Structural Engineering Department Manager

Structural Engineering Department Manager

Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc. (HLR) is seeking a Structural Engineering Department Manager to lead our Springfield, IL office. This is a key leadership role for a seasoned civil engineering professional ready to assume strategic, financial, and operational leadership of our transportation practice in Central Illinois. The Manager will be responsible for driving growth and technical excellence across transportation and civil projects, serving cornerstone clients including the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), as well as surrounding counties and municipalities. Beyond project delivery, this role requires a leader who can translate strategic vision into operational reality, mentoring a multi-disciplinary team and solidifying HLR's presence as a trusted advisor in the region.

Founded in 1965, Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc. (HLR) is a 100% employee-owned civil engineering firm with five offices across Illinois. We're a leading provider of consulting engineering, environmental, and surveying services for public agencies and private-sector clients throughout the Midwest. At HLR, being employee-owned means we all have a stake in each other's success. Our WORK HARD | HAVE FUN | GIVE BACK culture keeps us focused on doing meaningful work, supporting one another, and making a difference in the communities we serve, while having fun along the way. We're large enough to take on complex, high-impact projects, yet small enough for every employee to feel seen, supported, and valued. We're proud to be recognized as the #1 2025 AEC Employer of Choice by PSMJ Resources, Inc. and one of the 2024 Best Places to Work by the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers (ISPE). When you feel valued and supported, you do your best work-and that's exactly what we're about.

What You'll Do:

• Be responsible for the coordination, review, and completion of structural design calculations, plans, specifications, cost estimates, reports, and contracts in Illinois.
• Perform structural analyses, bridge inspections, load ratings and assessment reports.
• Review for quality assurance and quality control and ensure compliance with quality standards.
• Implement the company's vision of growing, expanding, and leading our well-established Springfield office.
• Supervise design team, engineering staff, and administrative staff.
• Serve as Principal and/or Project Manager on designated Structural Engineering projects.
• Coordinate project status and progress with client and regulatory agencies.
• Mentor and motivate professional staff according to our company culture.
• Maintain project schedules, quality, budgets, and client satisfaction.
• Demonstrate creativity, foresight, and mature engineering judgement, and successfully manage multiple projects.
• Maintain and expand our client relationships with the help of managers throughout Illinois.
• Identify areas of growth and strategize the development of new business.
• Lead structural transportation, and business development efforts, participate in proposal presentation.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Financial Leadership

• Develop and execute a comprehensive strategic plan for the Springfield office structural engineering group, identifying new service areas and markets to drive regional growth in alignment with corporate goals.
• Assume full Profit & Loss (P&L) responsibility for the department, including developing annual revenue forecasts, managing operating budgets, and analyzing key financial metrics (utilization, multipliers) to ensure sustained profitability.
• Direct long-term resource planning and strategic staffing assignments to optimize project outcomes while aligning with the career development goals of employees.
• Oversee the fiscal management of departmental projects, ensuring rigorous oversight of budgets, resource allocation, and client invoicing.

Business Development & Client Relations

• Serve as the Principal-in-Charge and primary client service manager for key accounts in Central Illinois, cultivating deep, trust-based relationships with IDOT Bureau Chiefs, District Engineers, County Engineers, and Municipal officials.
• Lead the entire proposal lifecycle for the region's most significant pursuits, from making strategic "Go/No- Go" decisions to developing winning technical strategies and leading interview preparations.
• Actively represent the firm at a leadership level in key industry organizations (e.g., ACEC-IL, ISPE) to enhance brand visibility, influence policy, and cultivate new business opportunities.
• Proactively identify, track, and pursue new project opportunities, with a specific focus on expanding work with IDOT Central Office and regional municipalities.

Project & Operational Management

• Provide ultimate technical oversight for the successful delivery of structural projects (Phase I and Phase II), ensuring compliance with scope, schedule, budget, and IDOT/Federal standards.
• Establish and enforce rigorous QA/QC procedures and engineering standards to ensure consistent, exceptional, and defensible project delivery.
• Serve as the escalation point for complex technical challenges or contractual disputes, protecting the firm's interests while ensuring ultimate client satisfaction.
• Handle all facets of contract administration, including scoping, negotiation, execution, change orders, and closeout.

Team Leadership & Staff Development

• Lead, manage, and mentor a team of engineers and administrative staff, fostering a collaborative, accountable, and high-performance culture that mirrors HLR's values.
• Oversee the recruitment and onboarding of new talent to grow the Springfield team, while conducting performance reviews and setting professional development goals for existing staff.
• Champion professional growth by creating mentorship opportunities and facilitating knowledge sharing regarding IDOT policies and engineering best practices.
• Manage workloads among department staff to ensure talents and time are adequately distributed to meet deadlines.

Desired Skills and Experiences

• Deep familiarity with IDOT Phase I and Phase II procedures, the BDE Manual, and the specific nuances of working with IDOT Central Bureau and District 6.
• Strong financial literacy with a track record of managing departmental profitability and driving sustainable revenue growth.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to represent the firm effectively in client interviews, contract negotiations, and public hearings.
• Proficiency with industry-standard software and project management tools
• Understanding of state and federal funding sources (MFT, ITEP, Rebuild Illinois) applicable to Illinois local agencies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from an ABET-accredited university.
• Current registration as a Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of Illinois is required.
• Current registration as a Licensed Structural Engineer (SE) in the State of Illinois is required.
• A minimum of 10-15 years of progressive experience in transportation/civil engineering, with at least 3 years in a leadership role managing projects, teams, and financials.
• Driver's License: Valid Driver's license with a good driving record.

Physical Abilities

• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time while working in an office environment.
• Ability to occasionally visit active construction sites or project corridors, which may involve walking on uneven terrain and exposure to various weather conditions.
• Ability to travel to client offices, project sites, and industry events throughout Illinois.

READY TO JOIN OUR TEAM? We understand your time is valuable and that is why we have a very quick and easy application process. If you feel that you would be right for this position, please fill out our initial 3-minute, mobile-friendly application.