An application made for this job — a tailored resume and cover letter that speak straight to the posting.
The Richmond Land Development practice of a leading multidisciplinary engineering firm is seeking an experienced Land Development Project Manager to lead commercial and municipal site projects. You will own projects from kickoff to delivery, mentor junior engineers, oversee scope, schedule, budgets, and coordinate with clients and subconsultants.
Richmond-based with flexible hybrid work options, strong PTO, 401(k), and comprehensive benefits; ideal for a hands-on leader who can deliver on time
You know that awkward spot between being the person doing all the design and being the person who spends all day chasing work?
This role sits right in the sweet spot.
We are representing a highly respected, long-established multidisciplinary engineering consulting firm that is looking for an experienced Land / Site Development Project Manager to join a rapidly growing practice.
And when we say growing, we mean it.
The Land Development team has expanded significantly over the past couple of years, the backlog is there, younger engineers are joining the group, and now they need an experienced PM who can help bring everything together.
Someone who can lead projects.
Someone younger engineers can learn from.
Someone who still understands the nuts and bolts of good site design.
And someone who can walk into a client meeting without breaking into a cold sweat.
This is not primarily a business development position.
You are not being hired with a Rolodex quota hanging over your head on Day One.
There are senior leaders focused heavily on client development, proposals and bringing work into the group. What they need is a strong technical Project Manager who can take that work, organize the team and make sure it gets delivered the right way.
That means:
On schedule.
On budget.
Technically sound.
And with a happy client on the other end.
You’ll still participate in proposals, client interaction and relationship development, but your value here is going to come primarily from your ability to lead people and deliver great civil/site projects.
The Richmond Land Development practice currently has roughly 10 professionals and is continuing to grow.
There's a good group of younger engineers coming up through the organization, which creates a terrific opportunity for someone who genuinely enjoys mentoring, teaching and helping engineers develop.
You won't be parachuting into a dying practice and being asked to magically fix everything.
Quite the opposite.
The group has been building momentum, the work is there, and leadership want to continue adding engineers and additional PM-level talent around this hire.
Think commercial and institutional site development, public-sector projects and complex civil/site assignments rather than subdivision after subdivision after subdivision.
Current work includes substantial commercial development projects, along with municipal and other public-sector assignments.
A background that combines private-sector commercial development and public/municipal site work would translate extremely well.
If virtually your entire career has been focused on single-family residential subdivision development, however, this probably isn't the best match.
You’ll take ownership of projects and major assignments from kickoff through delivery, including:
Managing project scope, budgets and schedules
Leading and mentoring junior engineers and technical staff
Providing hands-on engineering direction and technical oversight
Reviewing plans, calculations and engineering documents
Signing and sealing work as appropriate
Coordinating multidisciplinary project teams and subconsultants
Working directly with clients throughout project delivery
Navigating local permitting and approval processes
Leading internal and client meetings
Helping prepare proposals and additional-service requests
Maintaining quality control throughout the life of the project
Helping develop the next generation of engineers within the practice
In short, you’ll be the person making sure the work gets across the finish line.
The ideal candidate will bring:
10+ years of progressive land/site development engineering experience
Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering
Professional Engineer (PE) license
Strong civil/site design fundamentals
Project management experience including scope, schedule and budget responsibility
Experience leading and mentoring engineers
Strong client communication skills
Knowledge of permitting and agency approval processes
Experience preparing proposals and scope amendments
Strong AutoCAD Civil 3D capabilities
Experience with stormwater/site-design tools such as Hydraflow, HydroCAD and/or Storm & Sanitary Analysis is a plus
A Virginia PE is ideal for someone sitting in Virginia, but the firm is willing to work with the right licensed PE regarding reciprocity and location.
Richmond is absolutely the preferred location.
If you're in Richmond, great.
If you'd relocate to Richmond, even better.
But leadership recognizes that finding the right experienced Land Development PM isn't exactly like ordering one on Amazon.
For an exceptional candidate, they are willing to consider professionals based from other company offices throughout Virginia, North Carolina (Raleigh & Charlotte), the Baltimore area and Washington, DC.
Virginia possibilities include locations such as Richmond, Fairfax/Northern Virginia, Virginia Beach, Newport News, Roanoke and Blacksburg.
And for someone who truly checks the boxes, there may even be flexibility to work primarily from another office while spending a couple of days in Richmond periodically.
Because this one gives you an opportunity to join a growing practice without having to build one from scratch.
You’ll have:
An established workload
A growing team
Younger engineers who actually need and want mentorship
Experienced leadership already bringing work into the practice
A mixture of private and public-sector projects
Visibility within an expanding operation
Significant opportunity for continued career growth
Hybrid work flexibility
Strong PTO and paid holidays
401(k) matching
Medical, dental, vision, life and disability coverage
Paid parental leave
Tuition reimbursement
Professional and career development programs
Most importantly, you'll have room to make an impact.
This isn't a position where the expectation is simply:
"Here's your desk. Here's your utilization target. Good luck."
They want someone who can become a meaningful part of the leadership structure of the Land Development practice as it continues to grow.
If you're an experienced Land Development / Site Development Project Manager or Senior Project Engineer who enjoys technical project delivery, mentoring engineers and working directly with clients, I'd love to tell you more.
And if Richmond has ever been on your radar, this could be a pretty good reason to take a harder look.
All inquiries will be handled confidentially.