Vice President, Development Strategy

Pape-Dawson; Plano (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Pape-Dawson is seeking a Vice President of Development Strategy to drive growth in the North Texas land development market, with initial focus on Dallas-Fort Worth. You will serve as a strategic growth leader, senior client advisor, and mentor to emerging leaders, shaping pursuit strategies and client development capabilities.

In this role, you will originate and convert high-value opportunities, build executive relationships with developers, public agencies, and capital partners, and align

Qualifications

• 15+ years of leadership experience in land development or AEC.
• Proven ability to originate and convert opportunities in DFW/North Texas.
• Strong network among developers, public stakeholders, and investors.
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead growth efforts in North Texas land development.
• Cultivate and convert major engineering opportunities.
• Maintain executive relationships with clients and partners.
• Mentor and develop emerging leaders.
• Coordinate with leadership on staffing, profitability, and pursuit strategy.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Business development

Client relationships

Executive presence

Negotiation

Communication

Mentoring

Education

Bachelors in Civil Eng

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

**Job Description:****Overview**The Vice President, Development Strategy is a leadership role responsible for advancing the company’s growth strategy across North Texas, with an initial emphasis on the Dallas-Fort Worth land development market. This position will serve as a strategic growth leader, senior client advisor, and internal mentor, helping the company expand market share, deepen client relationships, originate new opportunities, and strengthen its position as a trusted consulting partner in the AEC industry.This role is intended for a proven market leader who can combine technical credibility, client influence, business development discipline, and strategic judgment. The Vice President, Development Strategy will work closely with executive leadership, operations, land development teams, and emerging leaders to identify and convert high-value opportunities while helping elevate the company’s consulting approach, pursuit strategy, and client development capabilities.The Vice President, Development Strategy will be a key strategic investment in the company’s growth platform. The ideal candidate will bring market credibility, client access, strategic insight, and a proven ability to generate profitable opportunities while helping develop the next generation of land development leaders.**Key Responsibilities*** Lead strategic growth efforts for the North Texas land development market, with the potential to support broader regional or company-wide growth initiatives over time.* Identify, cultivate, and convert major engineering opportunities with private developers, public agencies, landowners, capital partners, and other key market participants.* Build and maintain executive-level relationships with clients, referral partners, industry influencers, and strategic stakeholders across the DFW market.* Serve as a senior strategic advisor on major pursuits, including client positioning, pursuit strategy, teaming, pricing awareness, risk considerations, and long-term relationship development.* Originate new backlog and revenue opportunities that align with the company’s financial goals, margin expectations, technical capabilities, and long-term strategic priorities.* Partner with land development leadership to assess market opportunities, client needs, competitive dynamics, and growth barriers.* Support the successful transition of originated opportunities into operations, helping ensure alignment between client expectations, project delivery, scope, schedule, fee, and profitability.* Mentor and develop emerging land development leaders, with a focus on strengthening client-service mindset, consulting skills, market awareness, business development discipline, and executive presence.* Collaborate with executive leadership, operations, marketing, and finance to align growth initiatives with staffing plans, delivery capacity, profitability, and company objectives.* Represent the company in strategic client meetings, industry associations, civic forums, development organizations, and other high-value market-facing settings.* Provide market intelligence on development trends, client priorities, competitor activity, regulatory considerations, and emerging opportunities in the North Texas market.* Help establish clear performance metrics related to originated backlog, revenue generation, margin contribution, client conversion, relationship development, and internal leadership impact.* Demonstrate leadership consistent with the company’s values, culture, and long-term commitment to sustainable, profitable growth.**Performance Expectations**Success in this role will be measured by the Vice President’s ability to create measurable value for the company through strategic growth, client development, and leadership impact. Key performance expectations may include:* Origination of significant new engineering opportunities, with an initial target of approximately $4 million or more in annual opportunities or backlog.* Conversion of strategic client relationships into profitable, sustainable work.* Contribution to growth in the North Texas land development market.* Successful integration with company leadership, operations, and project delivery teams.* Development and mentoring of up-and-coming land development leaders.* Demonstrated ability to strengthen the company’s position as a trusted consulting engineering partner.* Support of company-wide financial performance, margin discipline, and long-term client retention.**Qualifications*** Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Business, Real Estate Development, or a related field required; advanced degree or professional licensure preferred.* 15+ years of progressive experience in land development, civil engineering, development strategy, client development, or related AEC leadership roles.* Demonstrated success building and sustaining high-value client relationships in the DFW or North Texas development market.* Proven ability to originate, influence, and convert significant engineering or development-related opportunities.* Strong understanding of land development, civil engineering services, entitlement processes, infrastructure planning, municipal coordination, and project delivery in the AEC industry.* Established network of developers, owners, public-sector stakeholders, consultants, contractors, attorneys, capital partners, and other industry influencers.* Ability to operate as both a strategic market leader and a collaborative internal partner.* Strong business acumen, including an understanding of backlog, revenue, utilization, profitability, margin, risk, and long-term client value.* Excellent executive communication, negotiation, relationship-building, and presentation skills.* Demonstrated ability to mentor technical and operational leaders in client development, consulting skills, and strategic market engagement.* High degree of professional judgment, discretion, reliability, and accountability.* Ability to adapt to changing priorities, market conditions, client needs, and company objectives.* Ability to work Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with overtime, travel, and client/industry commitments as needed.