Civil Project Manager

Civil Project Manager

The Civil Project Manager is responsible for winning, managing, and delivering high‑quality civil infrastructure projects that are profitable, technically sound, and result in strong client satisfaction. This role blends technical leadership, project delivery, and seller-doer responsibilities, requiring a professional who can navigate complex engineering challenges while building trusted client relationships.

Summary

The Civil Project Manager oversees planning, design, permitting, and construction support for a wide range of civil engineering projects, including transportation, water and wastewater treatment and conveyance, stormwater systems, site civil improvements, and general municipal infrastructure. This professional will bring a broad technical background, strong communication skills, and the ability to quickly assimilate complex information to make informed decisions. This person will also bring an advanced understanding of managing single‑discipline projects and the ability to manage multidisciplinary efforts, coordinating tasks, teams, and stakeholders to ensure seamless project execution from pursuit through closeout.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Delivery Leadership — Lead planning, design, permitting, and construction-phase services for civil infrastructure projects across transportation, water/wastewater, stormwater, and site development.
• Scope & Budget Management — Develop scopes of work, budgets, schedules, and work plans; monitor performance to ensure profitability and quality.
• Technical Oversight — Provide technical direction, review design documents, and ensure engineering solutions meet regulatory, operational, and constructability requirements.
• Client & Stakeholder Coordination — Serve as primary client contact; coordinate with agencies, utilities, permitting authorities, and multidisciplinary internal teams.
• Construction Management Support — Conduct site visits, respond to RFIs, review submittals, support field issue resolution, and participate in commissioning and project closeout.
• Business Development — Support or lead proposal development, client outreach, and strategic positioning efforts as part of a seller‑doer model.
• Team Leadership — Mentor junior staff, delegate tasks appropriately, and contribute to a collaborative, growth‑oriented team culture.
• Quality & Risk Management — Apply sound judgment, anticipate project risks, and implement mitigation strategies to ensure successful outcomes.

Job Responsibilities and Duties

To be successful in this position, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Software

• Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project) - Proficient
• Projectwise, Newforma, Deltek Vision, UKG, Bluebeam – Proficient

Technical Expertise

• Demonstrates clear understanding of project-related technical terms and fundamentals
• Coordinates resolution of technical issues with project staff
• Reviews and interprets technical drawings and documents
• May prepare technical documents as necessary

Teamwork, Communication, and Leadership

Demonstrates excellent communication and collaboration skills in both a leadership and supporting role. Interacts with clients, teaming partners, and contractors resulting in client satisfaction. Takes responsibility for personal and team results and proactively seeks to assist and mentor others.

Project Schedule and Delivery

Plans and develops a project schedule that balances client needs and internal capacity. Oversees the on-time submittal of technical work products and deliverables. Schedules/leads internal and external project meetings to maintain project progress. Coordinates with resource managers to ensure adequate staffing is assigned to projects.

Understanding Scope and Budget

Demonstrates full proficiency with preparing scope of work and fee breakdowns that result in financial success for the firm. Monitors project financials, burn rate, and earned value and takes appropriate action to make adjustments as needed. Identifies project changes (e.g., scope, schedule, budget, project team, client team) quickly and obtains contract amendments or conducts other change management activities as needed.

Business Development, Marketing, and Industry Standards

Participates in business development and marketing efforts by meeting with clients and team partners, identifying leads for future work, identifying which leads are the best to pursue, positioning the firm to win those projects, and collaborating with others to successfully propose and win. Accountable for winning work for the firm.

Client Interaction

Frequent communications with clients and teaming partners during project meetings, industry conferences, and other events. Manages communications between client, DOWL, and/or subconsultant staff. Serves as a company ambassador that fosters client satisfaction and loyalty.

Other

Other duties as assigned.

Level of Work/Accountability

Provides management and leadership for multiple projects of moderate size and complexity. Leads the development of scope, schedule, and budget for projects. Responsible for project quality, client satisfaction, and financial outcomes of assigned projects. Works independently with minimal oversight to complete pursuit development and business development tasks. Follows established procedures and exercises independent judgment on administrative projects under broad minimal management direction.

Supervisory Duties

May be a supervisor:

• Oversees team operations and the daily workflow of the team
• Organizes workflow and ensures that employees understand their duties or delegated tasks
• Recruits and hires new employees
• Implements training for new hires and identifies training opportunities for current staff
• Communicates information from leadership to employees and vice versa
• Monitors employee productivity and provides constructive feedback and coaching
• Sets goals for performance and deadlines in ways that comply with company’s plans and vision and communicates them to employees
• Provides constructive and timely performance evaluations
• Decides on reward and promotion based on performance
• Handles discipline and termination of employees as needed and in accordance with company policy

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor's Degree required
• Years of experience required: 6 years (0 years as a PM)
• Years of experience required with advanced degree: 5 years (0 years as a PM)

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• PE, PMP, or equivalent required (depending on discipline)
• DOWL PM certification required

Driving Requirements

• Must have a valid driver’s license and a good driving record.

Project Managers and project management staff are responsible for coordinating and overseeing project activities across various locations, which often requires in-person engagement. Their duties include:

• Visiting job sites to monitor progress, resolve issues, and ensure quality control.
• Meeting with clients, contractors, and team members at off-site locations to facilitate communication and decision-making.
• Attending stakeholder meetings, public hearings, and industry events that support project development.
• Traveling to municipal offices or partner organizations for permitting, documentation, and coordination.
• Responding to urgent project needs that require immediate on-site presence.

These responsibilities demand flexible and reliable transportation, making the ability to drive essential for effective and timely project management.

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 this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and use hands. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

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

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.