Director of Civil Engineering P7

GRAEF; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 132,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedule

ESOP

Onsite fitness center

Free parking

Paid time off

Life Insurance

Disability coverage

Job summary

GRAEF seeks a Director of Civil Engineering to lead firmwide technical excellence and quality across its Civil Engineering community. You will drive standards, promote collaboration among offices, and mentor the next generation of leaders while staying involved in key projects.

You will shape technical strategy, support recruitment, and contribute to business planning, client relations, and pursuit efforts, fostering innovation and capability growth across the practice.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering is required.
• PE license is required.
• Minimum of 12 years civil engineering experience.
• Demonstrated technical and leadership experience.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and mentoring skills.
• Passion for technical excellence, quality, and staff development.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of firmwide technical standards, best practices, quality processes, and resources across GRAEF’s Civil Engineering Technical Community.
• Promote collaboration and work-sharing across offices and connect projects with the right expertise.
• Support onboarding, mentoring, technical training, and succession planning within the Civil Engineering Technical Community.
• Partner with firm leadership on technical strategy, innovation, recruiting, business planning, and business development.
• Remain actively engaged in project work, providing leadership, design input, and technical oversight.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strong communication

Mentoring skills

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Job description

Elevate Your Career with GRAEF - A Top Workplace

Are you passionate about technical excellence, developing people, and shaping the future of civil engineering?

GRAEF is seeking a Director of Civil Engineering to provide firmwide leadership for one of our largest technical communities. Reporting to the Chief Technical Officer, this role is responsible for advancing technical excellence, strengthening quality, promoting collaboration across offices, and developing the next generation of civil engineering leaders.

This is an opportunity to influence the future of civil engineering at GRAEF while remaining engaged in project work and collaborating with professionals across the firm.

What You'll Do

Lead Technical Excellence

Lead the development and implementation of firmwide technical standards, best practices, quality processes, and resources that support consistent, high-quality project delivery across GRAEF’s Civil Engineering Technical Community.

Build a Connected Civil Engineering Practice

Promote collaboration and work-sharing across offices, connect projects with the right expertise, and strengthen firmwide technical capabilities.

Develop People and Future Leaders

Support onboarding, mentoring, technical training, and succession planning within GRAEF’s Civil Engineering Technical Community, helping civil engineering staff grow professionally.

Shape the Future

Partner with firm leadership on technical strategy, innovation, recruiting, business planning, and business development, including supporting client relationships and project pursuits. Help guide investment in emerging technologies and capabilities that strengthen GRAEF's civil engineering practice.

Engage with Projects

Remain actively engaged in project work through project leadership, management, design, and technical oversight. Provide expertise on complex and strategically important projects, support quality reviews, and help project teams improve delivery, solve challenges, and manage risk.

What You Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering


• Professional Engineer (PE) license


• Minimum of 12 years of civil engineering experience


• Demonstrated technical and leadership experience


• Strong communication, collaboration, and mentoring skills


• Passion for technical excellence, quality, and staff development

Why GRAEF?

At GRAEF, we do more than design infrastructure. We invest in our people, build strong relationships, and create opportunities for employees to grow, lead, and make a lasting impact on the communities we serve. If you're ready to help shape the future of civil engineering at GRAEF, we'd love to hear from you.

We are proud to offer the following benefits:

• The salary range for this position is $132,000-$165,000. (Salary to be determined by the applicant's education, experience and skill set, as well as internal and external equity.)


• Training, Mentorship, and Leadership Development Programs


• A team atmosphere dedicated to open communication and collaboration


• Flexible Hours/Hybrid Schedule


• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)


• Embed yourself in the community by participating in numerous outside activities that GRAEF endorses and supports


• Exciting office location, with free amenities, including onsite fitness center and more


• Free parking


• Paid Time Off


• Life Insurance


• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability


• Flexible Spending Plans


• Retirement Savings Plan


• Tuition Reimbursement


• Casual Dress

An Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer - Disabled/Vets

Accessibility: If you need an accommodation as part of the employment process, please contact Human Resources at:
Phone: [phone] / Email: [e-mail]

An Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer - Disabled/Vets
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