Practice Leader- Coastal Engineering

KCI Technologies, Inc. is a 100% employee-owned engineering, consulting and construction firm serving clients throughout the United States. The Coastal Engineering Practice Leader is responsible for providing leadership, technical direction, and strategic expansion of coastal engineering services, ensuring technical excellence and financial performance.

Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership, technical direction, and mentorship to Project Managers (PMs), Senior Project Managers (Sr. PMs), and staff within the Coastal Engineering practice
• Support professional growth through technical oversight in coastal processes, hydrodynamics, sediment transport, numerical modeling, and coastal design
• Assume responsibility for the financial and operational performance of the coastal practice, including budgeted margins, project health, and effective cash management
• Collaborate with other Practice Leaders (e.g., Transportation, Environmental, Structural, Water Resources) to deliver integrated coastal and waterfront solutions
• Recruit, hire, and manage coastal engineering staff, assigning work aligned with technical expertise and project needs
• Track, analyze, and report practice performance metrics
• Provide project and client leads to other practices to support multidisciplinary project delivery
• Serve as Project Manager or Technical Lead on select coastal engineering projects
• Ensure consistent delivery of high-quality, technically sound coastal engineering solutions
• Lead recruiting and retention efforts to attract top coastal engineering talent
• Conduct annual performance evaluations and support career development plans
• Mentor staff in coastal engineering principles, modeling tools, design standards, construction support, and regulatory processes
• Foster a collaborative and technically innovative practice culture
• Lead negotiations of coastal project scopes, fees, and contract terms with clients and subconsultants
• Oversee development of project schedules from planning and permitting through design and construction
• Review and approve monthly progress reports and client invoices
• Prepare monthly staff utilization and workload forecasts
• Manage projects within corporate and project budget parameters
• Provide input on unbilled work authorizations and coordinate with the Regional Practice Leader and Operations Manager
• Provide monthly WIP/AR commentary related to coastal projects to Finance and the Project Management Office
• Submit weekly new project budget information to project analysts
• Drive business development for coastal engineering services by expanding relationships with existing clients and pursuing new market opportunities
• Identify and pursue opportunities related to coastal resiliency, climate adaptation, shoreline protection, marine infrastructure, and waterfront development
• Lead opportunity evaluation, consultant selection, and preparation of qualifications and proposals specific to coastal engineering projects
• Coordinate proposal teams and participate in client interviews and presentations
• Promote KCI’s coastal engineering capabilities and integrated service offerings
• Develop and maintain strong client relationships by providing proactive communication, soliciting regular feedback, and identifying follow-on project opportunities
• Provide input to the annual coastal practice business development plan to achieve sales targets
• Conduct and review market research related to coastal infrastructure, resiliency funding, and regulatory trends
• Communicate emerging coastal market trends and opportunities to the Regional Practice Leader and Service Line Leader
• Ensure compliance with all KCI policies, procedures, and Quality Management System requirements
• Participate in annual leadership meetings and regional office forums
• Represent KCI in coastal engineering, marine, environmental, and professional organizations (e.g., ASCE COPRI, PIANC, CERF)
• Support regulatory compliance related to coastal permitting agencies (e.g., USACE, NOAA, state coastal programs)
• Develop and implement project-specific safety plans for coastal and marine construction activities
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local safety regulations, including marine and waterfront safety requirements
• Deliver projects on schedule, within budget, and at a high level of technical quality
• Monitor effective utilization of personnel, vessels, equipment, and specialty coastal resources

Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in related field (AEC Industry) and minimum of 7 years of related professional experience, or 11 years of equivalent professional experience
• Progressive professional and increasing project management and organizational management experience
• Proven experience in project management roles within the technical practice
• Demonstrated leadership capability to build and lead teams of technical practitioners and/or project managers
• Strong interpersonal as well as verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire teams
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage budgets, project margins, and cash flow
• Experience in business development, with a focus on maximizing client relationships and identifying growth opportunities
• Commitment to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and excellence within the Practice
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to make decisions
• Adaptability and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Proficiency in relevant software and tools use in the practice area
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements and industry standards related to the service line
• Ability to complete the KCI PM Training and Contract Training within six months of start date
• Professional license or certification within the field of expertise preferred