Vice President - Land Development

Job Description:

Pape-Dawson’s Savannah office opened in 2025 alongside our other 8 Georgia offices. Established to expand the firm’s presence and impact across the state, the office provides civil engineering, landscape architecture, and surveying services to clients throughout the Savannah region. The team draws on Pape-Dawson’s national expertise to deliver comprehensive solutions for residential, commercial, public-sector, and community development projects.

The Vice President will provide senior leadership for Pape-Dawson’s Savannah land development team and play a key role in the continued growth of the office. This individual will lead complex residential land development projects, maintain strong client relationships, mentor and develop staff, and drive business development across the Savannah market.

The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in residential land development, particularly large-scale residential development and single-family communities, along with a strong seller/doer background. This is a hands-on leadership role for an experienced project and team leader who remains actively engaged in client relationships and project delivery. The successful candidate will be capable of leading and developing a team while helping establish the Savannah office as a trusted partner in the region. Experience serving public-sector clients is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior leadership for the Savannah land development team and support the continued growth of the office.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team including project managers, project engineers, designers, and technical staff.
• Direct complex residential land development projects from planning and conceptual design through final design, permitting, construction, and closeout.
• Maintain direct ownership of key client relationships and serve as a trusted advisor to developers, public agencies, municipalities, and industry partners.
• Lead projects involving large-scale residential development, single-family communities, infrastructure, utilities, drainage, and related civil engineering services.
• Provide technical oversight and ensure the quality, schedule, budget, and profitability of project delivery.
• Serve as Engineer of Record, as appropriate, and certify plans and documentation in accordance with applicable requirements.
• Mentor project managers and senior staff while supporting career development, succession planning, recruiting, and retention.
• Drive business development activities, including client outreach, relationship development, pursuit strategy, proposals, RFQs/RFPs, interviews, and fee development.
• Develop and maintain relationships with public-sector clients, including municipalities, counties, authorities, and other governmental agencies.
• Collaborate with regional and company leadership regarding staffing, resource allocation, operational priorities, and market strategy.
• Represent Pape-Dawson through professional associations, industry organizations, civic groups, and community events.
• Ensure consistent application of company design, production, quality control, and project management standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering or a related engineering discipline from an ABET-accredited program.
• Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in Georgia
• Minimum of 15 years of progressive civil engineering and land development experience; 20 or more years is preferred.
• Extensive experience in residential land development, including large-scale residential and single-family development projects.
• Demonstrated experience managing projects from initial concept and entitlement through design, permitting, and construction support.
• Proven seller/doer background with established client and industry relationships.
• Demonstrated success leading, mentoring, and developing teams.
• Strong preference for experience supporting public-sector clients and working with municipalities, counties, authorities, or other governmental agencies.
• Demonstrated ability to balance senior-level leadership with direct involvement in client service and project execution.
• Strong business development, proposal, presentation, and client interview skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage clients, public agencies, internal leadership, and project teams.
• Ability to work Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with additional hours as needed to meet project and business needs.

If you need an accommodation or assistance with completing your application due to a disability or special need, please contact our team at Recruiting@pape-dawson.com or call (210) 375-9000.

EEO Statement:

All qualified applicants for Pape-Dawson Engineers will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.