Senior Project Manager - Land Development

Pape-Dawson; Franklin (TN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Pape-Dawson Engineers is seeking a Senior Project Manager for its Land Development team in Nashville, TN or Franklin, TN. The role leads design, client communication, permitting, and overall project management for diverse land development projects.

You will guide projects from concept through final design, balancing client expectations, technical quality, budget, and schedule while mentoring a multidisciplinary team and pursuing growth opportunities for the firm.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from ABET-accredited program.
• P.E. license in Tennessee.
• 8+ years' experience managing substantial land development projects.
• Experience estimating costs and leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Proven ability to develop new client partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a dynamic group of professionals to serve clients well.
• Prepare proposals and client agreements.
• Develop trusting professional relationships with clients and officials.
• Coordinate tasks, budgets, and schedules to meet client timelines.
• Lead design, plan production and permitting for land development projects.
• Contribute to company design and production standards and best practices.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Client communication

Business development

Education

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Professional Engineer (P.E.) license in Tennessee

Job description

Job Description

Build your career with Pape-Dawson’s Nashville team in the heart of Music City, one of the country’s most vibrant, fast-growing, and exciting places to live and work. Formerly RaganSmith, our Tennessee team traces its roots back to 1933 and has grown from a land surveying company into a multidisciplinary consulting firm of civil engineers, landscape architects, transportation professionals, surveyors, and land planners. Since joining the Pape-Dawson family of companies in 2024, the team has continued to build on its deep local legacy while gaining the resources and reach of a leading national firm.

Known for its live music, thriving food scene, creative energy, and welcoming spirit, Nashville offers an ideal setting for professionals looking to grow their careers in a young and bustling city. Our team contributes to a diverse range of public- and private-sector projects that are shaping Middle Tennessee’s continued expansion, giving team members the opportunity to collaborate across disciplines, work on visible and meaningful projects, and make a lasting impact on the communities surrounding Music City.

The Senior Project Manager provides strategic, technical, and managerial leadership for complex engineering projects across assigned service areas. This role is responsible for client satisfaction, project performance, team leadership, and business development while maintaining hands‑on involvement in key projects. Senior Project Managers lead multidisciplinary teams, manage multiple concurrent assignments, and contribute to firmwide growth through mentoring, market engagement, and continuous improvement of standards and practices.

Our Land Development team is seeking a Senior Project Manager. This position can be based out of our Nashville, TN or Franklin, TN office and will lead project design, client communication, permitting, and overall project management for a wide range of land development projects. This role is responsible for guiding projects from initial concept through final design and construction support while balancing client expectations, technical quality, budget, and schedule.

What can you expect on a daily basis?

• Lead and mentor a dynamic group of technical professionals - engineers and technicians - to serve our clients well
• Prepare proposals and client agreements
• Develop trusting professional relationships with clients, public agency officials and community leaders
• Be respectful of client timelines through effective coordination of project tasks, budgets, and schedules
• Champion the professional development of each member of a project team according to each member’s individual goals and career path
• Lead and actively participate in the design, plan production and permitting for land development projects
• Participate in the development of company design and production standards to continue excellence within our technical expertise
• Be open to new ways of accomplishing goals
• Seek guidance from other leaders; be open to suggestions in various aspects of project management
• Give back to our community by actively participating in professional associations and civic organizations

What qualifications are needed and key to this role?

• Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering (or related engineering discipline where applicable) from an ABET-accredited program.
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) license in the state of Tennessee
• 8+ years' experience managing substantial projects from conception to completion including estimating costs of technical tasks in land development. Experience in panhandle market highly preferred
• Extensive knowledge of design and construction practices which, by passing on that knowledge to others, will aid in your success
• Proven experience and willingness to identify new opportunities with existing clients as well as having the confidence and ability to develop new client partnerships

EEO Statement

All qualified applicants for Pape-Dawson Engineers will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Job Description

Build your career with Pape-Dawson’s Nashville team in the heart of Music City, one of the country’s most vibrant, fast-growing, and exciting places to live and work. Formerly RaganSmith, our Tennessee team traces its roots back to 1933 and has grown from a land surveying company into a multidisciplinary consulting firm of civil engineers, landscape architects, transportation professionals, surveyors, and land planners. Since joining the Pape-Dawson family of companies in 2024, the team has continued to build on its deep local legacy while gaining the resources and reach of a leading national firm.

Known for its live music, thriving food scene, creative energy, and welcoming spirit, Nashville offers an ideal setting for professionals looking to grow their careers in a young and bustling city. Our team contributes to a diverse range of public- and private-sector projects that are shaping Middle Tennessee’s continued expansion, giving team members the opportunity to collaborate across disciplines, work on visible and meaningful projects, and make a lasting impact on the communities surrounding Music City.

The Senior Project Manager provides strategic, technical, and managerial leadership for complex engineering projects across assigned service areas. This role is responsible for client satisfaction, project performance, team leadership, and business development while maintaining hands‑on involvement in key projects. Senior Project Managers lead multidisciplinary teams, manage multiple concurrent assignments, and contribute to firmwide growth through mentoring, market engagement, and continuous improvement of standards and practices.

Our Land Development team is seeking a Senior Project Manager. This position can be based out of our Nashville, TN or Franklin, TN office and will lead project design, client communication, permitting, and overall project management for a wide range of land development projects. This role is responsible for guiding projects from initial concept through final design and construction support while balancing client expectations, technical quality, budget, and schedule.

What can you expect on a daily basis?

• Lead and mentor a dynamic group of technical professionals - engineers and technicians - to serve our clients well
• Prepare proposals and client agreements
• Develop trusting professional relationships with clients, public agency officials and community leaders
• Be respectful of client timelines through effective coordination of project tasks, budgets, and schedules
• Champion the professional development of each member of a project team according to each member’s individual goals and career path
• Lead and actively participate in the design, plan production and permitting for land development projects
• Participate in the development of company design and production standards to continue excellence within our technical expertise
• Be open to new ways of accomplishing goals
• Seek guidance from other leaders; be open to suggestions in various aspects of project management
• Give back to our community by actively participating in professional associations and civic organizations

What qualifications are needed and key to this role?

• Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering (or related engineering discipline where applicable) from an ABET-accredited program.
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) license in the state of Tennessee
• 8+ years' experience managing substantial projects from conception to completion including estimating costs of technical tasks in land development. Experience in panhandle market highly preferred
• Extensive knowledge of design and construction practices which, by passing on that knowledge to others, will aid in your success
• Proven experience and willingness to identify new opportunities with existing clients as well as having the confidence and ability to develop new client partnerships

EEO Statement

All qualified applicants for Pape-Dawson Engineers will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.