Project Manager – Land Development

Company: DCCM
Location: Lakeland, Florida
Project Focus: Residential, Commercial, Municipal, and Mixed-Use Land Development
Employment Type: Full-Time
Recommended Base Salary: $110,000–$160,000+ annually, based on experience, licensure, client relationships, and business-development capabilities
Represented By: Luxus Group | AEC Talent Partners

Position Overview

DCCM is seeking an experienced Project Manager – Land Development to lead a diverse portfolio of public- and private-sector projects throughout Central Florida.

This position offers an opportunity to manage projects from initial feasibility and conceptual planning through design, permitting, construction administration, and final closeout. Projects may include residential communities, commercial developments, mixed-use properties, municipal facilities, utility infrastructure, and other complex site-development assignments.

The successful candidate will combine strong civil engineering expertise with project leadership, client management, and team-development skills. This individual will be trusted to manage project financial performance, guide multidisciplinary teams, navigate Florida permitting requirements, and strengthen relationships with developers, municipalities, and regulatory agencies.

DCCM’s Lakeland presence includes the legacy and regional expertise of Chastain-Skillman, a firm with more than 70 years of experience serving public works and land-development clients throughout the Southeast. Learn more about DCCM and Chastain-Skillman.

Key Responsibilities

Project Management and Delivery

• Manage multiple land and site-development projects from initial planning through design, permitting, bidding, construction administration, and closeout.

• Establish project scopes, budgets, schedules, staffing plans, milestones, and quality-control procedures.

• Monitor project performance, profitability, invoicing, collections, and contractual requirements.

• Identify project risks early and develop practical solutions to protect schedules, budgets, and client expectations.

• Coordinate the work of civil engineers, designers, surveyors, landscape architects, environmental consultants, and other technical professionals.

• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in accordance with DCCM’s quality standards.

Civil and Site-Development Oversight

• Direct the preparation and review of civil engineering plans, reports, specifications, calculations, and permit applications.

• Provide technical oversight for:

  • Site layout and development planning

  • Grading and earthwork

  • Stormwater management and drainage

  • Water and wastewater utilities

  • Roadway and access improvements

  • Erosion and sediment control

  • Utility coordination

  • Construction plans and technical specifications

• Review engineering documents for accuracy, constructability, regulatory compliance, and consistency with client objectives.

• Provide technical guidance and problem-solving support throughout design and construction.

Permitting and Agency Coordination

• Lead entitlement, permitting, and approval processes with cities, counties, utilities, and regulatory agencies throughout Central Florida.

• Coordinate with agencies such as the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, applicable water management districts, municipal utilities, and local planning and engineering departments.

• Manage responses to agency review comments and keep projects moving efficiently through the approval process.

• Maintain working knowledge of Central Florida development standards, stormwater criteria, utility requirements, and local land-development codes.

Client and Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for developers, property owners, municipalities, architects, contractors, and public-agency clients.

• Lead project kickoff meetings, design reviews, progress meetings, public presentations, and client updates.

• Develop trusted client relationships that support repeat assignments and long-term partnerships.

• Clearly communicate project status, risks, decisions, budget considerations, and recommended solutions.

• Coordinate effectively with permitting authorities, utility providers, consultants, contractors, and community stakeholders.

Team Leadership and Mentorship

• Lead, mentor, and develop engineers, designers, project coordinators, and technical support staff.

• Delegate assignments effectively while maintaining accountability for project quality and performance.

• Support staffing, utilization, workload planning, and professional-development initiatives.

• Review the work of junior team members and provide constructive technical and professional guidance.

• Promote a collaborative, responsive, and accountable team culture.

Business Development

• Support or lead the preparation of proposals, scopes of work, fee estimates, project schedules, and contract negotiations.

• Participate in interviews, presentations, industry events, and client-development activities.

• Identify opportunities to expand existing client relationships and pursue new projects throughout Central Florida.

• Contribute to the continued growth and visibility of DCCM’s land-development practice.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.

• Florida Professional Engineer license or the ability to obtain Florida licensure promptly through reciprocity.

• Five or more years of progressively responsible civil engineering experience, with substantial involvement in land or site development.

• Demonstrated experience managing residential, commercial, mixed-use, municipal, or similar development projects.

• Experience managing project scope, schedule, budget, staffing, quality, and client expectations.

• Strong knowledge of grading, drainage, stormwater management, utility design, erosion control, and site-development engineering.

• Familiarity with Central Florida permitting agencies, municipal requirements, and water management district criteria.

• Working knowledge of AutoCAD Civil 3D and related civil engineering design applications.

• Excellent communication, organization, leadership, decision-making, and client-management abilities.

• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a deadline-driven consulting environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Eight to fifteen or more years of relevant civil engineering and land-development experience.

• Established relationships with developers, municipalities, architects, contractors, or regulatory agencies in Central Florida.

• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and mentoring junior engineers.

• Demonstrated success developing proposals, securing repeat work, or supporting business development.

• Experience with both public-sector infrastructure and private-sector development projects.

• Knowledge of Polk County, Hillsborough County, Orange County, Osceola County, and surrounding municipal requirements.

Why Join DCCM?

This role provides the opportunity to:

• Lead meaningful development projects throughout one of Florida’s fastest-growing regions.

• Manage projects with direct visibility and influence over design, client satisfaction, and financial performance.

• Work alongside experienced engineering, surveying, planning, and infrastructure professionals.

• Build long-term relationships with developers, municipalities, and public agencies.

• Mentor emerging professionals and help shape the continued growth of the Lakeland land-development practice.

• Pursue advancement within a growing multidisciplinary engineering organization.

DCCM supports career opportunities across engineering, surveying, planning, architecture, project management, and business development. Explore DCCM careers.

Compensation and Benefits

DCCM offers a competitive compensation package based on the selected candidate’s experience, licensure, technical capabilities, project-management background, and client-development potential. The anticipated base salary range is $110,000–$150,000+, with final compensation determined by qualifications.

The total rewards package may include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance

• Retirement savings program

• Paid time off and company holidays

• Professional development and continuing education

• PE licensure and professional-association support

• Performance and career-advancement opportunities

Specific compensation and benefit details should be confirmed during the interview process.

About Luxus Group

Luxus Group is an AEC-focused talent partner representing DCCM in the confidential identification and recruitment of qualified professionals for this opportunity.

Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply or contact Luxus Group for a confidential conversation regarding the position, compensation, project portfolio, and long-term advancement potential.

Keywords: Land Development Project Manager, Civil Engineering Project Manager, Site Development, Florida PE, Civil 3D, Residential Development, Commercial Development, Mixed-Use Development, Municipal Engineering, Stormwater Management, Drainage Design, Utility Design, Grading, Site Planning, Entitlements, Permitting, Polk County, Lakeland Engineering Jobs, Central Florida Civil Engineering, DCCM Careers.