Land Development Team Lead – Senior Project Manager

Overview

ABOUT THE POSITION

VHB is a team of 2,200+ engineers, scientists, planners, and designers across 30+ East Coast offices. We’ve been recognized as a 2026 US Best Managed Company—but what we’re most proud of is the environment we’ve built for our people to learn, grow, and do meaningful work.

 We’re hiring a Land Development Team Lead, Senior Project Manager to join our Land Development Planning & Design team in Charlotte, NC.

Learn more about our Charlotte team as well as our Land Development Practice. 

Why This Role is Exciting

Our Land Development group in the Carolinas is in a high-growth phase. We’re building a practice that:

• Delivers high-visibility projects in higher education, healthcare, mixed-use, multifamily, national homebuilders, industrial, retail/commercial, and municipal sectors
• Integrates multiple disciplines—civil, transportation, environmental, geomatics, landscape architecture, and planning
• Is focused on quality, client service, and sustainable design, not just “checking the box” to get approvals

As a Project Manager in Charlotte, you will:

• Be a key leader in how we win, deliver, and grow projects in the region
• Serve as a go-to resource for clients and internal teams
• Have a direct impact on team culture, technical standards, and junior staff development

How You’ll Make an Impact

Project & Client Management

• Lead the planning, design, and delivery of land development projects from concept through construction, including higher ed, healthcare, mixed-use, multifamily, and commercial/industrial sites.
• Manage scope, schedule, budget, and risk, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to VHB’s quality standards.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for clients, building strong relationships, understanding their priorities, and proactively communicating project status and issues.
• Coordinate with subconsultants and internal disciplines (survey/geomatics, landscape architecture, environmental, transportation, and planning) to deliver integrated solutions.

Technical Leadership

• Oversee and review site civil design work, including site layout, grading, drainage, utilities, erosion and sediment control, stormwater management, and sustainable site design strategies.
• Guide the preparation of plans, specifications, engineering reports, and permit packages, ensuring accuracy and technical quality.
• Apply knowledge of local regulations, ordinances, development codes, and permitting processes (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, NCDOT, and other Carolinas jurisdictions).
• Champion sustainable and resilient design approaches that improve long-term performance and community outcomes.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead project teams of engineers, designers, and support staff, providing direction, coordination, and day-to-day guidance.
• Mentor and develop junior and mid-level engineers, providing technical coaching, feedback, and support on career development.
• Contribute to staffing decisions, workload planning, and resource allocation to balance project needs and development opportunities for team members.
• Support and reinforce a culture of high-quality work, collaboration, and accountability.

Growth & Business Development

• Participate in—and increasingly lead—business development efforts, including proposal development, fee estimates, interviews, and client presentations.
• Help identify and cultivate new and existing client relationships in the Charlotte region and across the Carolinas.
• Collaborate with leaders in other VHB offices to pursue multi-office, multi-discipline projects and share best practices.

Qualifications

• BS in Civil Engineering or a related field required; Master’s degree preferred
• PE (Professional Engineer) licensure in North Carolina required
• 11 – 15+ years of experience in site/civil engineering design, project management, and team leadership
• Relevant experience with higher education, healthcare, parks and recreation, and/or local government sectors
• Proficient in AutoCAD Civil 3D, Microsoft Project, and MS Office Suite
• Experience with GIS systems is a plus
• If you have more experience than listed, we still welcome you to apply and can discuss further details.

The full-time annual base salary range for this position, located in Charlotte, NC, is $150,000 to $180,000. The base salary offered will be determined based on job-related factors, including geographic location, internal equity, experience, credentials, skills, education, work schedule, and other factors permitted by law. The posted salary range reflects base pay only. Additional compensation and benefits available to eligible employees are outlined in our Total Rewards Program. 

Annual base salary is one component of VHB’s Total Rewards package. In addition to base pay, eligible employees may receive annual incentive compensation bonuses, spot bonuses, and merit-based salary increases, providing opportunities to increase earnings beyond base pay. VHB also offers a differentiating work experience, including a comprehensive benefits package that includes eligibility to participate in the VHB 401(k) plan, medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, wellness programs, tuition reimbursement, and recognition programs. 

Details on VHB’s benefits package can be found here: Benefits Checklist  

Building what’s next, together.

Our people make the difference. We foster a technology-empowered, people‑driven, future‑ready culture where agility, innovation, and collaboration shape how we work every day.

When you join VHB, you’ll find:

• Meaningful work on complex projects with real community impact
• A collaborative, inclusive culture that values curiosity and shared success
• Support to grow your skills and lead through change
• Learning and development supported by evolving tools and technologies, including AI
• Best-in-class benefits and a flexible, hybrid work environment

We’re growing across the East Coast and are consistently recognized as a great place to work. Ready to shape what’s next? Learn more about what sets our employee experience apart and connect with us.  

VHB is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. Since our founding, we have intentionally fostered a culture of inclusion and belonging, supported by deep-rooted core values, one of which is diversity. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

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