Principal - Land Development

LVI Associates; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

LVI Associates in Houston is seeking a Principal - Land Development to drive growth, mentor teams, and lead complex site development projects from concept to completion.

You will collaborate with a leadership team to win new business, manage client relationships, and deliver high-quality civil engineering solutions across residential, mixed-use, and public sectors. This role offers strategic influence and a clear pathway for leadership.

Qualifications

• PE licence required.
• 10+ years of land development or site civil experience.
• Experience managing projects and client relationships.
• Demonstrated leadership experience overseeing technical teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead land development projects from concept through construction.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to clients, developers, builders, and stakeholders.
• Drive business development initiatives and cultivate new client relationships.
• Manage project delivery, budgets, schedules, and profitability.
• Mentor and develop engineers, project managers, and technical staff.
• Provide technical oversight for grading, drainage, utilities, stormwater management, and site development projects.
• Support recruiting, succession planning, and team growth initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Client relationships

Business development

Team mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Job description

Industry: Civil Engineering / Land Development

Compensation: Competitive Base Salary + Annual Bonus + Long-Term Incentives

Take the Lead in a Growing Land Development Practice

An established, employee-focused civil engineering consultancy is seeking a Principal - Land Development to help drive the continued growth of its Texas operation.

This is an opportunity for an experienced civil engineering leader who enjoys a combination of technical delivery, client engagement, staff development, and business growth. You'll have the autonomy to influence strategy, mentor the next generation of engineers, and play a key role in expanding an already successful land development practice.

The Opportunity

You will work alongside an established leadership team to support existing clients while helping identify and secure new opportunities across the land and site development market.

Projects span a variety of sectors including:

• Residential communities
• Mixed-use projects
• Institutional and public-sector developments

Key Responsibilities

• Lead land development projects from concept through construction.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to clients, developers, builders, and stakeholders.
• Drive business development initiatives and cultivate new client relationships.
• Manage project delivery, budgets, schedules, and profitability.
• Mentor and develop engineers, project managers, and technical staff.
• Provide technical oversight for grading, drainage, utilities, stormwater management, and site development projects.
• Support recruiting, succession planning, and team growth initiatives.
• Collaborate with leadership to develop strategic growth plans for the practice.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering.
• Professional Engineer (PE) licence required.
• 10+ years of land development or site civil engineering experience.
• Proven experience managing projects and client relationships.
• Demonstrated leadership experience overseeing technical teams.
• Strong understanding of site development design, grading, drainage, utilities, permitting, and municipal coordination.
• Experience contributing to business development, proposal generation, and client growth.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

Why Join?

• Opportunity to step into a visible leadership position.
• Strong project pipeline and long-term growth plans.
• Collaborative culture with direct access to decision makers.
• Ability to influence the future direction of the practice.
• Diverse, high-profile land development projects.
• Clear pathway for continued leadership and career progression.
• Competitive compensation package with performance-based incentives.

If you're currently leading projects, building client relationships, and looking for a platform where your impact can be seen and rewarded, we'd love to hear from you.