Civil Engineer - Principal

Overview

As a Civil Engineering Principal for Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC) in our Civil Practice at the Nashville, TN office, you’ll play a key leadership role in growing our Civil/Site practice across Tennessee while leading and delivering high-quality land development projects. We’re looking for an established civil engineering and business leader who brings strong technical and project management capabilities, a demonstrated track record of developing and expanding client relationships, and an established network within the regional land development market.

You’ll work with commercial, institutional, industrial, and energy clients while identifying and pursuing new opportunities, expanding existing client relationships, and positioning CEC for continued growth in the region. You’ll be expected to leverage established client and industry relationships to generate new opportunities for the Civil/Site practice and introduce CEC’s broader multidisciplinary capabilities, creating opportunities across multiple practices and service lines.

You’ll maintain an active presence in the regional business and development community and work collaboratively with professionals across CEC’s practices and offices to understand client needs and bring the full capabilities of the firm to those relationships.

In addition to your business development responsibilities, you’ll lead project teams and oversee project execution, including reviewing work products, quality control, client interaction, budgeting, and mentoring junior engineers. In managing junior staff, you’ll review design aspects such as site layouts, grading plans, stormwater management facilities, water quality best management practices, and utilities. You’ll provide leadership throughout all phases of a project—from conceptual planning and design through regulatory review, bidding, construction, and project completion.

At CEC, every team member is personally invested in serving our clients with integrity, delivering results that matter, and growing meaningful careers. As employee-owners, we’re accountable not just for our work, but for creating an environment that supports and challenges one another. Our people are our priority — and that’s what drives us to dig deeper, collaborate smarter, and build lasting relationships inside and outside of our company.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead business development efforts for the Nashvlle Civil/Site practice, including identifying prospective clients, developing relationships, pursuing opportunities, and converting those relationships into new work
• Leverage and expand an established network of developers, architects, contractors, brokers, energy clients, and other land development stakeholders throughout Tennessee
• Leverage existing client and industry relationships to identify and create opportunities for CEC’s broader multidisciplinary services, expanding relationships across multiple practices and service lines
• Develop and execute strategic client growth plans for new and existing clients
• Maintain active presence in the regional development community through client engagement, industry organizations, and networking
• Collaborate across CEC practices and offices to identify client needs, develop integrated solutions, and bring the full capabilities of the firm to client
• Lead proposal development, client presentations and interviews, scope and fee development, and contract negotiations
• Manage land development and civil engineering projects from proposal through construction, including oversight of scope, schedule, budget, and client expectations
• Review project designs, including site layouts, grading plans, stormwater management facilities, utilities, and water quality best management practices
• Perform quality assurance/quality control of project deliverables and ensure compliance with regulatory and client requirements
• Coordinate and communicate with clients, contractors, subconsultants, and regulatory agencies throughout all phases of the project
• Mentor and supervise junior engineers and technical staff, supporting professional growth and development
• Collaborate with office and regional leadership on market strategy, business planning, revenue growth, recruiting, and expansion of the Civil/Site practice

Our Nashville-area office in Franklin, TN, is home to a passionate and growing team of professionals. Located just minutes from downtown Nashville, Franklin offers small-town charm with convenient access to the region’s outdoor recreation, live music, professional sports, and dining. Middle Tennessee offers a great place to grow both personally and professionally.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in the land development and civil engineering
• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) license in Tennessee
• Demonstrated success developing new business and expanding client relationships within the land development market
• Established professional network in the region, with relationships among developers, architects, contractors, brokers, energy clients, institutional clients, or other land development stakeholders
• Proven ability to originate opportunities, develop proposals, and convert client relationships into contracted work
• Demonstrated ability to leverage client relationships to generate opportunities across multiple disciplines or service lines
• Experience providing technical review of civil engineering deliverables
• Experience preparing proposals, developing scopes and fees, and managing project execution
• Experience mentoring, developing, and leading staff
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and relationship-building skills

Preferred Capabilities

• Demonstrated history of growing a client portfolio, market sector, or civil engineering practice
• Strong visibility and established relationships within the region
• Proven track record of successfully managing complex land development projects
• Experience leading multidisciplinary project teams
• Experience identifying and developing opportunities for multiple engineering, environmental, surveying, or related professional service disciplines
• Active participation or leadership in professional, development, real estate, or industry organizations
• Familiarity with local permitting processes and coordination with regulatory agencies

About Us

We have experts! CEC is consistently ranked as a Top 500 Design Firm and Top 200 Environmental Firm by Engineering News-Record . We are looking for people who enjoy using their education and experience to solve difficult technical problems and work on interesting projects. You can accomplish this while working with a team of professionals who are equally motivated to provide high levels of service to our clients and to teach you along the way.

We have support! We have a variety of Employee Resource Groups, including CEC Community – focused on giving back to the communities in which we work; CEC Ignite – focused on helping professionals early in their careers to develop their pathway; CEC iDEA – focused on inclusion, diversity, equality, and acceptance; and CEC Women – focused on creating internal and external opportunities for women to network and leverage professional experience!

We care about our people! People and Culture are two of the five elements of our strategic plan. When you care about your people, they will want to grow a career with you – that is our goal. CEC offers you a small-firm work environment with large-firm opportunities. Not only will we help you develop professionally, but we will also provide an opportunity to become an owner of the firm and share in its success.

CEC offers a matching 401(k); profit sharing; a performance bonus; company stock; medical, dental, and vision insurance; short and long-term disability; tuition assistance; professional development; and work-life balance.

CEC is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in recruiting, hiring or promotion based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status), national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis or characteristic prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law.