Project Manager (Civil Engineer)

Smith Seckman Reid, Inc; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Smith Seckman Reid, Inc (SSR) in Nashville is seeking a Project Manager I to lead small to mid‑size engineering projects. You will plan, execute, and monitor schedules, budgets, and quality while serving as the primary liaison between SSR and clients.

The role requires collaborative leadership with cross‑functional teams, staffing plans, and adherence to QA/QC requirements. You will attend client meetings, prepare proposals, and ensure timely delivery of deliverables and documentation.

Qualifications

• Technical or Bachelor's degree in a major technical discipline with four years related project experience OR ten years of related project experience.
• Professional Engineer licensure preferred.
• Strong knowledge of project management practices and budgets.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute project plans with low to medium scope.
• Manage budgets, schedules, and client communications.
• Prepare QA/QC plans and ensure project documentation.
• Lead kickoff meetings and coordinate cross‑disciplinary teams.

Skills

Presentation

Judgment/Decision‑Making

Relationship management

Organizational skills

Active listening

Delegation

Interpersonal skills

Written communication

Speech clarity

Detail‑oriented

Microsoft Office Suite

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or technical discipline

Professional Engineer licensure preferred

Tools

CRM software

Budgeting tools

eResource system

Job description

A leading comprehensive engineering design and consulting firm, SSR provides innovative solutions for clients with facility and infrastructure challenges. To achieve client needs, SSR has multiple locations across the US.

Working with a diverse group of individuals in a variety of markets, our team of experts partner with our clients to deliver advanced solutions that last.

SSR is committed to providing opportunities and benefits to colleagues that promote living fully. Through various competitive benefits and programs available, SSR supports the health, well‑being, and personal growth of its employees.

SSR offers benefit options including medical, dental, and vision coverage, a generous contribution to employee‑owned Health Savings Account, 401(k) with matching up to the full IRS maximum, tuition reimbursement, and a variety of other employee incentives and wellness programs.

The Project Manager holds overall responsibility for assigned projects of low to medium scope and complexity. Duties include planning and executing a specific project plan, delivering quality products and services to the client in a timely manner, managing project financials, and serving as the primary contact between the SSR project team and the client. The Project Manager I ensures that projects are executed according to the plan and is responsible for the results of assigned projects (Total Project Success).

Essential Functions

• Confirms the project scope and requirements with the client and other stakeholders, working with the Client Relationship Manager (CRM) or Operations Director as needed
• Ensures contracts are fully executed by the appropriate Principal
• Helps develop a financial plan for the project by preparing the proposal letter; works with CRM, Department Head, or Operations Director as applicable
• Assists in developing the project staffing plan and preliminary man‑hour budget with the Senior Project Manager (PM), CRM, Department Head, or Operations Director as applicable
• Leads project kick‑off meetings to convey project scope, client expectations and standards, man‑hour budgets, etc. in a manner that builds consensus and fosters ownership and trust with the design team
• Displays an aptitude for collaborative learning, encourages constructive criticism, and builds consensus with the internal team
• Works with design team to confirm a final man‑hour budget based on discipline work plans that identify tasks and hours to complete
• Works with the client to understand schedule expectations and, with team input, proposes interim milestones to the schedule for proper information flow, adjusting as necessary throughout the project
• Schedules work, communicates schedule and action‑item information to the project team, monitors manpower requirements and plans for all disciplines on the project, and assists in updating eResource with current man‑hour projections as the project requires, while maintaining a profit variance of +/- 5%
• Ensures project documentation is completed and appropriately stored
• Attends meetings with owners, clients, and architects; facilitates communication between clients and the project team; documents important issues
• Monitors project budget and works with project team to schedule work in accordance with man‑hour budgets; recognizes how the hours charged to the project impact the revenue and projections
• Identifies and administers fees for additional services as needed
• Aware of problems or risks regarding SSR's quality, schedule or financial goals of the project; with assistance is able to determine the cause of problems and communicate the issue with the design team
• Prepares and implements a proactive Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) plan for projects
• Learns how to build, develop, and grow business relationships vital to the success of the project and engages in business development activities with the current client base
• Ensures that invoices are accurate and delivered in a timely manner; monitors and collects account receivables, and updates the projected monthly revenue earnings for each project
• Responds to contractor's and client's request for information efficiently and comprehensively
• Manages the Construction Administration (CA) process to ensure building systems are installed consistent with the design and predetermined quality standards
• Supervises the job close out process to ensure documentation, filings, and project debriefs are complete
• Works alongside and engages with the Senior PM, CRM, or Location Leader to increase knowledge of project scope, budgeting, and revenue projections
• Actively attends internal and external training and other educational opportunities to obtain knowledge in necessary technical areas; exhibits competency in their own technical discipline

Knowledge, Skill, and Ability Requirements

Knowledge

• Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook)
• Knowledge of project management practices
• Basic knowledge of project financial management and how to create and maintain budgets
• Proficient within the engineering discipline of his/her expertise

Skills and Abilities

• Presentation Skills – effective in a variety of presentation settings both inside and outside the organization; commands attention and can manage group processes during the presentation; can change tactics midstream when something isn\'t working
• Judgment and Decision‑Making Skills – ability to make reasoned judgments that are logical and well thought out; constructively questioning and analyzing information in order to make the best conclusion
• Relationship Management Skills – ability to create, maintain, and strengthen authentic relationships with clients
• Organizational Skills – can marshal resources (people, funding, material, support, etc.) to get things done; can orchestrate multiple activities at once to accomplish goals; uses resources effectively and efficiently; arranges information and files in a useful manner
• Active Listening Skills – practices attentive listening with the patience to hear people out; can accurately restate the opinions of others even when they disagree
• Delegation Skills – ability to effectively assign task responsibility and authority to others
• Interpersonal Skills – ability to interact positively and work effectively with others
• Comprehension – ability to understand information, ideas, and direction presented in writing and/or verbally communicated
• Written Communication Skills – ability to clearly deliver a message through written words using correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation
• Speech Clarity – ability to speak clearly and in a common language so that others can understand you
• Detail‑Oriented – ability to achieve accuracy and thoroughness when accomplishing a task; pays attention to details and is able to understand what caused a certain outcome

Minimum Qualifications

• Technical or Bachelor\'s degree in one of the major technical disciplines practiced by the firm with four years related project experience OR
• Ten years of practical experience on similar projects
• Professional Engineer Licensure preferred (required by those who have an ABET accredited degree in engineering)

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Frequently use a computer for several hours at a time
• May need to periodically maneuver over, under, and around barriers as well as climb ladders on a job site
• Ability to transport ladders and plans weighing up to 30 pounds
• Ability to climb several flights of stairs (up to 12 levels)

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Indoors in a normal office environment with some exposure to excessive noise, darkness/poor lighting, fumes, or dust
• May travel to and navigate construction sites, some of which may be at high altitudes or small spaces with dirt or dust particles
• Minimal overnight travel to attend project meetings, conferences, and training sessions

SSR is an Equal Opportunity / Aff... (continued).

EOE Disability/Veteran

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities: This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.