Senior Project Manager, Practice Builder – Land Development

Kimley-Horn; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 130,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement plan

Health coverage

Time off

Financial wellness

Professional development

Family benefits

Job summary

Kimley-Horn seeks an entrepreneurial Senior Project Manager, Practice Builder in Chicago to lead and grow our Land Development practice. This leadership role blends client service, business development, and technical excellence while mentoring staff.

You will define growth visions, win work from new and existing clients, manage projects profitably, and drive professional development across the team. This role offers base salary plus bonuses and potential ownership.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of civil engineering, design, and management of Land Development projects.
• Bachelor’s Degree in civil engineering or a related field.
• Registered Professional Engineer (P.E.) license in the applicable state.
• Extensive client contacts and relationships.
• Business development skills with proposals, scopes of work, budgeting."
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects profitably.
• Strong client engagement to solve project problems.
• Ability to mentor staff and direct resources effectively.
• Excellent communication, leadership and technical skills.
• Strong technical skills with AutoCAD Civil3D.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the vision for the Land Development practice for sustainable growth.
• Create growth strategies in local Land Development and beyond.
• Develop and maintain strong client relationships and partnerships.
• Drive business development to win new opportunities.
• Supervise and lead Land Development design projects with technical oversight.
• Ensure quality and timely deliverables; supervise execution of work.
• Lead and mentor a high-performing team.
• Ensure project profitability and proper resource allocation.
• Uphold integrity and drive operational excellence.

Skills

10+ years land development

Client relationships

Business development

Profitability management

Client problem solving

Staff mentoring

Leadership

Communication skills

AutoCAD Civil3D

Education

Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or related field

Professional Engineer (P.E.) license (state)

Tools

AutoCAD Civil3D

Job description

Overview

Kimley-Horn is seeking an entrepreneurial Senior Project Manager, Practice Builder to lead and grow our Land Development practice in Chicago, IL. This is a high-impact leadership role for someone who thrives at the intersection of client service, business development, technical excellence, and team leadership.

We use the term “Practice Builder” to describe our best client servers — the men and women who exhibit leadership by winning and doing work, managing projects profitably, and mentoring the next generation.

As a Practice Builder, you will:

• Craft a bold vision for growth.
• Lead business development efforts to win work from new and existing clients.
• Provide high-quality service in a profitable manner.
• Contribute to the professional development of staff.
• Benefit from comprehensive support in accounting, administrative, marketing, recruiting, IT, and production.
• Have the autonomy to build and grow your business with the full backing of a firm consistently recognized as one of the best in the industry.

This role offers the freedom to lead and grow your business, with the rewards of a performance-based environment (including base salary + bonuses), and the potential to advance to ownership.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the vision for our Land Development practice, ensuring sustainable growth and innovation.
• Apply an entrepreneurial spirit to create a vision for growth in the local Land Development practice and beyond.
• Develop and maintain strong client relationships, positioning our firm as a trusted partner in the Land Development industry.
• Drive business development efforts, leveraging industry connections to secure new opportunities and expand market presence.
• Supervise and lead Land Development design projects, providing technical expertise and strategic oversight.
• Ensuring quality and timeliness of deliverables, and supervising the execution of work.
• Lead and mentor a high-performing team, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented work environment.
• Ensure project profitability, resource allocation, and seamless transitions of work to qualified staff.
• Uphold integrity and sound business principles, driving operational excellence and long-term success.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of civil engineering, design, and management of Land Development projects.
• Bachelor’s Degree in civil engineering or a related field.
• Registered Professional Engineer (P.E.) license in the state for which you are applying.
• Extensive client contacts and relationships.
• Business development skills, proven ability to win work, and marketing experience including writing proposals, scopes of work, and budgeting for projected work.
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects profitably.
• Strong desire and ability to be engaged with clients solving project problems.
• Ability to manage & mentor staff, and direct resources effectively in a positive manner.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and technical skills.
• Strong technical skills with AutoCAD Civil3D.

Salary Range:

Base Salary $130,000 – $175,000 annually. Eligible for Performance Based Bonus Compensation.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work for Kimley-Horn in the U.S. without employer sponsorship. We do not typically sponsor H1-B or any other work visa petitions.

Why Kimley-Horn?

At Kimley-Horn, we do things differently. People, clients, and employees are at the forefront of who we are. Clients know we prioritize achieving their goals and growing their success. Employees know our culture and approach to business are built on a desire to provide an environment for everyone to flourish. Our commitment to quality is only as good as the people behind it— that’s why we welcome and develop passionate, hardworking, and proactive employees. We take pride in how our employee retention, robust benefits package, and company values have led to Kimley-Horn’s placement on the Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work” list for 19 years!

Key Benefits at Kimley-Horn

• Exceptional Retirement Plan: 2-to1- company match on up to 4% of eligible compensation (salary + bonus) and additional profit-sharing contribution.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
• Time Off: Personal leave, flexible scheduling, floating holidays, and half-day Fridays.
• Financial Wellness: Student loan matching in our 401(k), and performance-based bonuses.
• Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement and extensive internal training programs.
• Family-Friendly Benefits: New Parent Leave, family building benefits, and childcare resources.