Civil Engineering Manager

Job Title: Civil Engineering Manager

Job Description

This role offers an exceptional leadership opportunity for an entrepreneurial land development professional who wants to build and grow a new market from the ground up. The Civil Engineering Manager will serve as the lead representative in Ohio, developing client relationships, expanding a project portfolio, and ultimately building and leading a local engineering team. Initially, this person will collaborate closely with established offices to support existing projects and clients while actively pursuing new business opportunities throughout Central Ohio and surrounding markets. As the Columbus office grows, the Civil Engineering Manager will play a key role in recruiting, mentoring, and managing local staff, combining strong technical land development expertise with client-facing leadership, business development acumen, and a passion for growing high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the lead civil engineering professional for the Columbus office and act as the primary technical authority for local land development projects.

• Develop and execute a strategic growth plan for the Ohio market, aligning local initiatives with broader company objectives.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with developers, contractors, architects, municipalities, and other project stakeholders across Central Ohio.

• Identify and pursue new land development opportunities, including private, commercial, industrial, and institutional projects.

• Establish and strengthen the firm’s presence within the Columbus development community through consistent engagement and high-quality project delivery.

• Recruit, mentor, and develop engineering staff as the local office expands, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented team culture.

• Lead the planning, design, and execution of land development projects from initial concept through construction completion.

• Oversee site layout, grading, stormwater management, drainage, utility design, erosion control, and permitting activities to ensure technically sound and compliant solutions.

• Manage project schedules, budgets, staffing plans, and client communications to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget.

• Coordinate closely with surveyors, geotechnical engineers, environmental consultants, and public agencies to support project approvals and execution.

• Perform quality reviews of engineering deliverables and provide technical guidance to ensure accuracy, consistency, and adherence to standards.

• Prepare proposals, scopes of work, fee estimates, and client presentations to support business development and project acquisition.

• Collaborate with company leadership on growth initiatives, market strategy, and long-term positioning in the Ohio region.

• Act as the primary point of contact for Ohio clients, providing responsive, professional, and solutions-oriented service.

• Provide strategic guidance on site feasibility, due diligence, permitting, and development challenges to help clients make informed decisions.

• Participate in networking events, industry organizations, and client meetings to build visibility and strengthen professional networks.

• Foster long-term client relationships through exceptional customer service, technical excellence, and consistent follow-through on commitments.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related field.

• Professional Engineer (PE) license in Ohio.

• 10+ years of land development engineering experience.

• Demonstrated experience leading site development projects from concept through construction.

• Strong knowledge of site grading and drainage design.

• Strong knowledge of stormwater management and drainage systems.

• Strong knowledge of utility infrastructure design, including water, sanitary, and related systems.

• Strong understanding of permitting and entitlement processes for land development projects.

• Experience performing due diligence and site feasibility evaluations.

• Proven experience managing project budgets, schedules, and client relationships.

• Demonstrated leadership and team development skills in an engineering environment.

• Strong written and verbal communication abilities, including the ability to present to clients and stakeholders.

• Proficiency in civil engineering design, including land development and grading.

• Experience with Civil 3D or similar civil design software.

• Ability to serve as the lead civil engineering professional for an office or region.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Previous experience managing an office, department, or engineering team.

• Existing relationships within the Columbus or Ohio development community.

• Experience building and growing a local market or practice area.

• Exp. in collaborating with general contractors and multidisciplinary teams.

• Ability to develop and execute strategic growth plans for a geographic market.

• Business development experience, including networking, proposal development, and client presentations.

• Interest in an entrepreneurial role with the autonomy to independently run a local operation while leveraging the resources of a larger organization.

Work Environment

The Civil Engineering Manager will primarily work on-site in an office environment located within a general contractor partner’s facility in Grandview Heights, Ohio. The role is mainly in-office, providing close collaboration with construction and development professionals and access to the resources of a large national firm while operating within a smaller, agile civil design group. The work involves frequent coordination with internal teams and external partners, including field-related activities such as site visits and meetings with clients, consultants, and public agencies as needed. The environment supports a high level of professional autonomy, allowing the manager to independently run the local market and operations with the backing and stability of a national organization. The company offers a funded Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) program, an annual bonus program based on revenue and other factors, and a culture that emphasizes long-term growth rather than weekly utilization metrics. The setting is professional, with standard office attire appropriate for client meetings and industry events, and provides opportunities to engage directly with the local development community.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Columbus, OH.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $120000.00 - $150000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

-Company funded employee stock ownership (ESOP) program -Bonus program -Medical, dental, vision -401(k) -Volunteer leave and charitable matching -Continuing education bonuses -Maternity & paternity leave -Up to 100% tuition reimbursement

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Columbus,OH.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 25, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.