Civil Engineer – Senior Transportation Practice Lead

Ayres Associates; North Carolina; On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A civil engineering firm in North Carolina seeks a Senior Transportation Practice Lead to develop a new service line and lead a team of engineers. You will oversee transportation project management, engage in business development, and ensure quality service delivery. The ideal candidate has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, a PE license, and 12+ years of related experience. This role offers the opportunity to make an impact while collaborating with diverse professionals across the region.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 12 years of combined experience in project management and business development.
• Willingness to travel to other company locations.
• Valid driver's license with a good driving record.

Responsibilities

• Lead marketing and winning of transportation projects.
• Prepare and negotiate contract documents.
• Manage clients and projects ensuring quality and profitability.
• Support staff development and mentorship.
• Engage in professional organizations and social events.

Skills

Sound transportation project management skills

Proven business development expertise

Excellent communication skills

Leadership skills

Technical skills

Ability to manage transportation projects profitably

Client contact and marketing initiatives

Education

Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering

Registered professional engineer (PE) license in North Carolina

Job description

As Our Senior Transportation Practice Lead, You’ll

• Build something that lasts: Develop a new service line from the ground up, with the freedom to shape its direction and the support to make it thrive.
• Grow a high-performing team: Recruit, mentor, and lead a team of talented engineers who share your vision and passion.
• Make an impact: Deliver innovative transportation solutions that improve lives and communities across North Carolina.
• Lead with vision: Collaborate with colleagues in our offices across the country to drive strategy, win work, and deliver excellence.
• Leave a legacy: Establish yourself as a key player in Minnesota’s infrastructure space – and help define what the future looks like.

We’re not just offering a job – we’re offering a platform. A chance to lead with purpose, grow with intention, and be part of something bigger.

Join a USA TODAY Top Workplace where collaboration, innovation, and impact are more than just buzzwords – they’re how we work, every day.

Ready to build something that matters? Let’s talk.

On Any Given Day, You’ll

• Take the lead in successfully marketing and winning transportation projects, including NCDOT, counties, municipalities, and private-sector clients.
• Prepare and negotiate contract documents.
• Manage clients.
• Manage projects, overseeing the production of all project work, ensuring that the work is produced on schedule, profitably, and in conformance with Ayres’ quality standards and contract requirements.
• Build and maintain respectful working relationships with fellow leaders within the company.
• Support and participate in staff development and mentorship.
• Be an active participant in monthly division meetings held with the vice president and fellow transportation leads.
• Develop an annual business plan and budget with emphasis on growth, financial planning, capital purchases, marketing, and training initiatives.
• Actively engage in local, statewide, and/or national professional organizations.
• Participate in officewide social events.
• Be given a great deal of autonomy to grow, direct and lead your team.

Required Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.
• Registered professional engineer (PE) license in North Carolina.
• A minimum of 12 years of combined experience in the following:
  • Sound transportation project management skills.
  • Proven business development expertise focused on identifying, pursuing, and winning projects.
  • Managing and mentoring staff.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and technical skills.
• Willingness to travel to other company locations on occasion.
• Demonstrated ability to manage transportation projects profitably
• A valid driver’s license with a good driving record.

Desired Skills And Experiences

• Ability to develop and grow transportation engineering (one of Ayres’ largest service offerings) in North Carolina.
• A desire to build the Ayres brand at professional meetings/conferences locally, statewide, and potentially nationally.
• Proven success in meeting goals and objectives of annual business plans and budgets, including revenue and profitability, staffing, backlog, billing, accounts receivable, ROI on capital purchases, and image development.
• Ability to think outside the box to generate creative ideas and inspire your team.
• Eagerness to cultivate a team environment where all staff members feel valued and supported and all ideas flow freely.
• Enthusiastic focus on business development, including client contact, marketing initiatives, and monitoring client and partner satisfaction.

Please note, benefits vary depending on job status. To learn more about our great benefits, visit our website at https://www.ayresassociates.com/careers/the-ayres-advantage/

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer