Land Development Client Leader / Practice Builder

Location: Tampa or Sarasota, Florida

This is not your typical Senior Project Manager position.

Our client is looking for an established land development professional who knows the Tampa and Sarasota markets, enjoys building relationships, and wants to play a leading role in expanding an already successful regional practice.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in single-family residential land development and/or commercial site development, along with the relationships, energy, and business development mindset needed to create new opportunities. This person will serve as a trusted advisor to clients, help open doors, win work, and position the firm for continued growth throughout the Tampa Bay and Sarasota region.

If you would rather spend your time meeting with clients, pursuing opportunities, and helping shape a growing practice than staring at drainage calculations all day, this may be worth a conversation.

About Our Client

Our client is a nationally recognized consulting firm providing civil engineering, planning, landscape architecture, surveying, and environmental services to public- and private-sector clients.

The firm has an established presence in Florida, strong technical resources, and approximately 40 employees across its Tampa and Sarasota offices. This means the person stepping into this role will have a real team and meaningful resources behind them. They will not be handed a laptop, a list of cold prospects, and a cheerful “good luck.”

Employees also enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes outstanding healthcare coverage, a generous 401(k) match, career mapping, and competitive paid time-off programs.

The Opportunity

The Land Development Client Leader will be responsible for helping drive the continued expansion of the firm’s land development practice throughout Tampa, Sarasota, and the surrounding markets.

This is a highly visible, client-facing leadership position with a heavy emphasis on marketing, business development, relationship management, and strategic growth. While a strong technical foundation is important, this is not intended to be a heads-down production role.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Developing and expanding relationships with residential developers, homebuilders, commercial developers, property owners, architects, attorneys, municipalities, and other industry partners

• Identifying, pursuing, and securing new land development and site development opportunities

• Strengthening existing client relationships and identifying opportunities to expand the services provided to those clients

• Representing the firm at industry events, professional organizations, community functions, and client meetings

• Helping develop and execute a regional growth strategy for the Tampa and Sarasota markets

• Leading proposal development, client presentations, contract negotiations, and project pursuit efforts

• Partnering with project managers and technical staff to ensure that client expectations are understood and met

• Providing senior-level guidance on project strategy, entitlement, permitting, scheduling, budgeting, and client communication

• Helping attract, mentor, and develop talented professionals as the practice continues to grow

• Collaborating with leaders across the firm to introduce additional services and resources to Florida clients

What We Are Looking For

The ideal candidate will have:

• A bachelor’s degree in civil engineering

• A Florida Professional Engineer license

• Approximately 12 or more years of land development or site development experience

• A strong background in single-family residential development, commercial site development, mixed-use, multifamily, or related private-sector projects

• Established relationships within the Tampa, Sarasota, or broader Central Florida development community

• A demonstrated ability to develop business, win work, and build long-term client relationships

• Strong knowledge of local development processes, permitting requirements, and regulatory agencies

• The technical credibility to advise clients and provide leadership to project teams

• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-building skills

• An entrepreneurial mindset and the desire to help build something meaningful

Why This Role?

This opportunity offers something beyond the standard Senior Project Manager track.

The successful candidate will have the platform, resources, and regional presence of a nationally recognized firm, along with the ability to make a direct and measurable impact on the growth of its Tampa and Sarasota operations.

For an experienced land development professional who has built a strong network, enjoys the chase, and wants a larger seat at the table, this is an opportunity to help shape the future of a growing regional practice.

Our client is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business need. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other classification protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.