ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Principal Director Jobs in Silver Spring, MD (NOW HIRING)

Venturegloballng

Principal, AI Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

Principal, AI Engineer Located: Arlington Summary The Principal AI Engineer is the senior-most ... This role partners closely with the Director of AI Engineering on strategy, with Data Engineering ...

ResolveSoft Inc

Be Seen First

Principal Investigator / Project Manager

Washington, DC · Remote

$130K - $150K/yr

Direct a multi-disciplinary team spanning data science, cloud engineering, clinical subject matter expertise, and technical writing. Establish and run project governance including kick-off meetings ...

New

Baltimore City Public Schools

Principal

Baltimore, MD · On-site

$131K - $182K/yr

... Directors. The Principal represents the district as the instructional leader in the community and strives to create a culture of rigorous learning with increased outcomes for all students, rooted in ...

previous page

Showing results 41-60

All JobsPrincipal JobsPrincipal Director JobsPrincipal Director Jobs in Silver Spring, MD

Principal Director information

See Silver Spring, MD salary details

$37.7K

$113.1K

$188.1K

How much do principal director jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal director in Silver Spring, MD is $113,088.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $87,900.00 and $129,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a principal director?

A Principal Director is a senior-level executive responsible for overseeing major divisions or functions within an organization. They play a key role in shaping strategy, leading large teams, and ensuring that organizational goals are met efficiently and effectively. Principal Directors often report directly to top executives such as the CEO or board of directors, and their duties can include strategic planning, resource management, and cross-departmental coordination. This role typically requires extensive experience in leadership and a deep understanding of the industry in which they work.

How does a principal director typically collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive organizational strategy?

A Principal Director often plays a central role in aligning cross-functional teams—such as product, engineering, finance, and marketing—to achieve the organization's strategic objectives. This collaboration involves facilitating communication, setting clear priorities, and ensuring that all departments are working toward shared goals. Principal Directors are frequently responsible for breaking down complex challenges, mediating between stakeholders, and monitoring progress to keep initiatives on track. This role requires strong leadership and negotiation skills to manage diverse viewpoints and foster a culture of teamwork.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a principal director, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Principal Director, you need extensive leadership experience, strategic planning abilities, and a relevant advanced degree or equivalent professional experience. Familiarity with project management software, budgeting tools, and data analysis systems is typically required, along with industry-specific certifications when applicable. Exceptional communication, decision-making, and stakeholder management skills set standout candidates apart. These competencies ensure the effective alignment of organizational goals, resource optimization, and successful team leadership at the executive level.

What is the difference between Principal Director vs Project Director?

AspectPrincipal DirectorProject Director
Required credentialsAdvanced degrees, extensive industry experience, leadership certificationsRelevant project management certifications (PMP), experience in managing large projects
Work environmentExecutive-level settings, strategic planning, cross-departmental oversightProject sites, office environments, team management
Employer and industry usageCorporations, government agencies, large organizationsConstruction, engineering, IT, consulting firms
Common search and comparison intentUnderstanding leadership roles at an executive levelManaging specific projects and teams

While both roles involve leadership and management, a Principal Director typically oversees multiple departments or strategic initiatives at an executive level, whereas a Project Director focuses on the successful delivery of individual projects. The Principal Director's role is broader and more strategic, often requiring advanced credentials and extensive experience, while the Project Director concentrates on project execution, team coordination, and meeting project goals.

What are the most commonly searched types of Principal jobs in Silver Spring, MD?

The most popular types of Principal jobs in Silver Spring, MD are:

What cities near Silver Spring, MD are hiring for Principal Director jobs?

Cities near Silver Spring, MD with the most Principal Director job openings:

Principal Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Director job openings in Silver Spring, MD as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $113,088 per year, or $54.4 per hour.

Principal, Co-Office Leader

Korn Ferry Executive Search

Alexandria, VA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 27 days ago

Job description

The Company
About Vanderweil Engineers
Vanderweil specializes in MEP/FP engineering, technology design, sustainability consulting,
commissioning, and power engineering. The organization serves their clients from multiple offices across
the U.S. Their 500 professionals are committed to enhancing the wellbeing of our planet and its occupants.
Vanderweil's character and culture stem from their long history in the field-over 75 years and thousands of
projects. An important aspect of the company history is their immense storehouse of intellectual capital and
staff expertise - which benefit their projects.
Vanderweil is a good place to work: their staff longevity has increased step by step with their experience. A
third of their employees have over 10 years of seniority with the organization, and almost half of those have
over 20 years.
Vanderweil provides an outstanding learning environment and a career development pipeline that leverages
staff longevity and expertise. This pipeline ensures a continuum of knowledge transfer from mentor to
mentee, from team to team, and from generation to generation.
The organization's project teams include senior engineers, younger PEs, and engineers still in
development. Clients can be assured of capitalizing on their top-level expertise combined with their
production horsepower.
After 75 years, Vanderweil remains an independent firm. Any staff member, client, or industry vendor can
walk into the CEO's office and be assured of a definitive response and feedback.
Vanderweil's aim is to be here for the long term. The organization has every incentive to maintain an
exceptional company and to provide their clients with a top-quality relationship, work product, and endresult.

Vanderweil Engineers Services
MEP/FP Engineering
Vanderweil delivers integrated MEP/FP solutions that focus on innovate, sustainable approaches to building
infrastructure systems.
Power Engineering
Vanderweil excels in large-scale utility and energy systems with a skilled team addressing complex public
and private projects.
Sustainable Design/Energy
Vanderweil is committed to innovative solutions that reduce energy, minimize carbon, conserve water, and
enhance comfort and health.
Technology Design
Leading-edge expertise is at the core of Vanderweil's technology, audio-visual, and electronic security
system designs.
Commissioning
Vanderweil's commissioning professionals ensure buildings and campuses of every scale operate to design
intent and performance requirements.

The Opportunity
Vanderweil is looking for a skilled, resourceful, and collaborative Principal, Co-Office Leader with strong business ties to join their team in Alexandria, Virginia. Reporting to the President, the Principal, Co-Office Leader will work closely with a team of engineers on challenging and exciting projects related to MEP services. The Principal, Co-Office Leader will be responsible for developing and securing project work to grow the firm's local presence in the region and for recruiting a team of engineers to support the project work. This leadership position is expected to contribute to the growth of the firm and could lead to firm equity.
.
Key Responsibilities
Confidently lead, inspire, develop, strengthen and expand Vanderweil's Alexandria, Virginia office.
Represent Vanderweil on relevant projects with the support of the project execution team.
Oversee project delivery, ensuring schedules, costs, quality, and profitability are met.
Champion Vanderweil's strategic plan, lead change and expand Vanderweil's expertise to drive growth within the office and across the organization.
Manage and enhance existing client and partner relationships while identifying and developing relationships with new clients, agencies, contractors, and suppliers.
Balance solid project management disciplines with strong technical and quality control oversight to ensure projects are completed competently on schedule, within budget, to utilization target, and at a standard that meets client expectations.
Interpret and analyze field and laboratory data.
Build diverse, inclusive and capable teams within a high-performance culture.
Create an environment of talent growth, empowerment, and inclusion where talent is developed and led through effective performance management and talent evaluation systems.
Ensure all people management processes are adhered to including the performance management process and the talent and succession process.
Conduct periodic project reviews and goal setting reviews with Project Managers and any other direct reports.
Invest in the growth and development of direct reports and other identified talent across Vanderweil.
Develop the strategy and lead business development initiatives for the Alexandria office.
Identify project opportunities in existing and new project areas, develop proposals and project budgets, prepare workplans and secure new business.
Collaborate with firm Principals and upper management to coordinate business development and resource management.
Develop and execute quarterly business plans, set goals and targets for the office to expand both technical services provided and market areas.
Manage and enhance existing client relationships while proactively engaging with and building new relationships with prospective clients, agencies, contractors and suppliers.
Proactively enhance technical capabilities and talent within the office.
Monitor and ensure thorough implementation of QA & QC policy on all projects including designs, drawings, specifications, construction cost estimates, reports, applications for approval and permits and other deliverables in accordance with QA/QC policy.

The Candidate
Experience and Professional Qualifications
Successful candidate will be proven and well-rounded leader, with deep experience managing MEP projects from ground zero to execution. They will have a demonstrated track record of delivering complex projects on budget and on schedule. The Principal, Co-Office Leader will be a progressive, collaborative, energetic, and entrepreneurial-minded professional engineer with at least 15 years of MEP consulting engineering experience. In addition:
A minimum of fifteen (15) years in the consulting engineering industry, with demonstrated experience in a leadership capacity.
The successful candidate should have a strong reputation and network within the MEP space across the country, with strong relationships across the Alexandria, Virginia market.
MEP experience across the governmental, commercial, or science and technology sectors is a plus.
Stellar reputation in the industry with the highest level of integrity.
Exceptional commercial acumen, meeting with potential customers and clients and building strong industry-wide relationship with key leaders.
Leading success in producing sustainable improvement in business processes.
Is business savvy; demonstrated financial acumen, accomplished at identifying, capturing and executing on projects, effective negotiator and accomplished at mitigating financial, legal and other business risks through contracts.
Leading business transformation and change with the ability to identify business opportunities and issues. Be a prudent change agent, able to integrate into a new organization effectively.
Be an extremely strong team builder throughout all areas of the organization; be decisive and biased for action.
Strong people leader with an ability to manage and motivate cross-functional, diverse teams. Possess a charismatic leadership style coupled with a strong team orientation
Strong organizational, communication, and analytical skills.
A solid understanding of current trends and technology for MEP services is required.

Education and Credentials
A four-year degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering or a related technical discipline is required.
Professional Engineer (PE) License preferred

******

Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis. Artificial Intelligence tools may be used in connection with the recruitment process for this position.

Employment Type: OTHER

Apply