Geotechnical Project Manager

Kleinfelder; Riverside (CA); Hybrid; USD 117,000 - 197,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) plan

Paid holidays

Job summary

Kleinfelder is hiring a Project Manager with a geology/geotechnical background for our Riverside, CA office. The role blends field, office, and client-facing duties across large civil projects.

Ideal candidates have 7+ years managing complex projects, strong communication, and licensure in CA, with PMP preferred. The position offers a hybrid schedule, competitive salary, and growth opportunities within a multidisciplinary team.

Qualifications

• BS degree in Geology, Geological Engineering, or Civil Engineering required; MS a plus.
• Registered Professional Geologist (PG), Certified Engineering Geologist (CEG), Professional Engineer (PE/Civil) or Geotechnical Engineer (GE) in California.
• PMP certification preferred.
• 7+ years of progressive experience managing complex projects in consulting engineering or related fields.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills andclient interfacing experience.
• Extensive soil logging experience and knowledge of fault studies, landslide mapping, and site investigations.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of scopes for field and office tasks, perform analysis, and review others' work.
• Safely conduct field exploration, sampling, inspection, and technical support.
• Coordinate tasks and projects with junior staff and cross-disciplinary teams.
• Prepare designs, reports, and assessments for complex projects.
• Manage budgets, schedules, risks, and client communications across multiple projects.
• Lead business development activities, proposals, and client relationship management.
• Mentor junior staff and ensure quality control of data collection and deliverables.
• Deliver technical presentations to clients and regulatory boards.

Skills

Communication

Project Management

Field Supervision

Geology Knowledge

Education

BS in Geology / Civil Engineering

MS preferred

Licenses: PG/CEG/PE/GE (CA)

PMP preferred

Tools

MS Office

Project Tracking Tools

Job description

Take Your Delivery Management Career to the Next Level

Kleinfelder, a Forbes' Top Employer for Engineers in North America, is committed to a people-first culture, technical excellence, and creating opportunities where employees can thrive! Do you have a passion for managing budgets, meeting deadlines, and exceeding client expectations? Our delivery management professionals are involved in project delivery from initiation and planning to execution, monitoring, and closeout. Each phase requires strong attention to detail while communicating with internal and external stakeholders. Do you have a proven track record in managing goals and objectives? Consider joining our team and work with peers who have vast industry knowledge and experience solving complex problems.

Step Into Your New Role

The Los Angeles Area is seeking to fill a position of a Project Manager with a technical background in Geology or Geotechnical Engineering. This position will be based in Kleinfelder’s Riverside office.

The role will be hybrid with remote, in-office, and field work opportunities. This is a great opportunity for someone looking for a role where they can manage challenging projects, partner with other junior and senior geologists and geotechnical engineers, and provide quality service to our multidisciplinary teams and clients. The successful applicant will have a career as a Senior Engineering Geologist or Senior Geotechnical Engineer with progressive experience in project management, engineering geology or geotechnical engineering, soil logging and testing, landslide investigation, and construction on specialty and heavy civil projects and a minimum of 7+ years’ experience managing complex projects. The successful applicant will have demonstrated experience working with Clients, delivering quality services, and serving as a point of contact.

Our team works on challenging and interesting projects within a design center that includes bridge, structural, civil, and water resources engineers, environmental professionals, and laboratory and construction oversight personnel. We work on a large variety of both public and private infrastructure systems ranging from small to large-scale bridges, transit systems, roadways, water and storm water systems, tunnels and HDD installations, dams, commercial structures, deep excavations, and more, all while managing complexities of dense urban sites or difficult mountainous terrain.

The ideal candidate will:

• Possess strong communication and writing skills.
• Lead development of scopes for field and office tasks (technical and non-technical), perform independent analysis, and review analysis of others.
• Safely conduct field exploration, sampling, inspection, analysis, and technical support without supervision.
• Coordinate tasks and small to major projects with junior operations/technical staff.
• Prepare designs, reports, and assessments on complex projects.
• Possess an understanding of how geology and geotechnical engineering fits within a civil engineering project and context.
• Demonstrate project management capabilities including planning, coordination, risk management, stakeholder communication, and team leadership.

We are looking for someone with the ability to provide quality project management and technical support on commercial, municipal, transportation, energy, and water projects.

Strong skills are required in areas including:

• Applying advanced experience with geologic and engineering projects, including data interpretation and development of technical conclusions.
• Planning, implementing, and managing geotechnical and geologic exploration programs, including scope development, resource allocation, and schedule oversight.
• Guiding staff geologists and engineers in material and site characterization, faulting analysis, landslide evaluation, and related tasks.
• Managing all aspects of projects, including safety, quality, schedule, budget, risk mitigation, and client communication.
• Develop scopes of work, project budgets, work breakdown structures, and schedules, ensuring alignment with client expectations and internal standards.
• Manage project teams, monitor budgets and schedules, delegate tasks effectively, and mentor junior staff to support their technical and professional growth.
• Preparing technical reports, geologic analyses, and documentation that meet regulatory and client requirements.
• Coordinating and providing quality control for data collection, field activities, and review of project results.
• Preparing and delivering technical presentations to clients, agencies, and technical review boards.
• Supervising field observation, testing, and conducting site visits to ensure compliance with project plans and safety protocols.
• Perform and manage engineering services during construction and coordinate technician and field staff.
• Actively participating in and leading business development activities, including proposal preparation and client relationship management.
• Proactively troubleshooting and problem-solving with practical, client-focused solutions.
• Leading multidisciplinary teams, mentoring staff at all levels, and supporting professional development.
• Organizing priorities, managing multiple concurrent projects, and maintaining clear communication with internal and external stakeholders.
• Applying structured project management practices such as progress tracking, documentation control, and change management.

Education & Experience:

• BS degree in Geology, Geological Engineering, or Civil Engineering is required. MS degree preferred and PhD a plus.
• Registered Professional Geologist (PG), Certified Engineering Geologist (CEG), Professional Engineer (PE, Civil), or Geotechnical Engineer (GE) in California.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification preferred.
• Progressive experience in consulting engineering or related service industries, with a minimum of 7+ years of experience managing complex projects.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. Comfort and willingness to interface with Clients.
• Extensive soil logging experience is required to be successful in this position.
• Extensive experience in fault studies, faulting interpretation, and landslide mapping and evaluation a plus.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Demonstrated ability to work with multidisciplinary teams, manage project deliverables, schedules, budgets, and mentor junior staff.
• Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record and ability to pass a drug test required.
• Physical ability to perform fieldwork, carry equipment, and conduct testing and sampling for extended periods.
• Ability to commute to the office, client meetings, and project sites in and around Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, and Ventura Counties.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and experience using project tracking or collaboration tools.
• Candidate must be willing to work in addition to a standard 40-hour work week when needed.

Following an offer, candidates will be required to satisfactorily complete employment reference checks, verification of professional licensure and/or educational credentials, a motor vehicle report (MVR), and a comprehensive background check.

Move Forward with Kleinfelder:

Kleinfelder and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, has been connecting great people to the best work since 1961. We are engineers, scientists, and construction professionals providing solutions that improve our clients’ transportation, water, energy, and other private infrastructure. As a responsive, cross-disciplinary team of bright, curious, and innovative problem-solvers, we are dedicated to doing the right thing, every day, on every project from over 110 offices in the US, Canada, and Australia. Connecting great people to the best work is our purpose – together, we deliver.

Benefits:

Kleinfelder, and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, offers an excellent compensation and benefits package, including: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) plan, and paid holidays.

The expected salary range for the position is displayed in accordance with the California Pay Transparency Law. Final agreed upon compensation is based upon individual qualifications and experience. Salary Range:116,792-197,357

Career Development:

We are committed to investing in the professional development of our staff, offering each employee every opportunity to grow, develop, and take control of their career paths. We support these efforts through reimbursements for continuing education as well as many of the expenses associated with trainings and certifications, and opportunities for career development through our internal Mentoring Program.

Equal Opportunity:

Kleinfelder, and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Minorities/Women/Disabled/Veterans. (Compliant with the new VEVRAA and Section 503 rules)