Senior Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) Project Manager

ESP Associates • San Antonio, TX

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About The Position

ESP Associates is seeking an experienced Senior Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) Project Manager to join its team in Texas. The role leads SUE project delivery, client coordination, staff development, budgeting, and business development for transportation, roadway, municipal, and infrastructure projects. As a senior representative of ESP, the Project Manager manages scope, schedule, budget, quality, and client expectations, coordinating with utility owners, public agencies, consultants, contractors, and right-of-way stakeholders from planning through construction.

The position supports a multidisciplinary engineering, surveying, and planning firm and offers opportunities to participate in team activities, volunteer events, and company-wide initiatives. The successful candidate will apply Texas utility accommodation requirements and TxDOT utility coordination procedures, and learn applicable criteria for other states as ESP’s market grows.

Requirements

• At least 8 years of experience in SUE, utility coordination, utility engineering, right-of-way, roadway design, construction coordination, or related infrastructure project delivery.
• High school diploma or GED.
• Demonstrated experience managing SUE projects, including scope, schedule, budget, staffing, client coordination, deliverable review, and quality control.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary SUE teams, coordinating field crews, and balancing workload across multiple active projects.
• Working knowledge of SUE Quality Levels A through D, utility designation, test hole coordination, utility mapping, conflict identification, utility permitting, and right-of-way coordination.
• Experience developing and tracking project budgets, including level-of-effort estimates, labor planning, and financial performance monitoring.
• Experience supporting business development, including proposal preparation, scope narratives, fee development, client meetings, and pursuit strategy.
• Experience training and mentoring technical staff in SUE procedures, documentation, safety awareness, and client service.
• Experience preparing, submitting, tracking, and reviewing RULIS applications.
• Experience supporting TxDOT transportation projects, with familiarity with TxDOT utility coordination milestones, utility adjustment processes, and Texas Administrative Code requirements for utility accommodation and right-of-way use.
• Ability to read, interpret, and redline civil construction plans, utility plans, roadway schematics, and survey information.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Bentley View, Bluebeam, Adobe Acrobat Pro, and KMZ/KML development for map-based utility exhibits.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to lead meetings and represent ESP professionally with clients and project partners.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel to project sites, client meetings, and staff training as needed.
• Must pass a drug screen and background check and have a satisfactory driving record under the company’s driving (MVR) policy.

Nice To Haves

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, planning, geography, geomatics, business, or a related technical field.
• CADD experience for plan review.

Responsibilities

• Lead SUE project delivery for roadway, drainage, bridge, transit, municipal, and civil infrastructure projects throughout Texas.
• Manage project scope, schedule, budget, staffing plans, deliverables, and client expectations.
• Develop and manage project budgets, monitor financial performance, and coordinate corrective action when budget, schedule, or staffing risks arise.
• Support marketing and business development through client relationship development, pursuit strategy, proposal input, scope development, level-of-effort estimates, and presentations.
• Train, mentor, and develop SUE staff in field procedures, documentation standards, safety awareness, client communication, and quality control.
• Review plans, utility records, as-builts, survey data, and SUE deliverables to identify potential utility conflicts and guide investigation strategies.
• Coordinate with utility owners, TxDOT, local governments, engineers, right-of-way staff, environmental teams, contractors, and other stakeholders.
• Facilitate SUE and utility coordination meetings, document action items, maintain utility status reports, and track commitments through resolution.
• Oversee utility conflict analysis, investigation planning, test hole coordination, utility mapping, relocation support, cost estimates, reimbursement documentation, utility agreements, and permitting.
• Prepare, submit, track, and review RULIS applications and related documentation for utility permitting, relocation, and project clearance.
• Monitor SUE production and utility relocation coordination during design and construction, escalating schedule or coordination issues as needed.
• Interpret and apply Texas utility accommodation requirements, TxDOT utility coordination procedures, right-of-way processes, and federal, state, and local requirements.
• Learn and apply SUE, utility coordination, and agency criteria for other states as ESP’s market grows.
• Prepare professional correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, exhibits, conflict matrices, and proposals.
• Support quality control of SUE deliverables and promote consistent standards across project teams.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation with yearly performance reviews and discretionary annual bonuses.
• 401(k) Traditional and Roth plans with a guaranteed employer match of 100% up to the first 3% and 50% on the next 2%; eligibility after 60 days.
• Paid time off and 10 paid holidays.
• Four hours of volunteer time off each year, prorated during the first year based on hire date.
• Tiered health, vision, and dental insurance options; eligibility after 30 days.
• Behavioral medicine through Teladoc.
• Employer-paid short-term disability insurance.
• Long-term disability insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Pet insurance.
• Education reimbursement opportunities.
• Flexible and dependent benefits plan.
• Referral bonuses.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: High school or GED