Municipal Engineering Group Leader

Jacobs; Columbus (OH); Hybrid; USD 145,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) with company match

Stock purchase plan

Paid time off

Caregiver leave

Job summary

Jacobs, a leader in municipal engineering, is seeking a Group Leader to drive project leadership and growth across stormwater, Green infrastructure, roads, water supply, and sewage systems. You will build teams, lead design and construction efforts, and mentor staff within the Water Group.

As a key member of the Regional Water Leadership team, you will guide client relationships, development of proposals, and staff performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering required.
• PE license required.
• Experience leading municipal water or infrastructure projects.
• Strong communication and leadership abilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight for complex Water projects.
• Develop client relationships to support business growth.
• Serve as the primary liaison with clients, senior leadership, and key stakeholders.
• Lead project budgeting and contract negotiations.
• Participate and execute risk management strategies.
• Mentor and guide project managers, engineers, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Provide insight regarding safety, building codes, and quality standards.
• Support the development, alignment, and engagement of strong project teams.
• Align priorities between clients, contractors, and subcontractors for design and projects.
• Develop scheduling, budget control, and project delivery outcomes.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Planning

Organizational skills

People management

Succession planning

Mentoring

Business development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting- edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting- edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Jacobs is looking for an experienced and highly motivated Municipal Engineering Group Leader

who will provide project level leadership and execution of strategic and tactical initiatives. This key leadership role will drive the business by leading growth, providing technical experience, through quality project delivery, and inspirational talent management.

You will build teams and lead work in planning, design, and construction a variety of municipal engineering projects such as stormwater, green infrastructure, roads, water supply, sewage systems, urban planning, and a variety of other public infrastructure.

In addition to leading project planning and design, you will be a critical member of the Regional Water Leadership team. You’ll work closely with the Department Leader and other Group Leaders and Client Account Managers to provide guidance and leadership within the Water Group. You’ll be called upon to use your inspirational leadership skills to provide mentoring and coaching to Water staff aligned to you, including development of annual priorities, career goals, and performance reviews. Typical activities may also include identifying potential project pursuits, preparing qualifications and proposals, and hiring, supervising, and supporting staff. You will have the opportunity to help grow our business and also grow our local and regional teams.

You’ll also be responsible for promoting inclusion and diversity within the office and the Water Team, working to ensure that all staff are given meaningful and equitable opportunities to progress their careers within Jacobs.

You will assist with business development, including strategy development, positioning, proposing, and negotiating contracts to grow our business. You will also establish and maintain strong client relationships by communicating with clients on technical design topics and project schedule/budget/scope to develop long term strategy for continued market success. You will be responsible for leading project teams and communicating between diverse design disciplines for the delivery of designs and related studies.

Join our team and help us lay the foundation for our growth in these markets.

Here’s What You’ll Be Doing

• Provide strategic oversight and direction for complex Water projects, ensuring alignment with long-term business objectives.


• Develop client relationships and leverage existing ones to support business development.


• Serve as the primary liaison with clients, senior leadership, and key stakeholders, fostering trust and identifying future business opportunities.


• Lead project budget development and contract negotiations.


• Participate and execute risk management strategies, proactively identifying and mitigating contractual, regulatory, technical, and other risks.


• Mentor and guide project managers, engineers, and multidisciplinary teams, cultivating a collaborative and high-performance culture.


• Provide insight regarding safety, building codes, and quality standards, in coordination for projects and implementation during project delivery.


• Support the development, alignment, and engagement of strong project teams.


• Align priorities between clients, contractors, and subcontractors for design and projects during construction as needed.


• Develop scheduling, budget control, and project delivery outcomes.

Here’s what you’ll need

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in applicable field (Civil, Environmental)


• PE license


• Demonstrated aptitude, ability, and capacity to build and support a team


• Strong communication, planning, and organizational skills


• Experience with managing people


• Ability to help develop other front-line leaders as part of succession planning

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well-being. Your security. Your future. Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan. Jacobs has an unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full-time salaried/exempt employees, seven paid holidays, and caregiver leave. And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.

The base salary range for this position is $145,000.00 to $190,000.00. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. Job posted on September 22, 2026. This position will be open for at least 3 days.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.