Civil/Structural Department Manager - Transmission & Distribution (Mid-Atlantic Region)

Description Burns & McDonnell is seeking a Civil/Structural Department Manager to provide leadership, direction, and development of the Civil/Structural Department within the Transmission & Distribution Global Practice in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

The Civil/Structural Department Manager is responsible for building and developing a high-performing team capable of supporting the region's growing portfolio of utility infrastructure projects. The department supports projects ranging from traditional substation, transmission, and distribution engineering and capital improvement programs to complex EPC, generation interconnection, and large-load infrastructure projects.

This leader will be responsible for the people, technical capability, capacity, quality, and overall performance of the Civil/Structural Department. The position will work closely with Regional T&D Leadership, Project Operations, Project Execution, Project Managers, technical leaders, recruiting, and other regional and Global Practice partners to ensure the organization has the right people, skills, processes, and resources to successfully execute current work while preparing for future growth.

The successful candidate will combine strong technical credibility with a passion for developing people and organizations. This individual will be expected to create an environment where employee-owners can grow, technical excellence is valued, accountability is clear, and teams collaborate effectively across disciplines, offices, and regions.

People, Culture & Leadership

• Lead a high-performing Civil/Structural Department that promotes employee ownership, engagement, accountability, collaboration, and professional growth.

• Provide direct leadership, coaching, mentorship, and career development for Civil/Structural employee-owners.

• Establish clear expectations for individual and department performance and provide regular, meaningful feedback.

• Lead the annual performance management process and partner with employees to establish development plans and career goals.

• Identify and develop future technical and people leaders within the department and create opportunities that prepare employees for increasing levels of responsibility.

• Foster an inclusive, collaborative environment where employees are encouraged to challenge existing practices, share ideas, and contribute to the future of the organization.

• Promote a strong culture of safety, quality, accountability, and employee ownership.

Workforce & Capability Development

• Develop and maintain a strategic workforce plan that aligns Civil/Structural staffing and capabilities with current workload, backlog, and anticipated regional growth.

• Partner with Recruiting and Regional Leadership to identify and attract experienced hires, emerging professionals, interns, and other talent needed to support the business.

• Lead onboarding and integration of new Civil/Structural employee-owners.

• Identify technical and professional development needs and establish training, mentoring, and knowledge-transfer strategies.

• Develop succession plans for key technical and leadership roles.

• Build the department's capability to support increasingly complex project delivery, including traditional engineering services, program work, and EPC projects.

• Leverage resources across Burns & McDonnell offices to supplement regional capabilities and provide employees with broader opportunities.

Project Delivery & Resource Management

• Partner with Project Operations, Project Execution, Project Managers, and technical leaders to align Civil/Structural resources with project needs and priorities.

• Maintain visibility into current and forecasted workload, staffing demand, utilization, and resource constraints.

• Make strategic staffing assignments that balance project needs, employee development, technical requirements, and efficient utilization.

• Proactively identify capacity or capability gaps and develop solutions through hiring, training, workload balancing, or collaboration with other offices.

• Support Project Managers in addressing Civil/Structural performance, staffing, schedule, quality, or technical challenges.

• Monitor department performance across projects and identify recurring trends or systemic issues requiring leadership attention.

• Support effective execution across both design-only and EPC projects, recognizing the different expectations, risks, schedules, and levels of integration required for each delivery model.

Technical Excellence & Quality

• Provide senior-level technical leadership and guidance for civil and structural engineering associated with T&D infrastructure.

• Maintain and strengthen the department's technical capabilities in areas including substation site development, grading and drainage, foundations, structural steel, equipment support structures, buildings, and other associated civil/structural systems.

• Establish expectations for technical quality and ensure compliance with Burns & McDonnell QA/QC processes, client standards, applicable codes, and industry practices.

• Work with technical leaders to identify lessons learned and translate them into improved standards, tools, training, and execution practices.

• Promote constructability and practical engineering solutions, particularly on EPC and complex brownfield projects where engineering decisions directly affect construction execution.

• Champion innovation, technology, automation, and improved workflows that increase quality, efficiency, and consistency.

Operational & Organizational Performance

• Establish and monitor department-level performance indicators related to staffing, utilization, quality, productivity, development, workload, and other measures of organizational health.

• Partner with the Project Operations Manager, the Project Execution Manager and Regional Leadership to identify trends affecting project and organizational performance.

• Develop and implement initiatives that improve department efficiency, scalability, and effectiveness.

• Support annual business planning, staffing forecasts, budgeting, and organizational planning.

• Communicate department performance, challenges, resource needs, and opportunities to Regional Leadership.

• Lead change within the department and help employees successfully adopt new processes, technologies, organizational structures, and ways of working.

Strategy & Business Growth

• Participate as a member of the Mid-Atlantic T&D leadership team and contribute to development and execution of regional strategic priorities.

• Develop a Civil/Structural capability strategy aligned with anticipated market demand, client needs, and the region's long-term growth objectives.

• Partner with Project Development, Account Managers, Project Managers, and technical leaders to support strategic pursuits and identify the capabilities necessary to win and execute future work.

• Support proposal development, staffing strategies, technical approaches, and pursuit planning for opportunities requiring significant Civil/Structural capabilities.

• Build relationships across Burns & McDonnell to leverage specialized expertise, share resources, and expand the capabilities available to Mid-Atlantic clients.

• Represent the Civil/Structural organization in regional and Global Practice initiatives and help advance broader T&D objectives.

Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in engineering, architecture, construction or related degree from accredited program. Minimum seven (7) years related professional experience in design and/or project management. Other qualifications include:

• Registration as a professional engineer strongly preferred.

• Proven leadership in developing and implementing vision that has brought positive impact.

• Demonstrated excellent written & verbal communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, and analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to influence, lead, and manage change thoughtfully and positively.

• Ability to clearly and effectively present complex information to all levels of employees, management, and clients.

• Ability to handle difficult situations with tact, poise, and discernment.

• Proven planning, collaboration, and facilitation skills.

• Demonstrated technical ability in civil/structural engineering design.

• Proficient in the use of basic computer software (i.e., Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)

This job posting will remain open a minimum of 72 hours and on an ongoing basis until filled.

EEO/Disabled/Veterans

Job Civil Engineering

Primary Location US-NC-Raleigh

Other Locations US-VA-Richmond, US-SC-Greenville

Schedule: Full-time

Travel: Yes, 25 % of the Time

Req ID: 264500

Job Hire Type Experienced #LI-JNH #T&D N/A