National Leader - Water Utility Infrastructure

Build and Lead a Water Utility Infrastructure Practice
Location: Onsite | Any of the following Design Center Locations*

• IN (Indianapolis, Evansville, South Bend, Fort Wayne, Jeffersonville, Merrillville), FL (Tampa, Orlando), IL (Chicago/Lisle), OH (Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Akron), PN (Pittsburgh), TN (Nashville), TX (Austin, Round Rock, Dallas/Irving)

We’re partnering with a highly respected engineering firm to identify a national practice leader who’s ready to build, lead, and grow a water utility infrastructure office in United States and Internationally. This is a rare opportunity to step into a true ownership-minded role—shaping strategy, developing talent, and expanding a high-impact practice.

As the national leader, you’ll oversee operations, mentor and grow a multidisciplinary team, serve as a technical authority, and act as a trusted advisor to clients. If you’re energized by building teams, elevating people, and delivering complex infrastructure projects, this role offers both influence and long-term growth.

WHAT YOU’LL OWN

PRACTICE & NATIONAL TEAM LEADERSHIP

• Lead day-to-day operations for water utility infrastructure practice
• Oversee workflow, staffing plans, utilization, and profitability
• Prepare monthly staffing and financial forecasts with a forward-looking outlook
• Maintain visibility into project performance, billings, and margins
• Partner with senior leadership to align resources and drive growth
• Identify hiring needs and play a key role in recruiting top engineering talent
• Foster a high-performance, collaborative, and engaged team culture
• Lead performance reviews and support employee development and retention

STAFF DEVELOPMENT & MENTORSHIP

• Actively mentor Team Leaders, Engineers and Project Managers at all career stages
• Build technical depth and leadership capability across the team
• Develop Project Managers into well-rounded leaders of scope, schedule, budget, and client relationships
• Coach PMs on proposals, fee development, billing, and financial performance
• Create and track individualized development plans and progression timelines

TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP

• Provide technical leadership across drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater projects
• Lead and oversee studies, designs, and complex utility infrastructure solutions
• Anticipate and resolve technical challenges to keep projects moving efficiently
• Serve as a go-to technical resource for both staff and clients

PROJECT & FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

• Lead proposal development, fee negotiations, and contract execution
• Monitor project financial performance and guide PMs toward consistent delivery
• Ensure schedules, budgets, and quality standards are met across all projects
• Contribute to overall group and cross-discipline profitability

QUALITY & CLIENT ENGAGEMENT

• Ensure rigorous technical review and quality control at all project stages
• Leverage firmwide expertise to deliver best-in-class solutions
• Build long-term, trusted relationships with municipal and utility clients
• Identify expansion opportunities with existing clients and support new pursuits
• Partner with business development and sales teams to grow the practice

WHAT OUR CLIENT IS LOOKING FOR

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering
• REQUIRED: Professional Engineer (PE) license in one of the United States

EXPERIENCE

• 20+ years of utility infrastructure engineering experience
• Strong background in water and wastewater treatment facilities, distribution and collection systems, and lift stations
• Proven history of high client satisfaction and repeat work across the USA and internationally

LEADERSHIP & BUSINESS ACUMEN

• Confident, positive communicator at all organizational levels
• Demonstrated success leading, mentoring, and developing teams
• Experience supporting proposals, presentations, and winning new work
• Ability to contribute to business planning, growth strategy, and practice expansion

TECHNICAL & MARKET PRESENCE

• Strong track record of profitable project delivery
• Established relationships with local municipalities and utility clients

WHY THIS OPPORTUNITY STANDS OUT

• Build and shape the practice's future
• Visible leadership role with real influence and autonomy
• Strong, people-first culture with excellent benefits
• Long-term growth potential within a respected engineering firm