Senior Practice Lead
Overview
Our client is looking for a highly accomplished Senior Practice Lead - Water Resources to establish and grow their water resources practice in Austin as part of a leading multinational civil engineering firm. This is a strategic leadership role responsible for driving technical excellence, business growth, and team development across a diverse portfolio of water resources projects.
The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise with strong commercial acumen and a proven track record in building client relationships, leading high-performing teams, and delivering complex projects.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and grow the regional water resources practice, setting strategic direction and overseeing project delivery
- Act as a senior technical authority on complex hydrologic and hydraulic analyses, flood risk, and drainage infrastructure projects
- Develop and maintain strong client relationships with municipalities, agencies, and private sector clients across Texas
- Drive business development, including leading proposals, pursuits, and expanding market presence
- Oversee and provide guidance on technical work, including watershed studies, floodplain modeling, and infrastructure design
- Ensure consistent delivery of high-quality, compliant, and innovative solutions aligned with local, state, and federal standards
- Build, mentor, and manage a team of engineers and modelers, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture
- Collaborate with national and international teams on major infrastructure and resilience projects
- Identify and implement innovative tools, digital solutions, and best practices across the practice
- Manage project financials, resource planning, and operational performance
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or related discipline (Master's preferred)
- 12-20+ years of experience in water resources engineering with a strong mix of technical and leadership experience
- Demonstrated success in practice building, team leadership, and business development
- Deep expertise in hydrologic and hydraulic modeling and design
- Strong knowledge of Texas regulatory frameworks (e.g., City of Austin, FEMA, TxDOT, regional authorities)
- Professional Engineer (PE) license required (Texas preferred or ability to obtain)
- Proven ability to manage large, complex projects and multidisciplinary teams
- Excellent leadership, communication, and client engagement skills
Preferred Skills
- Experience leading large-scale flood risk and resilience programs
- Knowledge of FEMA processes, including CLOMR/LOMR
- Familiarity with advanced modeling tools such as HEC-RAS 2D, InfoWorks, and similar platforms
- Experience integrating GIS, data analytics, and digital engineering tools
- Background in sustainable or nature-based solutions
Why Join
- Opportunity to shape and lead a growing regional practice within a global engineering firm
- Influence strategic direction and drive expansion in a key market
- Work on high-profile, impactful water resources and resilience projects
- Competitive executive-level compensation and leadership growth opportunities
FAQs
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