Civil Engineering Practice Lead

Clayton Servicesabout 1 month ago
Houston, TX, United States
Hybrid
Full-time
Junior Level (1-3 years)

Job Description

Clayton Services is searching for a Civil Engineering Practice Lead

to join a growing engineering firm in Texas. The Civil Engineering Practice Lead will be responsible for helping build and lead a civil engineering practice focused on mission-critical facilities, data centers, advanced energy infrastructure, large-scale utility sites, and complex campus-style developments.

This is a senior-level opportunity for a civil engineering leader who can bring technical expertise, industry relationships, and market knowledge to the table. The ideal candidate will have experience leading civil/site development projects and established contacts with developers, owners, EPCs, utilities, contractors, or mission-critical infrastructure partners.

Job Type:

Direct Hire

Pay Rate:

$180,000 - $215,000/year, depending on experience and industry relationships

Benefits:

Excellent benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), PTO, and more along with performance-based incentives, and long-term growth opportunity

Civil Engineering Practice Lead Responsibilities:

  • Lead the growth and development of a mission-critical and advanced infrastructure civil engineering practice
  • Build and maintain relationships with developers, owners, EPC contractors, utilities, contractors, and strategic industry partners
  • Identify new business opportunities and support client development, proposals, and project pursuits
  • Serve as a senior technical and client-facing leader on complex civil/site development projects
  • Lead or oversee civil engineering packages for data centers, mission-critical facilities, industrial campuses, utility sites, substations, and large-scale infrastructure projects
  • Provide technical leadership on grading, drainage, hydrology, hydraulics, stormwater, floodplain, access, roadway, circulation, and utility planning
  • Support planning and coordination for high-capacity utility infrastructure, power-related site improvements, transmission corridors, substations, and on-site generation projects
  • Advise clients on site constraints, permitting strategy, municipal requirements, infrastructure limitations, and project feasibility
  • Represent the firm in client meetings, municipal coordination meetings, proposal discussions, and technical presentations
  • Help establish internal standards, delivery processes, staffing plans, pricing strategies, and growth plans for the practice
  • Mentor junior and mid-level civil engineering staff as the team expands
  • Collaborate with leadership to define target markets, priority accounts, pursuit strategy, and long-term practice goals
  • Ensure projects are delivered with strong technical quality, permitting accuracy, design consistency, and client satisfaction
  • Balance project delivery responsibilities with business development, client relationship management, and market expansion

Civil Engineering Practice Lead Skills and Abilities:

  • Strong existing network within the mission-critical, data center, advanced energy, utility, EPC, infrastructure, or large-scale development market
  • Ability to bring meaningful industry contacts and client relationships to the firm
  • Strong understanding of how complex civil/site development projects are planned, designed, permitted, and delivered
  • Excellent business development, client relationship, and market-building skills
  • Strong technical knowledge of civil/site design, land development, drainage, grading, utilities, access planning, stormwater, and permitting
  • Ability to lead fast-moving projects with multiple stakeholders, consultants, municipalities, and contractors
  • Strong understanding of municipal approval processes, site constraints, regulatory requirements, and permitting timelines
  • Ability to communicate effectively with developers, owners, contractors, utilities, EPCs, and internal technical teams
  • Entrepreneurial mindset with the desire to help build and grow a new practice area
  • Strong leadership skills with the ability to mentor engineers and influence cross-functional teams
  • Excellent presentation, communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills
  • Ability to operate as a seller-doer with both technical delivery and client development responsibilities
  • High level of professionalism, judgment, and credibility in senior-level client conversations

Civil Engineering Practice Lead Education and Experience:

  • Bachelor's degree: in Civil Engineering required
  • Professional Engineer license: required; Texas PE strongly preferred
  • 12+ years of: civil engineering, site development, infrastructure, land development, mission-critical, data center, utility, energy, or industrial project experience
  • Previous experience: as a Senior Project Manager, Civil Engineering Manager, Department Manager, Practice Lead, Market Lead, Principal, or senior seller-doer preferred
  • Experience leading: civil/site packages for data centers, mission-critical facilities, industrial campuses, substations, transmission corridors, utility infrastructure, power generation sites, or large-scale developments strongly preferred
  • Existing relationships: with developers, owners, EPC contractors, utilities, power developers, civil contractors, or mission-critical infrastructure partners strongly preferred
  • Experience supporting: business development, proposal strategy, client presentations, account growth, or new market development preferred
  • Experience in Texas markets: such as Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, or other high-growth infrastructure markets preferred
  • Experience with: large engineering, civil/site development, energy, infrastructure, or mission-critical project environments is a plus

Civil Engineering Practice Lead - Immediate need. Apply today!

Required Skills

Mission-Critical Facilities
Technical Leadership
Infrastructure
Mentoring
Business Development
Networking
Data Centers
Presentation Skills
Client Relationship Management
Regulatory Compliance
Project Management
Site Development
Civil Engineering