Department Manager

The Florida-Gulf Department Manager leads the overall performance, growth, and operations of the Resilience Solutions Florida-Gulf Department. The position is responsible for achieving financial, operational, and strategic objectives consistent with the Business Unit’s goals.

Dewberry is a leading, market-facing professional services firm with more than 60 locations and 2,500 professionals nationwide. What sets us apart from our competitors are our people. At Dewberry, we seek out exceptional talent and strive to deliver the highest quality of services to our clients. Whether you’re an experienced professional or a new graduate, you’ll have the chance to collaborate with the best and brightest and work on innovative and complex projects at the forefront of the industry. Our commitment to excellence stems from our personal integrity and from other defining attributes, which we call “Dewberry at Work,” that have inspired our employees to be successful for more than a half-century.

The Department Manager exercises decision-making authority as delegated by the Business Unit Manager (BUM) and provides leadership in the following areas:

1. Staff Leadership and Talent Management

• Provide direct supervision and leadership to Department staff.
• Develop, maintain, and execute the Department Staffing Plan aligned with projected backlog and strategic growth objectives.
• Lead recruitment for approved replacement and growth positions.
• Serve as personnel career guidance advisor or assign appropriate career advisors to all Department staff.
• Conduct Performance Development Plans (PDPs) for all Department staff, emphasizing:
  • Development of top performers
  • Coaching and career progression
  • Timely corrective action plans where necessary
• Drive succession planning and leadership pipeline development within the Department.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, high performance, and professional growth.
• Support diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives consistent with firm values.
• Address personnel issues proactively, in coordination with the BUM and Human Resources as needed.

2. Business Development and Market Growth

• Develop and implement a Florida-Gulf resilience business development strategy aligned with Business Unit priorities.
• Monitor legislative and funding trends impacting Florida resilience funding.
• Build and maintain strategic client relationships in the Florida and Gulf markets.
• Lead efforts to achieve annual sales and backlog targets for the Department.
• Identify and pursue key pursuits, including go/no-go recommendations.
• Participate in proposal strategy, positioning, teaming decisions, and capture planning.
• Support and mentor project managers and technical staff in client development.
• Provide input into annual Resilience Solutions marketing and sales plans.
• Represent the firm in industry organizations, conferences and client forums within the Florida-Gulf region.
• Pursue opportunities to diversify revenue sources for resilience within Florida.
• Develop strategic partnerships (universities, subconsultants, local firms).

3. Financial and Operational Performance

• Provide input into and manage to the annual Department operating budget, including:
  • Staff utilization targets
  • Sales and backlog projections
  • Capital and software needs
• Manage staff utilization to meet or exceed budgeted targets.
• Oversee financial performance of the Department’s project portfolio, including:
  • Direct multiplier
  • Net revenue
  • Cost control
  • Accounts receivable (A/R)
  • Work-in-progress (WIP) management
• Monitor project contract compliance and risk exposure.
• Support contract negotiations and review of scopes and fee proposals to ensure appropriate risk allocation and profitability.
• Identify financial trends and implement corrective actions as needed.

4. Project Delivery and Quality Management

• Provide executive oversight of the Department’s project portfolio to ensure successful delivery with respect to:
  • Scope
  • Schedule
  • Budget
  • Profitability
  • Client satisfaction
• Ensure compliance with the Dewberry Quality Management System (QMS).
• Monitor project risk, contract adherence, and change management.
• Conduct periodic portfolio reviews and implement lessons learned and best practices.
• Serve as Project Manager or Principal-in-Charge for selected large or strategic projects.
• Champion continuous improvement in project delivery processes, tools, and standards.

5. Enterprise Collaboration and Strategic Alignment

• Collaborate with the Florida Operating Unit and across Resilience Solutions on:
  • Business development
  • Proposal strategy
  • Marketing initiatives
  • Resource sharing
  • Technical project delivery
• Coordinate activities with the Resilience Growth Initiative and the Risk, Response, Recovery & Resilience (R4) Market Sector.
• Support cross-selling of services across Dewberry practices.
• Elevate strategic, operational, or personnel issues to the BUM as appropriate.
• Contribute to Business Unit strategic planning and long-term growth initiatives.

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, planning, civil or environmental engineering, or related field.
• 15+ years of relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing multidisciplinary technical staff.
• Strong business development experience and established relationships within the Florida market.
• Strong knowledge of the Resilient Florida Program and broader Florida resilience landscape.
• Proven financial management capability in an AE consulting environment.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and client-focused mindset.
• Experience using MS Project or equivalent scheduling tools.
• Working knowledge of Vantagepoint or similar enterprise accounting systems.

Preferred Certifications

• Project Management Professional (PMP).
• Professional Engineer (PE) or relevant professional licensure.
• Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM).

*At this time, Dewberry will not sponsor a new applicant for work authorization.

*Dewberry is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or sexual orientation.

*Only recipients of an offer of employment from Dewberry, will be required to submit to a background screening which may include, but is not limited to, employment verification, educational and other credential verification, driving record check, criminal background check, and an investigative consumer report. These screenings will be conducted by Dewberry’s background vendor of choice and will be conducted in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local law.