Building Science Engineer - Practice Lead

VERSATILITY. EXPERTISE.

With these two words, Vertex makes the promise that we will always be versatile in developing solutions to our clients’ unique needs and that we will always demonstrate expertise in our designated fields.

Vertex is a leading North American provider of environmental services, assisting clients achieve their development goals through our versatile suite of services. From the initial site selection, consultation and regulatory approval, through the construction, operation and maintenance phases, to conclusion and environmental cleanup, Vertex offers a diverse range of services throughout the life cycle of our clients’ projects.

OVERVIEW

Vertex is seeking a senior engineering professional to lead and build our Building Condition Assessment (BCA) and Property Condition Assessment (PCA) service line.

This role goes beyond traditional project management. You will be responsible for establishing a scalable, high-quality, and defensible BCA/PCA practice, including developing field teams, standardizing inspection methodologies, and implementing QA/QC systems. As the technical authority and Engineer of Record, you will ensure that all assessments align with ASTM standards while delivering clear, decision-focused insights for lenders, investors, and property owners.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Service Line Development & Technical Leadership

Lead Vertex’s Ontario Building Condition Assessment (BCA) / Property Condition Assessment (PCA) service line, including methodology, technical standards, reporting protocols, and delivery model.

Define what constitutes a high-quality, consistent, and defensible assessment, with a focus on clarity, risk identification, lifecycle planning, and actionable capital planning insight.

Provide professional engineering oversight and, where required by the scope of work, review and authenticate/seal engineering deliverables in accordance with the requirements of Engineers and Geoscientists in Ontario (PEO or PGO) and applicable legislation and professional practice requirements.

Serve as the primary technical authority for BCA/PCA, capital planning, reserve fund planning, and related building condition services in Ontario.

Establish assessment methodologies appropriate to building practices, climate conditions, construction types, seismic considerations, and applicable codes, regulations, and standards.

Ensure BCA/PCA methodologies are appropriately aligned with ASTM E2018 and other recognized assessment frameworks, while adapting them to project-specific requirements and Canadian practice.

Field Team Development & Training

Build, train, and mentor a team of technologists, inspectors, engineers, and field staff, leveraging Vertex’s broader technical expertise as required.

Develop standardized inspection protocols, checklists, field data collection procedures, photographic documentation standards, and deficiency-rating criteria.

Implement a scalable delivery model in which trained field staff collect consistent and reliable condition data, supported by senior technical review and professional oversight.

Establish training and quality standards for identifying, documenting, and prioritizing deficiencies across building envelope, structural, mechanical, electrical, site, and life-safety systems.

Quality Assurance & Delivery Model

Establish and oversee robust QA/QC processes to ensure reports are accurate, consistent, technically sound, and defensible.

Review field data, technical findings, recommendations, lifecycle assumptions, and cost opinions to ensure conclusions are appropriately supported.

Ensure reports clearly distinguish between observed conditions, reported conditions, assumptions, limitations, recommendations, and professional opinions.

Establish appropriate levels of investigation and reporting based on property type, project scope, client requirements, and risk profile.

Manage professional and project risk through clear communication of scope, exclusions, limitations, assumptions, and uncertainty.

Ensure deliverables meet applicable PEO or PGO professional practice requirements, contractual requirements, and recognized BCA/PCA standards.

Project Oversight

Oversee project execution across a portfolio of commercial, industrial, institutional, multi-residential, condominium, and strata properties throughout Ontario.

Ensure deliverables meet established timelines, budgets, technical standards, and client expectations.

Provide direct technical leadership on complex, high-risk, or technically challenging assessments.

Support assessments involving significant deferred maintenance, capital expenditures, building-envelope concerns, major mechanical or electrical deficiencies, structural concerns, seismic risk, and other material property risks.

Coordinate with Vertex’s engineering and technical disciplines and external specialists where additional investigation or expertise is required.

Strategic Growth & Market Expansion

Support the expansion of Vertex’s BCA/PCA service line throughout Ontario, with opportunities to contribute to broader Canadian and U.S. growth.

Develop and expand services supporting strata corporations, depreciation reports, reserve fund planning, and long-term capital planning, in accordance with applicable provincial requirements.

Support proposals, client development, key account relationships, and strategic initiatives that grow Vertex’s BCA/PCA presence.

Develop relationships with property owners, asset managers, lenders, insurers, developers, property managers, strata corporations, and other real estate stakeholders.

Identify opportunities to integrate BCA/PCA services with Vertex’s Environmental Site Assessment (ESA), roofing, building envelope, structural, mechanical, electrical, and building science capabilities.

Monitor changes to provincial legislation, regulations, professional practice requirements, and market expectations and incorporate them into Vertex’s service offerings and technical standards.

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is not a traditional project management role. It is an opportunity to build and lead a scalable, high-value technical service focused on clarity, consistency, defensibility, and capital insight.

Vertex is looking for a technical leader who can combine strong engineering and building-science expertise with sound professional judgment to develop a best-in-class BCA/PCA practice.

The successful candidate will help establish the methodology, people, quality systems, and technical standards that allow Vertex to deliver consistent and defensible assessments at scale—while providing clients with information they can use to make informed investment, financing, asset management, maintenance, and capital planning decisions.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Mechanical, Structural, Building Science, or a related Engineering discipline.

Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation in good standing with Engineers (PEO) or Geoscientists of Ontario (PGO).

Demonstrated ability to undertake and provide professional engineering oversight for work within the individual’s area of competence and in accordance with applicable PEO or PGO requirements.

Multi-provincial Canadian engineering registration is an asset.

10+ years of experience in building science, engineering consulting, property condition assessment, or a related field, with significant BCA/PCA and capital planning experience.

Strong understanding of building systems, construction practices, deterioration mechanisms, maintenance requirements, and lifecycle performance.

Strong knowledge of Ontario building construction and building performance, including building-envelope and moisture-related issues, seismic considerations, and regional climate impacts.

Experience with commercial, industrial, multi-residential, condominium, and/or strata properties.

Experience with depreciation reports, reserve fund