Water/Wastewater Director of Engineering


Virginia Beach
Permanent
$160,000 - $240,000 USD a year
Civil
PR/601210_1784110455
Water/Wastewater Director of Engineering

Location: Virginia Beach, VA or Newport News, VA

Join a nationally recognised engineering consulting firm with a strong presence across the Mid-Atlantic. This is an opportunity to lead an established and growing Water/Wastewater practice serving municipal utilities and public-sector clients throughout Hampton Roads, Virginia, and the surrounding region. The successful candidate will play a key role in strategic growth, client development, project delivery, and team leadership while helping shape the future of critical water infrastructure projects.

About the Role

We are seeking a Director of Engineering to provide leadership for a growing team of engineers, project managers, and technical professionals delivering water and wastewater infrastructure solutions. This is a senior leadership position for an experienced seller-doer who can drive business growth, mentor technical staff, strengthen client relationships, and oversee successful project execution.

The role will support a diverse portfolio of municipal infrastructure projects including water treatment, wastewater treatment, pump stations, conveyance systems, water distribution, sewer collection systems, utility rehabilitation, and construction-phase services.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead and manage regional Water/Wastewater engineering teams across project planning, design, and construction services.
  • Develop and execute strategic growth plans focused on expanding market presence and strengthening client relationships with municipal utilities and public agencies.
  • Serve as a senior technical advisor and quality reviewer for complex water and wastewater infrastructure projects.
  • Oversee project delivery performance including scope, schedule, budget, quality, and risk management.
  • Lead business development efforts, capture planning, proposals, interviews, and strategic client engagement initiatives.
  • Build and maintain relationships with municipal utility leaders, local governments, regulatory agencies, and industry stakeholders.
  • Mentor and develop project managers, engineers, and technical staff while supporting recruitment and succession planning efforts.
  • Coordinate multidisciplinary teams including civil, environmental, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and construction professionals.
  • Support forecasting, resource planning, backlog management, and operational performance objectives.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related discipline.
  • Professional Engineer (PE) licence required.
  • 15+ years of progressive experience within the municipal water and wastewater consulting industry.
  • Demonstrated success managing major infrastructure projects including treatment facilities, conveyance systems, pumping stations, utility rehabilitation, and distribution networks.
  • Proven experience leading engineering teams and managing multiple concurrent projects.
  • Strong client-development and business-development skills with established municipal utility relationships preferred.
  • Strong understanding of planning, design, permitting, construction administration, and delivery of water and wastewater infrastructure projects.
  • Excellent communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills.
  • Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and mentoring technical professionals.

Why Join?

  • Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
  • Hybrid work flexibility.
  • Industry-leading career advancement opportunities.
  • Established backlog of water and wastewater projects with strong municipal clients.
  • Collaborative and highly experienced technical teams.
  • Comprehensive health, dental and vision coverage.
  • Generous paid time off and paid holidays.
  • 401(k) with company contribution.
  • Tuition reimbursement and professional development support.
  • Paid parental leave.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a senior water/wastewater leader seeking to shape the direction of a growing regional practice while delivering meaningful infrastructure projects that improve communities across Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic.

FAQs

Congratulations, we understand that taking the time to apply is a big step. When you apply, your details go directly to the consultant who is sourcing talent. Due to demand, we may not get back to all applicants that have applied. However, we always keep your resume and details on file so when we see similar roles or see skillsets that drive growth in organizations, we will always reach out to discuss opportunities.

Yes. Even if this role isn’t a perfect match, applying allows us to understand your expertise and ambitions, ensuring you're on our radar for the right opportunity when it arises.

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That's why we recommend registering your resume so you can be considered for roles that have yet to be created. 

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