Civil Engineering - Land Development - Group Manager

Are you an established Civil Engineering land development professional looking to make a difference in the community around you? Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit and enjoy empowering early-career professionals?

ESP Associates is seeking a Civil Engineering Group Manager to lead and grow an existing civil engineering team in Charleston, SC.

The ideal candidate will have experience in civil engineering land development, infrastructure design, construction document preparation for roads, storm drainage systems, storm water management facilities, utilities-water and sewer, sediment and erosion control, and traffic control. This position includes design oversight, project management, Client relationships and leadership responsibilities within a team atmosphere.

Responsibilities:

• Management of design development, preparation and/or administration of the contract documents, opinions of probable construction costs, agency correspondence, Client relations, staff supervision. Projects include but are not limited to commercial, residential, and multi-family developments, industrial, K-12 schools, mixed-use type projects, rezoning due diligence, public facilities, and other site development or utility projects.
• Leadership of dedicated engineering team, including mentoring of staff and strategic growth of the department
• Business development will be an important focus for this position – the manager will be responsible for involvement within the community to facilitate growth of the firm and coordination with corporate business development manager.
• Focus on Client satisfaction through excellent communication and designs that meet budget and time goals.
• Quality Control - oversight and technical review of construction document preparation and design including site layouts, grading plans, utility plans, storm water plans, roadway plans, details, and other aspects related to project development.
• Coordination of permitting submittals and coordination with authorities having jurisdiction
• Project proposals, contract management, project scheduling, budgets, and monthly invoicing.
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership and communication skills that allow you to effectively and professionally interact with staff, clients, authorities having jurisdiction and the public.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE) or related engineering degree.
• Professional Engineer (PE) licensure in South Carolina or PE licensure in another state with the ability to obtain reciprocity within 3 months
• 10+ years of professional engineering design and project management experience
• Demonstrated experience working in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment with tight deadlines and ability to adjust to project priorities and demands of multiple clients.
• A strong background in the land development industry, site planning, grading design and construction document preparation
• Ability to coordinate tasks and projects with other ESP Group Managers, engineers, surveyors, and planners.
• Prior experience mentoring project managers and engineers-in-training / design staff.
• AutoCAD Civil 3D and design software experience is preferred– this position must understand the design software, but the position is not to perform AutoCAD design.
• Strong business development skills
• Excellent financial management skills
• Experience working with review agency codes, standards, and technical specifications.
• Proficiency with developing and designing construction details.
• Experience with a formalized QA/QC program.
• Strong collaborator and experience presenting in front of boards, commissions or councils is a plus.
• Candidate must be able to pass a drug screen, background check, and have a satisfactory driving record in accordance with the company’s driving (MVR) policy.

Corporate Information:

ESP is a multi-discipline engineering design and consulting firm providing our clients with civil engineering, surveying, planning/landscape architecture, geosciences, environmental, subsurface utility engineering, and construction engineering inspection.

Through years of dedicated service to our clients, ESP has received a designation of 195 on the 2025 ENR Top 500 Design Firm rankings. For the firm's primary territory, the ENR Texas & Southeast Top Design Firms, ESP received a 2025 ranking of 52.

ESP offers an excellent employee benefits package including:

• Competitive compensation with yearly performance reviews and discretionary annual bonuses
• 401(k) (Traditional & Roth plans) with a guaranteed employer match of 100% up to the first 3% and 50% on the next 2% (eligibility after 60 days)
• PTO (Paid Time Off) & 10 Paid Holidays
• VTO (Volunteer Time Off) of 4 hours each year (prorated during first year based on hire date)
• Tiered Health, Vision & Dental Insurance Options (eligibility after 30 days)
• Behavioral Medicine through Teladoc
• Short-Term Disability Insurance (Employer paid)
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Education Reimbursement Opportunities
• Flexible and Dependent Benefits Plan
• Referral Bonuses