Civil Engineering Team Leader
Seamon, Whiteside & Assoc Inc
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Job summary
SW+ in Charlotte seeks a Civil Engineering Team Leader to guide a capable team, support Project Managers, and ensure technical excellence across civil design and landscape integration.
You will lead performance, mentor staff, uphold SW+ standards, and contribute to business development, delivering high‑quality projects on time and within budget.
The role emphasizes people leadership, workload balancing, and client relationship management within a growing practice.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from an accredited college or university.
- 10+ years of progressive civil engineering/land development experience with PM and leadership.
- Active Professional Engineer (PE) license strongly recommended.
Responsibilities
- Lead and develop the civil engineering team to deliver high‑quality projects.
- Manage project budgets, schedules, and client communications.
- Promote QA/QC and SW+ standards across projects.
- Foster client relationships and support business development initiatives.
Skills
Education
Job description
Description
The Civil Engineering Team Leader is a leadership position responsible for the overall success of an assigned civil engineering team. This role shifts the primary focus from managing individual projects to leading people, supporting Project Managers, ensuring technical excellence, balancing team workload, overseeing financial performance, and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous professional growth.
The Civil Engineering Team Leader provides leadership, direction, and support by developing and leading employees, promoting collaboration, driving operational excellence, and ensuring the successful delivery of high-quality projects. While Team Leaders may continue to manage select projects as business needs require, their primary responsibility is to lead and develop their team, oversee team performance, and provide the guidance and resources necessary for employees to succeed.
Serving as a trusted resource for employees, clients, and company leadership, the Civil Engineering Team Leader removes obstacles, supports project execution, and ensures SW+ standards, processes, and values are consistently upheld. This role also plays a key part in developing future leaders, strengthening client relationships, supporting business development initiatives, and contributing to the long‑term growth and success of the Civil Engineering department.
Since the company’s beginning in 1985, we’ve blended the disciplines of civil engineering and landscape architecture from concept to completion to create places of legacy and inspiration for our clients, community, and family. There is a big difference in how engineers and landscape architects visualize a project. At SW+, we approach every plan from both points of view, working together to create a successfully integrated venture. In our world, that’s a good thing.
With the goal of being the best design firm in the region, the SW+ leadership team continues to attract the brightest talent, each with a unique expertise in one of the many facets of land design. SW+ has a diverse portfolio at a variety of scales in both the public and private sectors, including mixed‑use commercial developments, urban and suburban multifamily, healthcare, office, high‑end resort, and parks and recreation projects.
With over 200 employees and offices in Mount Pleasant, Greenville, Summerville, Spartanburg, and Columbia, SC, as well as Charlotte, Raleigh, and Asheville, NC, SW+ inspires employees to stand behind its tagline, “Elevating the site design experience.” Company culture is at the core of who we are. SW+ offers a mentorship program and other professional growth opportunities.
In addition, company-sponsored events such as golf tournaments, sports teams, and happy hours, along with philanthropic endeavors, provide opportunities throughout the year to lift morale and strengthen bonds between coworkers.
- Directly supervise and manage a minimum of one Project Manager with Project Manager’s support staff as part of the standard Civil Engineering team structure.
- Lead, mentor, coach, and support Project Managers, designers, and other assigned team members to foster individual and team success.
- Foster a positive, collaborative, and accountable team culture where employees understand expectations, feel supported, and are empowered to grow professionally.
- Conduct regular one‑on‑one meetings, provide timely coaching and feedback, and complete performance evaluations to support employee development and accountability.
- Develop individual growth plans, identify future leadership opportunities, and mentor employees to prepare them for increased responsibilities.
- Maintain and regularly evaluate the team's organizational structure, succession plan, and future staffing needs to support business growth and employee development.
- Assist with recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, and integrating new employees while promoting a positive onboarding experience.
- Identify training, development, and staffing needs, and communicate recommendations to department and office leadership.
- Promote accountability by recognizing employee achievements, addressing performance concerns promptly, and encouraging continuous learning and professional growth.
- Ensure projects are properly planned, staffed, reviewed, and delivered in accordance with SW+ quality standards.
- Confirm appropriate QA/QC reviews are completed prior to all major project deliverables.
- Support Project Managers with complex technical issues, permitting challenges, agency comments, client concerns, contractor coordination, and construction administration.
- Monitor project schedules, budgets, deliverables, staffing, scope, and project risks, intervening early when projects begin to fall behind.
- Assist Project Managers with due diligence efforts and identifying potential project risks during project planning and execution.
- Monitor construction administration activities throughout the life of projects, including field issue resolution, change orders, pay applications, as-built reviews, and project closeout.
- Promote consistency in technical quality across all projects.
- Assign projects based on employee workload, experience, technical expertise, development opportunities, and project priorities.
- Balance workloads across the team to maximize efficiency while supporting employee development.
- Coordinate staffing with other Team Leaders and office leadership to address resource needs across offices.
- Conduct weekly structured team meetings to discuss workload tasks and permitting.
- Review project tracking reports, schedules, workload forecasts, and staffing plans to ensure projects remain on schedule.
- Ensure Project Managers maintain accurate project tracking tools, schedules, forecasts, and required project documentation.
- Step in when necessary to help resolve project challenges and remove obstacles impacting team success.
- Utilize current company software to ensure project planning to help track team workloads, forecast capacity, and optimize project budgets
- Review project budgets, financial performance, backlog, work-in-progress, profitability, and billing with department leadership.
- Regularly meet with team to review financials with team.
- Maintain awareness of the team’s accounts receivable status and proactively work with Project Managers, accounting, and office leadership to address collection issues and ensure invoices are collected in a timely manner.
- Review and approve client invoices prior to billing.
- Coach Project Managers on project profitability, budget management, timely billing, and identification of additional service opportunities.
- Review project proposals and contracts to evaluate scope, staffing, fees, schedule, project risks, and company liability.
- Monitor financial performance across the team and proactively address issues affecting profitability.
- Support Project Managers in establishing and managing client expectations regarding scope, schedule, deliverables, permitting requirements, and project deadlines.
- Maintain strong client relationships while serving as a leadership resource during complex project discussions.
- Participate in client meetings when leadership support is needed.
- Participate in business development activities including proposal strategy, interviews, networking, client outreach, and relationship development.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen existing client relationships and pursue new business opportunities.
- Partner with office leadership on annual staffing plans, succession planning, and team growth strategies.
- Assist in developing future Project Managers and technical leaders.
- Support implementation of company initiatives, operational improvements, and strategic planning efforts.
- Foster collaboration across offices and disciplines to improve communication and resource sharing.
- Participate in department leadership meetings and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.
- Serve as a role model for SW+ culture, leadership values, and professional excellence.
- Involvement in external organizations and boards to expand professional network.
- Ensure SW+ project management processes, drafting standards, QA/QC procedures, file management standards, and company expectations are consistently followed.
- Promote professionalism, accountability, and integrity in all employee and client interactions.
- Communicate effectively with employees, clients, consultants, contractors, permitting agencies, and executive leadership.
- Lead by example through professionalism, responsiveness, collaboration, and a solution‑oriented mindset.
- Support a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.
- A motivated, engaged, and professionally developing team.
- Balanced workloads and effective staffing across projects.
- High‑quality deliverables with consistent QA/QC compliance.
- Projects delivered on time and within budget.
- Strong project profitability and proactive financial management.
- Positive client relationships and repeat business opportunities.
- Effective coaching and development of Project Managers.
- Consistent implementation of SW+ standards and company initiatives.
- Strong collaboration across offices and departments.
- Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from an accredited college or university.
- Typically, 10 or more years of progressive experience in civil engineering, land development, or a related consulting environment, with demonstrated success in project management, people leadership, client relationship management, and financial oversight.
- Active Professional Engineer (PE) license strongly recommended.
- Strong leadership, mentoring, and coaching abilities.
- Ability to negotiate contracts, scope, fees, and consultant agreements.
- Excellent organizational, planning, and time management skills.
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