Civil Engineer Design-Build Leader – Vice President / Principal-in-Charge

This role leads complex transportation and federal alternative-delivery pursuits and projects, serving as Project Manager during the pursuit phase and overseeing successful delivery through design and construction support.

Responsibilities

• Overall project leadership, including work planning, contract management, staff management, quality oversight, risk management, and profitability for large lump-sum design-build projects.
• Collaborate with firm leadership to identify and position Huitt-Zollars for major alternative-delivery opportunities nationwide, including teaming strategies, partner vetting, contract negotiation, and pursuit activities.
• Manage all aspects of design, technical preparation, construction support, quality management, and change management to meet contractual obligations.
• Exercise full managerial responsibility for project scope, schedule, design, quality, staffing, and budget adherence.
• Develop and mentor less-experienced staff and support firm-wide alternative-delivery growth initiatives.
• Engage in proposals, sales activities, industry events, and internal mentorship.
• Direct and coordinate activities of discipline and segment leads across multiple U.S. locations to ensure on-schedule, on-budget project progression.
• Maintain expected Effective Labor Multiplier (ELM) on all associated projects and ensure direct reports meet utilization targets.
• Uphold business processes including monthly A/R, invoicing, timekeeping, resource forecasting, and percent completes.
• Adhere to quality control and risk management measures on projects and daily operations.

Requirements

• Minimum 15 years of transportation design experience.
• Minimum 10 years as Project Manager, Deputy Project Manager, or Major Task Lead for transportation design-build projects, preferably larger than $500M.
• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from an accredited institution.
• Licensed Professional Engineer (PE).
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary transportation/federal design teams in alternative-delivery environments.
• Experience managing Quality Control/Quality Assurance programs for large infrastructure projects.
• Experience with risk management plans, claims mitigation, and issue resolution.
• Strong financial and contract management abilities, including forecasting, staffing, and profitability oversight.
• Ability and willingness to travel as required.
• Ability to foster collaboration among technical and management teams across multiple offices and regions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for technical, contractual, financial, and business issues.
• Self-driven, resourceful, and capable of leading complex pursuits and projects independently and collaboratively.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing project requirements, schedules, priorities, and delivery environments.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex technical and management challenges creatively and effectively.

Preferred Technical Background

• Strong technical background in transportation infrastructure design, including roadway, retaining wall, drainage, and civil transportation projects.
• Experience with retaining wall systems, roadway geometric design coordination, utility conflict resolution, traffic control coordination, and constructability considerations.
• Familiarity with DOT design standards, permitting requirements, and alternative-delivery technical review processes.
• Experience coordinating across roadway, structural, drainage, traffic, geotechnical, and utility disciplines on large-scale transportation projects.

Qualifications

• Deep understanding of how contributions as a co-owner align with Huitt-Zollars’ mission and core values.
• Achievement of personal sales and utilization goals.
• Consistent adherence to business processes and quality/risk management measures.

About Huitt-Zollars

Huitt-Zollars, Inc. is a privately held, 100% employee-owned architectural and engineering firm established in 1975. The firm provides planning, engineering, architectural and interior design, construction and program management, and design-build services across more than 20 locations in 11 U.S. states. Huitt-Zollars aims to improve the environment in which we live, work, and play through collaborative, client-focused, and innovative professional services.

Benefits

• Health insurance (BCBS TX BlueChoice PPO).
• Dental insurance (BCBS TX BlueChoice PPO).
• Vision insurance (BCBS TX BlueChoice PPO).
• MDLive Telehealth.
• Employer-paid short- and long-term disability.
• 8 paid holidays.
• Employee morale and team-building events.
• Paid vacation and annual leave.
• Paid sick leave.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Commuter benefits.
• Professional societies and registrations fee reimbursements.
• Term life / AD&D insurance.
• Cancer and specified disease insurance.
• Two retirement plans: 401(k) and ESOP.
• Work for an employee-owned firm with a 'Class A' office space in Dallas, including a state-of-the-art gym (no cost), covered parking, and food court.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds at times.
• Ability to concentrate on details, work under deadline pressures, apply sound logic and judgment, and prioritize tasks.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without employer sponsorship. Huitt-Zollars does not sponsor H1-B or other work visa petitions.