Project Executive Search for Engineering and Civil Firms

PROJECT EXECUTIVE SEARCH

Leaders who keep your biggest projects on track and your clients coming back

We run project executive search for civil engineering firms, contractors and engineering consultancies. A project executive sits above your project managers and answers for a portfolio of work, usually your largest and most complex jobs.

We work with firms of every size. For project-level hires, see our civil engineering project manager and engineering project manager executive search pages. Our For Clients page explains how our recruitment process works.

What a project executive does

At a contractor, a project executive typically oversees several large projects at once. They own the relationship with the owner, sign off on major changes and claims, watch cost and schedule across the portfolio, and step in when a job starts to slip.

At a design firm, the role often goes by principal-in-charge or program manager. The focus shifts toward client relationships, fees, staffing and quality, but the idea is the same: one senior person accountable for a group of projects and the client behind them.

Good project executives also grow the business. Owners rehire people they trust, and repeat work tends to follow the person who delivered last time.

WHAT WE LOOK FOR

What we look for in a project executive

This is what separates a real project executive from a senior project manager with a new title.

Portfolio scale

We look at the size, number and type of projects a candidate has run at the same time, and how the portfolio performed under them.

Commercial control

Change orders, claims, contract terms and cash flow. We test whether candidates protect margin or just report on it.

Owner relationships

We ask which clients a candidate has kept for years and why. References from owners and agency clients are often the most revealing.

Leading project managers

A project executive succeeds through their PMs. We look for people who coach, hold people to account and know when to step in.

What RoleDNA™ Mapping shows you about a project executive

Before you interview anyone, RoleDNA™ Mapping, our own assessment process, gives you a structured view of every shortlisted candidate against the profile we build together.

Key competency questions focus on real project problems, like a dispute with an owner or a job that is losing money. The Behavioral Assessment shows how a candidate handles pressure and conflict, and verified references confirm what actually happened on the projects they list. A short introduction video and a detailed resume complete the picture in your online client dashboard. Find out more about RoleDNA™ Mapping.

Recruiter selecting from a grid of candidate profile photos on a digital screen

RESULTS

Proof, not promises

98%

Fill rate

of the searches we take on end with a candidate placed.

96%

12-month retention

of the candidates we place are still in their role after 12 months.

12/24

Free replacement

months of cover: 12 as standard, extended to 24 (2 years) for senior roles.

A project executive is hard to replace mid-project, which is why every placement carries our 12-month free replacement guarantee, extended to 2 years for senior roles, under the agreed terms of engagement. Our guarantee explained.

LOCATIONS

Project executive searches by city

We recruit project executives across the U.S. from our Miami headquarters. See our pages for Miami, Tampa, Dallas, Houston and Austin.

Related searches: operations leader executive search and technical director executive search.

Project executive recruitment: FAQs

What is the difference between a project executive and a senior project manager?

A senior PM runs one large project or a few smaller ones. A project executive is responsible for a portfolio and the client relationships behind it, and usually manages the PMs.

Do you recruit project executives for heavy civil contractors?

Yes. We recruit for heavy civil, transportation, water and site work contractors, as well as design firms and engineering consultancies.

Should a project executive have a PE license?

On the design side, it often helps and is sometimes required. On the construction side, field and commercial experience usually matter more. We match the requirement to your work.

CONTACT US

Need a project executive?

Tell us about the projects coming up and the gaps in your team. Complete the form, or contact us directly, and a partner will be in touch.

Headquarters: Alexander Executive Search, 1221 Brickell Ave, Suite 900, Miami, FL 33131.

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