Project Manager - Water Business
My client, a top ENR‑ranked, 100% employee‑owned environmental engineering firm, is seeking a Project Manager - Water Infrastructure to support and help grow their water practice in North Carolina. The firm is nationally recognized for its exclusive focus on water and wastewater infrastructure, delivering complex treatment, conveyance, and utility projects across the U.S.
My client provides deep technical expertise in water treatment, PFAS, asset management, and emerging digital water solutions, while maintaining a flat, highly collaborative organizational structure. This role presents a unique opportunity to join a growing market at the ground floor, with a clear path toward long‑term leadership.
The Opportunity
This position is ideal for a seasoned Project Manager (7-15 years) who is ready to step beyond pure project delivery and participate in market growth and team leadership. The individual brought into this role will be given the autonomy, national support, and long‑term runway to potentially build and lead their own group within the next five years.
My client operates under a single profit‑center model, allowing seamless collaboration and resourcing across offices nationwide, without internal competition or bureaucracy. Leadership understands that building a strong local presence takes time and focuses on long‑term client partnerships rather than chasing every project.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and manage water and wastewater infrastructure projects and programs, including treatment facilities, conveyance systems, urban pipelines, and utility‑public interfaces
- Serve as a primary point of contact for clients, representing the firm with municipalities, utilities, and regional water organizations
- Oversee all phases of project delivery, including:
- Planning and alternatives analysis
- Preliminary and final design oversight
- Budget, schedule, and risk management
- Construction phase engineering and coordination
- Support clients with Capital Improvement Program (CIP) planning, governance, and project‑level decision‑making
- Manage multidisciplinary engineering teams while drawing on national technical resources
- Prepare scopes of work, technical memorandums, reports, and opinions of probable construction cost
- Contribute to proposals and pursuit strategies aligned with the firm's long‑term growth plans in North Carolina
- Mentor and support staff development while maintaining strong client relationships
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or related field
- Minimum of 7 years of experience in water and/or wastewater infrastructure projects
- Professional Engineer (PE) license required
- Demonstrated experience across planning, design, and construction phases
- Strong background in project management, including budget, schedule, contracts, and quality control
- Comprehensive understanding of asset management tools and methodologies, including:
- Asset inventories
- Condition and risk assessments
- Operations and maintenance planning
- Capital investment planning
- Proven ability to manage clients, coordinate multidisciplinary teams, and deliver multiple concurrent projects
Why This Firm
- 100% employee‑owned; ownership eligibility after two years
- Flat organizational structure - even senior leadership remains hands‑on and project‑focused
- Single profit‑center model - access to top expertise nationwide without approval bottlenecks
- Strictly water‑focused - recognized nationally for technical leadership in water treatment and process engineering
- Regular team events and a culture that prioritizes collaboration and flexibility
- Highly flexible hybrid and remote work options
Compensation & Benefits
My client offers a competitive compensation package and a comprehensive benefits program that includes:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Paid time off and holidays
- 401(k) with company matching
- Tuition reimbursement and professional license incentives
- Discretionary and performance‑based bonuses
- Lifestyle reimbursement and caregiver support programs
- Flexible work arrangements
FAQs
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