As a Supervisor - Geological Engineering, you'll lead a team of geological engineers while contributing to Department of National Defence projects that rely on geological expertise. You'll be responsible for overseeing engineering investigations, site assessments, and geological evaluations that support military infrastructure, base operations, and defence capabilities across Canada. Your role bridges technical geological knowledge with people management, requiring you to guide your team's work while maintaining professional engineering standards.
Your day-to-day responsibilities include supervising staff performance and development, managing project timelines and budgets, ensuring quality control of geological assessments, and coordinating with other engineering disciplines and military stakeholders. You'll review reports, conduct site visits, mentor junior engineers, and represent the team in interdisciplinary meetings. You may also contribute directly to complex geological engineering challenges, particularly those requiring senior-level expertise.
You'll work in a dynamic environment where geological conditions directly impact military operations and infrastructure decisions. Your work environment includes office-based project management, field investigations at various Canadian locations, and collaboration with Defence teams, contractors, and external geological specialists.
Key Responsibilities
Coordinate and oversee daily geological engineering operations, Assign work, monitor progress, and provide guidance to team members, Review work products for quality and compliance with standards, Contribute to operational planning and process improvement
Required Skills
Technical analysis, Design and drafting tools (CAD), Project management, Regulatory knowledge, Problem-solving, Team supervision, Work coordination, Quality control, Staff development
Typical Education
Post-secondary diploma or degree; experience in the relevant technical or functional area
Training
You'll need a bachelor's degree in geology, geological engineering, or a closely related earth science discipline from a recognized Canadian or international institution. Professional designation as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in your province or territory is required for this supervisory role. Many successful candidates hold a master's degree in geological engineering or a specialized field such as geotechnical engineering, hydrogeology, or engineering geology.
Ongoing professional development is expected, including continuing education credits to maintain your P.Eng. designation, training in supervisory and management practices, and technical advancement in areas like environmental assessment, site characterization, and geohazard mitigation. The Department supports training in federal procurement, project management methodologies, and Indigenous consultation practices relevant to Canadian defence operations.
Entry Plans
Entry into this position typically occurs through several pathways. External candidates with geological engineering experience may compete through public competitions advertised on the Government of Canada Jobs website. Current DND civilian employees working as Geological Engineers can apply for internal competitions when supervisor positions become available. Some candidates transition into supervisory roles after demonstrating technical expertise and leadership potential in intermediate-level positions.
The Public Service Commission manages the recruitment process, which includes assessment of your qualifications, interview evaluations, and verification of your professional engineering credentials. Lateral moves from other federal departments with equivalent geological engineering experience are also considered. New graduates may enter as junior geological engineers through entry-level competitions and advance to supervisory positions as they gain experience and demonstrate management capability.
Part-Time Options
Part-time work is available in limited circumstances and is typically arranged on a case-by-case basis with your manager and Human Resources. Most supervisor roles are full-time positions given the management responsibilities and need for consistent team oversight.
Remote and flexible work arrangements have become more common in recent years. Many office-based project management tasks can be performed remotely, though field investigations at Canadian military installations require on-site presence. Your actual flexibility will depend on your specific team's needs, project requirements, and your supervisor's approval. Compressed work weeks and flexible scheduling may be negotiable within operational constraints. The Department encourages work-life balance discussions during your hiring process and annually with your manager.
