Jobloria
Director of Costal and Marine Engineering
Affinity Search
Location : Comstock Park, MI, 49321
Job Type : Contractor
Salary : $140,000 - $175,000 per year
Date Posted : 2 December 2025
Director of Costal and Marine Engineering
Salary:$140,000 - $175,000 per year
Location:Grand Rapids, MI
Posted:November 17 2025
Minimum Degree:
Relocation Assistance:Not Available
Position Overview:
The Director of Costal and Marine Engineering will lead and manage complex engineering projects centered on shoreline development, coastal restoration, and marine infrastructure. This leadership role combines deep technical expertise with strategic oversight, driving the successful delivery of multidisciplinary projects that balance innovation, resilience, and sustainability. The Director will serve as the group’s technical authority, overseeing project execution, resource management, staff development, and client engagement across various civil and environmental sectors.
Key Responsibilities:
Project Leadership & Technical Oversight:
- Direct all phases of coastal and waterfront engineering projects, from planning through execution and closeout.
- Provide expert technical guidance in the design of infrastructure such as breakwaters, seawalls, ports, marinas, and shoreline protection systems.
- Lead risk assessments for storm surge, erosion, sea level rise, and climate resiliency.
Team Management & Development:
- Supervise and mentor multidisciplinary engineering teams; support career development and technical training.
- Promote a collaborative and high-performance culture aligned with company values.
Client & Stakeholder Engagement:
- Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, regulatory agencies, contractors, and consultants.
- Conduct regular project updates and ensure proactive communication throughout project lifecycles.
- Cultivate long-term client relationships through attentive service, solution-oriented planning, and proactive outreach.
Financial Management & Business Operations:
- Prepare and manage project budgets, monitor expenditures, and ensure adherence to financial targets.
- Optimize allocation of team resources to meet project delivery and profitability goals.
Compliance & Regulatory Navigation:
- Ensure project compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local environmental and construction regulations.
- Obtain necessary permits and maintain working relationships with permitting and environmental authorities.
Business Development & Strategic Growth:
- Identify new project and service opportunities in the coastal waterfront sector.
- Lead proposal development efforts including technical approaches, scopes of work, and cost estimates.
- Support the development and execution of strategic plans to expand market share and service offerings.
Qualifications:
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Coastal, or Environmental Engineering (Master’s preferred).Licensure:
Active Professional Engineer (PE) license required.Experience:
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in civil engineering with a strong focus on coastal and waterfront infrastructure.
- Demonstrated success managing large, multidisciplinary teams and high-value projects.
Skills & Competencies:
- Expert knowledge in coastal engineering principles, including wave dynamics, sediment transport, and marine construction.
- Strong understanding of regulatory and permitting processes in marine and environmental projects.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to engage technical and non-technical audiences.
- Strategic thinker with proven problem-solving abilities in dynamic and complex environments.
- Exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills with a focus on team building and mentorship.
- Proficient in relevant engineering software and data analysis tools.
Benefits:
- Competitive salary
- Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and disability insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- Paid time off and professional development opportunities
- Candidates can live in: Grand Rapids, Benton Harbor, or Grand Haven, MI; they can also reside in the South Bend, IN area.
Apply for this position
Similar Jobs
Director of Business Development
Milwaukee, WI - 140000
Director of Business Development
Minneapolis, MN - 140000
Director of Sales
Metairie, LA - 75000
Director of Environmental Planning
San Diego, California - 0
Director of Industrial Engineering
Spring Grove, IL - 185000
Manager of Financial Planning and Analysis
Atlanta, GA - 140000
About Us
Quick Links
Hot Jobs
Freqently Asked Questions
In Grand Rapids, the Director of Costal and Marine Engineering position often advances by leading increasingly complex shoreline and marine infrastructure projects. Local demand emphasizes sustainable coastal solutions, demanding proficiency in environmental regulations and innovative engineering practices tailored to Michigan’s Great Lakes region.
Exceptional candidates excel in wave dynamics modeling, sediment transport analysis, and marine structural design. Mastery of regulatory permitting processes and proficiency in specialized engineering software also elevate a director’s effectiveness, enabling strategic leadership over multidisciplinary coastal projects.
Successful directors foster collaboration among civil, environmental, and marine engineers while mentoring junior staff. They balance technical authority with strategic vision, adapting to evolving climate resilience challenges and ensuring project delivery aligns with both client goals and regulatory frameworks.
Affinity Search integrates this leadership position with business development initiatives, expecting the director to identify new market opportunities and cultivate client relationships. The role merges technical project oversight with strategic outreach, driving both engineering excellence and company expansion in coastal sectors.
Affinity Search prioritizes a blend of technical mastery and client engagement, with strong emphasis on sustainability and regulatory compliance. The company culture encourages innovation in coastal restoration projects while maintaining rigorous financial and resource management standards.
The proposed salary aligns competitively with national benchmarks for senior coastal engineering roles, reflecting both the specialized expertise required and regional market conditions in Michigan. This compensation range supports attracting experienced professionals who can manage high-value waterfront infrastructure projects.
Holding an active Professional Engineer (PE) license is essential, with additional certifications in coastal or environmental engineering considered advantageous. Familiarity with state and federal permitting procedures also significantly enhances a candidate’s profile in this regional market.
Local coastal conditions, including shoreline erosion and lake level fluctuations, necessitate adaptive project management strategies. Directors must integrate resilience planning and collaborate closely with environmental agencies to navigate regulatory complexities unique to Michigan’s freshwater coastal environments.
Post-directorship opportunities often involve executive leadership in environmental consulting firms, specialization in climate resiliency projects, or transitioning into policy advisory roles. The role serves as a pivotal platform to influence large-scale coastal infrastructure planning and sustainability initiatives.
Incorporating business development tasks requires balancing technical project leadership with client acquisition and proposal development. This dual focus enhances the director’s influence on company growth, demanding strong communication skills and market insight alongside engineering expertise.
Jackson, MIPopular Searches for Marine Engineer