisions across projects, regions, and clients—balancing risk, profitability, resourcing, and strategic value
Assign resources and regions appropriately to projects, ensuring the right expertise is matched to the right work across the national footprint
Partner with project and operations leadership to safeguard quality, schedule, and budget on key pursuits and active mandates
Business development (seller‑doer)
Contribute directly to selling: identify and qualify opportunities, build and sustain trusted client relationships, and lead or shape major proposals, qualification packages, and fee estimates
Act as a trusted advisor and key anchor in client relationships across utilities, industrial, and renewables clients—understanding what “good” looks like from concept through commercial operation
Contribute to go/no‑go decisions and shape pursuit strategy on strategic and complex transmission opportunities
Develop and grow a book of business that drives repeat work and long‑term client partnerships
People leadership and team growth
Lead, mentor, and develop the national Transmission and Distribution Line team, with direct reports including regional discipline leads and senior and principal engineers
Drive the growth of the teams—hiring, onboarding, and developing talent to build national capacity and bench strength
Contribute to hiring strategy and workforce planning for the group, ensuring the discipline can scale with market demand
Set technical and delivery standards, elevate overall team performance, and foster a collaborative, knowledge‑sharing culture across offices
Technical foundation
Detailed design of overhead transmission lines (25 kV to 765 kV), including conductor selection, structure spotting and optimization, sag‑and‑tension analysis, and electrical clearance verification
Design of support structures and foundations (steel, lattice, wood, concrete, and composite materials) in accordance with CSA and IEEE standards
Transmission system modelling using PLS‑CADD, PLS‑POLE, and PLS‑TOWER
Coordination across civil, geotechnical, environmental, survey, and power system planning and studies teams through all project phases—from feasibility through commissioning
Oversight of high‑quality engineering deliverables: plan‑and‑profile drawings, stringing charts, design calculations, technical specifications, and construction packages
Field engineering support during construction, including site inspections, RFI responses, and as‑built reviews
Do your qualities and values match our corporate culture?
Entrepreneurial spirit
Strong commitment to health and safety
Inspirational leadership
Willingness to work together while having fun
Caring mindset that puts people first
Rigorous and ethical
Ability to share and pass on knowledge
Summary of certifications and job requirements
Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Structural, or Electrical Engineering
Licensed P.Eng. in at least one Canadian province
Minimum 15 years of experience in overhead transmission line engineering, including significant project and/or discipline leadership (consulting experience strongly preferred)
Demonstrated track record in business development—winning work, leading proposals, and building client relationships across utilities, industrial, and/or renewables markets
Proven people leadership experience, ideally with direct reports and responsibility for team growth
Strong proficiency in PLS‑CADD;
working knowledge of PLS‑POLE and PLS‑TOWER
Solid understanding of CSA C22.3 No. 1, NESC (National Electrical Safety Code) and applicable utility standards
An established network and recognized reputation within the Canadian transmission and utility sector
Advanced English skills to facilitate collaboration with other BBA offices and/or clients in English‑speaking Canadian provinces and internationally;
you may need to use English occasionally or daily, depending on current projects
Advanced French skills to facilitate collaboration with other BBA offices and/or clients in Québec
Advanced Spanish skills to facilitate collaboration with other BBA offices and/or clients in South America;
you may need to use Spanish occasionally or daily, depending on current projects
Asset: experience leading multi‑region or national teams
An overview of BBA’s total rewards
Annual premium program for regular employees
Onsite mobility premium
Time bank
Cellphone fee reimbursements
Group insurance plan from the first day of employment, including disability insurance and a telemedicine program
Retirement savings plan
Annual vacation and sick leave
Premium for employee referrals
At BBA, you get many benefits
Interesting growth opportunities to match your ambitions
Participation in innovation projects
A collaborative team that shares its ideas and knowledge
Opportunity to mentor our next generation: We invest in our people and help them develop
A corporate culture that values expertise
A flexible schedule that combines office presence and working from home
A caring environment where everyone’s ideas are listened to and there’s no perception of hierarchy
On site and at the office: Health, safety and the environment are in our DNA
About BBABBA is one of Canada’s leading private consulting engineering firms, with over 45 years of experience serving the energy and natural resources industry.
Our people are the foundation of our success. Their passion and excellence have earned us recognition as one of Canada’s Best Employers and Best Managed Companies, and we’re committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels empowered to grow, lead and be themselves.
Our teams bring together engineering, environmental and commissioning expertise to deliver practical, innovative and sustainable solutions—from strategy to execution. With 20 offices across Canada, the U.S. and Latin America, we combine local presence with international reach, offering clients close collaboration and field‑ready support.
Learn more about our culture and projects on LinkedIn or connect with our talent team.
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