Engineering Manager

About the Role

Charles P. Johnson & Associates, Inc. (CPJ) is seeking an experienced, motivated, and highly capable Division Manager, Engineering to lead civil engineering operations, project delivery, staff performance, and client service throughout Fairfax, Virginia and surrounding jurisdictions.

This leadership role is ideal for a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) with extensive land development experience, strong project management expertise, and a passion for leading people, projects, and business operations. The Division Manager is responsible for the overall performance, growth, and success of the Engineering Department, including staff leadership, project execution, client satisfaction, financial performance, and business development.

In addition to managing departmental operations, this individual will serve as a senior technical resource and trusted advisor for complex land development projects from concept planning through entitlement, permitting, design, and construction support. Success in this role requires strong engineering judgment, business acumen, leadership skills, accountability, and a commitment to delivering exceptional service to clients and stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Division Leadership & Administration

• Lead and oversee the daily operations of the Engineering Department.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop engineers, designers, CAD technicians, and support staff.
• Manage staffing plans, workload distribution, resource allocation, and project assignments.
• Foster a culture of accountability, quality, responsiveness, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Support employee development, training, performance management, succession planning, and retention initiatives.
• Monitor departmental productivity, utilization, project status, and key performance indicators.
• Ensure compliance with internal procedures, quality standards, documentation requirements, and administrative processes.
• Collaborate with company leadership on strategic planning, staffing, operational goals, and business initiatives.
• Promote CPJ's reputation for excellence, technical quality, and superior client service.

Leadership Expectations

The Division Manager is accountable for the overall performance, culture, growth, and operational effectiveness of the Engineering Department. This role requires a leader who can align departmental performance with company objectives while developing employees and driving business results.

People Leadership

• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop a high-performing engineering team.
• Establish clear expectations and hold employees accountable for results.
• Conduct regular coaching, feedback, and professional development discussions.
• Support recruiting, onboarding, workforce planning, and succession planning efforts.
• Address employee relations and performance concerns professionally and consistently.
• Foster a positive, collaborative, and results-driven work environment.
• Develop future leaders through mentorship and growth opportunities.

Operational Leadership

• Establish departmental priorities and ensure resources are aligned with project and business objectives.
• Monitor workload balancing, resource planning, and project execution.
• Drive process improvements that enhance efficiency, quality, and client service.
• Ensure adherence to company standards, quality control procedures, and engineering best practices.
• Promote consistency and accountability across all projects and teams.

Financial Leadership

• Maintain accountability for divisional revenue, profitability, utilization, backlog, and project performance.
• Review project financial metrics and proactively address financial risks.
• Support annual budgeting, forecasting, and strategic planning activities.
• Oversee project billing, budget management, and resource planning.
• Ensure project managers effectively manage scope, schedule, budget, and client expectations.

Strategic Leadership

• Contribute to departmental and company growth strategies.
• Identify opportunities for market expansion, operational improvements, and service diversification.
• Support long-term workforce and succession planning initiatives.
• Stay informed of industry trends, regulatory updates, and emerging technologies.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on engineering operations and staffing strategies.

Client & Business Leadership

• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, agencies, consultants, and industry partners.
• Lead proposal strategy, scope development, fee preparation, and pursuit efforts.
• Support business development initiatives and revenue growth objectives.
• Represent CPJ at client meetings, industry events, and public forums.
• Promote a culture of responsiveness, accountability, and exceptional client service.

Project Management, Budgeting & Financial Oversight

• Oversee land development projects from concept through final approval, permitting, and completion.
• Develop and manage project scopes, schedules, staffing plans, budgets, and deliverables.
• Monitor project financial performance, profitability, work-in-progress, and billing status.
• Review and support monthly invoicing, budget tracking, and project financial administration.
• Identify project risks, scope changes, schedule impacts, and budget concerns.
• Coordinate with clients, municipalities, regulatory agencies, contractors, consultants, and internal teams.
• Ensure project deliverables are completed accurately, on time, and within budget.
• Support contract administration, change orders, additional service requests, and project closeout activities.

Business Development, Proposals & Client Relations

• Lead and support proposal development, fee preparation, project planning, and scope development.
• Promote CPJ's services to prospective and existing clients.
• Serve as a primary client contact for assigned projects.
• Maintain regular communication regarding project budgets, schedules, and deliverables.
• Attend client meetings, agency meetings, consultant coordination meetings, and occasional public hearings.
• Develop and maintain strong professional relationships with clients and regulatory agencies.
• Identify opportunities for repeat business and expanded services.
• Support continued growth throughout Northern Virginia and surrounding markets.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or a related field.
• Active Virginia Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
• Minimum of eight (8) years of progressive civil engineering and land development experience.
• Experience managing engineering staff, project teams, budgets, schedules, and client relationships.
• Demonstrated experience preparing and managing site plans within Northern Virginia jurisdictions.
• Strong background in land development engineering, drainage design, and stormwater management.
• Experience developing scopes of work, budgets, proposals, schedules, and work plans.
• Experience managing project financial performance, billing, and project administration.
• Strong understanding of zoning ordinances, development standards, permitting requirements, and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, clients, and competing priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent leadership, communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD Civil 3D and related engineering software.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Project.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ten (10) or more years of civil land development experience.
• Experience serving as a Department Manager, Division Manager, Senior Project Manager, or similar leadership role.
• Extensive experience with Northern Virginia entitlement, zoning, permitting, bonding, and approval processes.
• Strong client-facing and business development experience.
• Experience managing contracts, fee negotiations, profitability, and additional services.
• Proficiency with stormwater modeling and hydrologic analyses.
• Experience with open channel, detention basin, and drainage system design.
• Experience with HEC-RAS modeling and CLOMR/LOMR applications.
• Knowledge of AutoCAD Civil 3D, PCSWMM, StormCAD, HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS, WaterCAD, and comparable software.
• Demonstrated success mentoring, developing, and retaining engineering staff.

What Makes You Successful

• Strong leadership presence with the ability to lead people, projects, clients, and business initiatives.
• Ability to balance technical excellence with schedule, budget, and client expectations.
• High degree of accountability, professionalism, and ownership.
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication abilities.
• Commitment to quality, accuracy, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to build trust and credibility with staff, clients, and leadership.
• Passion for coaching, mentoring, and developing future leaders.
• Strong client service mindset and business awareness.
• Commitment to helping grow the division through exceptional project delivery and relationship management.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Charles P. Johnson & Associates, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. CPJ is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where all employees are treated with dignity and respect. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.