Group Manager

Position Summary

KBJW is seeking an experienced Group Manager, Civil to lead a small, tight-knit office in the Dayton/Kettering area. This is a hands-on leadership role focused on residential and commercial land development and site civil design. The successful candidate will combine technical execution, project leadership, field involvement, and people management while serving as a positive cultural leader and mentor to junior staff.

Residential and commercial land development / site civil design

• Lead and manage residential and commercial land development projects from planning through final delivery.
• Provide day-to-day supervision, coaching, and mentorship to a Staff Engineer and Designer.
• Own project management responsibilities including scope, schedule, budget awareness, communication, and execution.
• Perform hands-on technical and field work alongside the team; this is not a purely administrative leadership role.
• Review plans, calculations, and deliverables to ensure accuracy, quality, and timeliness.
• Foster a positive, accountable, and team-oriented culture within the local office.
• Collaborate closely with senior leadership, including a hands-on CEO and COO, to align office priorities and support growth.
• Participate in or support business development and client-facing activities to strengthen relationships and win work.

• Professional Engineer (PE) license is required
• Proficiency in Civil 3D is required.
• Demonstrated experience in residential and/or commercial land development.
• Project management experience with the ability to move work from inception through completion.
• People management, supervisory, or team leadership experience.
• Hands-on field experience and willingness to stay engaged in technical delivery.
• Minimum 5-6 years of relevant experience; 10-12 years is preferred.
• Authorization to work in the United States is required; sponsorship is not available.

• Business development experience, or a strong interest in contributing to growth efforts.
• Client-facing experience with the ability to build trust and represent the office effectively.
• A strong desire to mentor and develop junior engineers and designers.
• Experience moving from a large firm to a smaller, growth-oriented environment, or clear interest in doing so.

• Small, collaborative office where every team member contributes at every level.
• Leadership that values humility, initiative, and hands-on involvement over hierarchy.
• Meaningful, varied work with visibility to senior decision-makers and real impact on office performance.
• Long-term opportunity to grow into a shareholder role over time.
• An excellent fit for a leader who wants to leave the rigidity of a large firm and join a close-knit, growth-minded team.

• Build trust quickly with the existing team and create a stable, supportive operating rhythm for the office.
• Deliver high-quality civil/site projects efficiently while remaining personally engaged in technical work.
• Develop junior staff through active coaching, feedback, and example-based leadership.
• Strengthen client confidence and contribute to sustainable growth in the Dayton/Kettering market.

Candidate Note This opportunity is designed for a civil engineering leader who wants to combine management responsibility with real project and field involvement. KBJW offers a platform to make a visible impact, help shape team culture and grow into broader leadership and ownership over time.