Director of Human Resources

We have an opening for a Human Resources professional with 7+ years of experience in designing, implementing and administering a variety of human resource programs. We are looking for an energetic leader who will serve as a member of the leadership team, responsible for the overall administration, coordination, development, and evaluation of the Human Resource function consistent with employee best practices, legislation, and guidelines. The Director will create systems to measure and improve performance while providing development opportunities to ensure Colby Co. remains a top-tier employer.

This individual will oversee and lead recruiting, benefits, employee relations, and organizational development. The Director of Human Resources is also responsible for strategic leadership by articulating Human Resource needs and plans to the executive management team. This individual will provide high quality advisory and administrative services regarding compensation, employment law, benefits management and design, and problem resolution skills. The Director would oversee the benefits & wellness program, including annual open enrollment, plan selection, educational meetings, and administration. Colby Co. seeks a senior-level HR professional who is highly empathetic and possesses strong communication skills, to create systems and processes to measure and improve performance and provide development opportunities. Colby Co is proud of our company culture and the candidate must be a steward of that culture.

Key Responsibilities

  • Culture & Retention: Lead the strategy for employee engagement, ensuring our workplace remains positive, collaborative, and rewarding.
  • Employer Branding & Social Media: Partner with leadership to enhance our social media presence and marketing efforts to showcase our culture to the AEC industry.
  • Quality Control & Operational Excellence: Act as a key stakeholder in our Quality Control process, ensuring that HR-related workflows and firm-wide standards are consistently followed.
  • Strategic Leadership: Articulate HR plans to the executive team and provide high-quality advisory services regarding employment law and organizational development.
  • Benefits & Wellness: Oversee the benefits and wellness program, including plan design, and annual open enrollment.
  • Talent Acquisition: Lead the full recruiting lifecycle to find high-caliber talent that fits our unique team.
  • General Administration: Manage insurance, compensation structures, and compliance with all labor law

Desired traits:

  • Bachelor’s degree, with a concentration in human resources, business administration, organizational development or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Related graduate degree preferred.
  • 5+ years of progressive experience in human resources with specific experience in employee relations, compliance, benefits administration, recruiting, workers compensation, and organizational development.
  • Preferred experience in AEC consulting industry and/or experience with small/medium sized professional services firms a plus but not required.
  • 2 years of human resources generalist experience.
  • Extensive knowledge of employment administration principles, wage and salary administration, employment and other labor laws and employee benefit plans
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills, with proven ability to build trusting, collaborative relationships with employees, managers, and cross‑functional partners to support a positive workplace culture.
  • Must possess integrity and a high level of interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential issues.
  • Proven ability to build trusting, collaborative relationships with employees, managers, and cross‑functional partners to support a positive workplace culture.
  • Human resource certifications are preferred, such as HRCI, SHRM, SPHR or SHRM-SCP, but not required.
  • Independent worker who can complete a task with minimal supervision
  • Attention to detail
  • Empathetic Communicator with high EQ
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

In addition to our insurance and retirement benefits package, Colby Co. offers two paid volunteer days a year, paid educational reimbursement, summer hours, paid time off (PTO), flex time, company outings and great co-workers.

This full-time position will be based at Colby Co.’s office in Portland, Maine.

Colby Co. is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

To apply, click here.

Fire Protection Engineer

Colby Co. is a midsize multi-discipline design firm specializing in mechanical, electrical, fire protection, structural, civil and architecture. Seventy employees strong, Colby Co. is noted for its commitment to technical and service excellence in a fun, flexible, rigorous work environment. Located in the vibrant small city of Portland, Maine, Colby Co. offers a balance of opportunities for working and living well. Colby Co. has been named to the “Best Places to Work in Maine” list consecutively for the last eight years, and as an “Emerging Professional Friendly Firm” by the New England Chapter of AIA for the last three years.

We currently have an opening for a Fire Protection Engineer with 3+ years of building and industrial experience in a consulting engineering design firm setting. We are looking for an engineer who can perform a broad range of fire protection engineering designs including building and life safety code analysis, fire protection (fire alarm, sprinkler and special hazard systems) and mass notification on commercial, institutional, and industrial projects. The successful candidate will bring a deep, successful track record of design, quality control and construction administration. In addition to an outstanding technical skillset, s/he will be a quick, flexible thinker and problem-solver who is accustomed to working in fluid teams on tight deadlines.

This position is a part of the MEP Engineering Department which is comprised of fire protection, mechanical and electrical engineers. Additionally, Colby Co. offers structural, civil engineering and architecture with our in-house staff. Projects range in size from $50,000 to $90M in construction value for State, Federal, Industrial and Commercial clients.

Desired traits:

  • Experience with Life Safety Code Consulting, Performance Based Design, and Fire Protection System Design
  • Strong knowledge of building systems, including how Fire Protection Systems coordinate with other Building Systems
  • Successful completion of the FE exam
  • PE License a plus
  • Experience with AutoSprink, HydraCAD, or other modeling software a plus
  • Sustainable design experience a plus
  • Experience with AutoCAD and/or Revit a plus

In addition to a comprehensive insurance and retirement benefits package, Colby Co. offers two paid volunteer days a year, paid educational reimbursement, summer hours, paid time off (PTO), flex time, 13 paid holidays, ability to work remotely, and company outings. 

Colby Co. is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

To apply for this job, click here.

Mechanical Designer

Colby Co. is a midsize multi-discipline design firm specializing in mechanical, electrical, fire protection, structural, civil and architecture. Seventy employees strong, Colby Co. is noted for its commitment to technical and service excellence in a fun, flexible, rigorous work environment. Located in the vibrant small city of Portland, Maine, Colby Co. offers a balance of opportunities for working and living well. Colby Co. has been named to the “Best Places to Work in Maine” list consecutively for the last seven years, and as an “Emerging Professional Friendly Firm” by the New England Chapter of AIA for the last three years.

We currently have an opening for a Mechanical Designer with 5+ years of HVAC and plumbing design experience  in a consulting engineering design firm setting.  We are looking for a designer who can prepare plans and coordinate drawings for a broad range of mechanical engineering designs including HVAC systems, industrial systems (pumps, heat exchangers, custom ductwork, piping, etc.); system controls; boiler design and machine design.  The successful candidate will bring a deep, successful track record of design and quality control.  In addition to an outstanding technical skill set, they will be a quick, flexible thinker and problem-solver who is accustomed to working in fluid teams on tight deadlines.

This position is a part of the Mechanical Engineering Department which is comprised of mechanical, plumbing, fire protection, and controls engineers.  Additionally, Colby Co. offers electrical, structural, civil engineering and architecture with our in-house staff.  You will have the opportunity to work on multidisciplinary design teams as many of our projects encompass more than one discipline.  Projects range in size from $50,000 to $100M in construction value for State, Federal, Industrial and Commercial clients.

Desired traits:
•    Proficiency in AutoCAD and/or AutoCAD MEP
•    Ability to coordinate with multiple disciplines
•    Experience with Revit or other BIM a plus
•    Experience with Trane Trace 700 and/or DOE 2 a plus

In addition to a comprehensive insurance and retirement benefits package, Colby Co. offers two paid volunteer days a year, paid educational reimbursement, summer hours, paid time off (PTO), flex time, ability to work remotely, and company outings. 

Colby Co. is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

To apply for this job, click here.

Congratulations to Shaili Patel, AIA, NCARB!

Shaili joined Colby Co. in 2018 as an Architectural Designer and joined a growing team of Architects and Designers at Colby Co. While here, Shaili began studying for the ARE exams to become a licensed Architect. This March, Shaili finished all of the necessary exams and became a Registered Architect, and holds an NCARB certificate. Congratulations!

Shaili Patel graduated from Norwich University in May 2017 with her Masters in Architecture. Previously, she attended Norwich earning her BS in Architectural Studies and a BA in History, graduating in 2016.

In addition to her outstanding hard work earning her licensure, Shaili also belongs to the Board of Fellows at Norwich University where she works with both students and faculty on the current curriculum to make sure the courses remain relevant to the industry.

Recently she also became the Vice President of the Maine chapter of Engineers without Borders where she helps facilitate build projects and community programs in countries who may need those services.

Congratulations on all of your hard work, Shaili!

Colby Co. is a multi-disciplinary design firm with registered Professional Engineers in the Electrical, Mechanical, Fire Protection, Structural and Civil fields as well as an experienced group of Architects and Architectural Designers. With professional registrations in 35 states, five Canadian Provinces and world-wide project experience, Colby Co. provides designs for numerous types of design projects.