It's always nice to feel wanted. But it feels even better when one of Canada's premier engineering and architectural consulting firms knocks on your door, offering you a prestigious and well-paid position in one of Western Canada's booming regional growth centres.
Stantec Consulting is looking for a few good men and women: Experienced civil/municipal engineers, technicians and architects anxious to trade the big-city blues for the laid-back lifestyles of Red Deer, Alta., and Kamloops or Kelowna, B.C.
"We're looking for experienced engineers as well as some intermediate and even junior people, depending on the requirements of each particular office," explains Kevin Mistry, a senior recruiter for Stantec.
Mistry is selling a lifestyle choice that includes outstanding after-hours recreational options, generous compensation/benefits and the kind of energized but informal office atmosphere you may have been missing in the asphalt jungle.
But moving to Kamloops, Kelowna or Red Deer doesn't mean you have to lower expectations for a fulfilling professional career. On the contrary, all three Stantec branch offices are an important part of the staggering growth story that continues to be written in the Canadian West.
Well-known for the high quality of its design and consulting services, Stantec is a multi-disciplinary company that prides itself on innovation and the delivery of sustainable solutions. Frankly, there's no better place to work. So let's take a minute to visit three of Stantec's busiest regional offices:
* KELOWNA At the moment, the primary need is for senior civil engineers as well as for intermediate and entry-level technicians, says Jim Kentel, Stantec practice leader of civil/municipal operations.
"Our workload is just about at capacity, but we still have room to grow," Kentel explains.
Kentel's diversified team is tied into municipal planning, transportation issues, urban land development and planning landscape architecture.
"We stick together professionally as well as socially," says Kentel, who adds that the sky's the limit for rapid advancement within the organization. Kentel's staff members live up to top standards of service, backed by the international network of experts employed by Canada's third-largest engineering consulting firm.
As for the city and district, it's hard to argue with near-perfection. Situated on the shores of Lake Okanagan, Kelowna's weather and recreational options are the stuff of Canadian legend.
"I've lived across Canada and we're really spoiled here," enthuses Kentel. "People in our office take advantage of the skiing, boating, fishing, water-skiing, golf and mountain biking."
* KAMLOOPS Managing principal Brian Christianson is looking for a lead civil engineer and a lead architect, both with a minimum 10 years experience. But this progressive team is also in the market for qualified civil, mechanical and electrical engineers, as well as at least one interior designer.
"Successful candidates for the two senior positions will find Kamloops a great place to work. They'll have the opportunity to steer their own ship, to grow the business in their image," says Christianson.
Stantec first opened its Kamloops office in 1960 and has built an extremely stable client base over 47 years. Christianson also proudly notes that the company is distinguished in its commitment to green solutions and sustainable innovations, recently celebrating the opening of its LEED® CI registered new premises.
Christianson runs a friendly office in the heart of Kamloops, a lively and hospitable city that combines a full range of urban services with all the amenities of small-town life.
"Our cost of living is substantially lower than you'll find in Vancouver or Calgary and yet Kamloops is a sophisticated and surprisingly diversified city," says Christianson. "Our international airport is about to be expanded and Kamloops is home to an active arts community. If you're interested in outdoor recreational opportunities, there are almost too many to mention here in the Thompson-Okanagan."
* RED DEER You won't find a more stimulating work environment than Stantec's Red Deer HQ, where Russ Wlad's talented group tackles an extraordinary range of tasks: Urban land development, roads, bridges, landscape architecture, as well as infrastructure assignments dealing with waste water, sewer and water-treatment projects.
In short, there's plenty of work and almost as many positions to fill.
"Just because we're based in a smaller centre doesn't mean we're taking on smaller jobs," says Wlad, a Stantec VP and Red Deer office leader.
In 10 years, the Red Deer team has grown from a mere handful to a complement of 120-plus, engineers, architects and designers, many of whom work directly with the senior leadership who represent Stantec's clients in surrounding municipalities and counties.
Recreational opportunities in Red Deer are unlimited. Along with the collegial atmosphere of the office, Wlad and his team enjoy hockey, softball, golf, canoe trips and horseback expeditions in each other's company.
Are you beginning to get the picture? Stantec's a terrific place to work - particularly in Kelowna, Kamloops and Red Deer.
