Assistant Water/Wastewater Department Manager
About The Position
Michael Baker International is seeking an Assistant Water and Wastewater Department Manager for its Inland Empire offices in California. The role is part of the National Water Practice, which provides local government water and wastewater engineering services, including planning, management, design, and construction support for potable, recycled, and wastewater conveyance, distribution, storage, and treatment. It is a hybrid position combining remote flexibility with in-office collaboration and localized corporate support. The successful candidate will lead business development, primarily in Eastern LA County and the Inland Empire, and support growth across Southern California. The position offers the opportunity to manage a diverse, civil-focused municipal project portfolio and contribute to the growth of the department. The manager will work with multidisciplinary teams serving public- and private-sector clients and oversee business development, client relationships, operational and financial performance, staff development, and coordination across offices. The position requires 10 to 15 years of progressive civil engineering experience focused on water, wastewater, or municipal utility infrastructure; a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related field; and a valid California Professional Engineer (P.E.) registration. Travel within California may be required as needed to support client operations. The stated base salary range is $125,556–$196,083 per year; actual compensation depends on factors including education, qualifications, experience, skillset, and work location.
Requirements
- 10 to 15 years of progressive civil engineering experience focused on water, wastewater, or municipal utility infrastructure projects.
- Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related field.
- Valid Professional Engineer (P.E.) registration in the State of California.
- Willingness and ability to travel within California as needed to support client operations.
Responsibilities
- Identify regional market opportunities and build new client relationships.
- Lead capture planning and develop technical approaches, project scopes, and fee estimates.
- Direct technical proposal efforts.
- Maintain direct communication with existing clients to review contract performance and secure upcoming project pipelines.
- Monitor office performance objectives, optimize workshare distribution, and manage department profit and loss metrics.
- Mentor engineering personnel, assess staff workloads, coordinate resource planning, and facilitate career development.
- Collaborate with other regional water practices to implement engineering best practices and coordinate inter-office workshare.
- Conduct routine department meetings to evaluate resource allocation and project performance.
- Accompany project staff to client meetings, technical workshops, and public presentations.
- Represent the firm at local and regional industry events and professional organizations.
- Enforce corporate quality control programs to ensure accurate and compliant engineering deliverables.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
- Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
- Wellness program benefits.
- 401(k) retirement plan.
- Life, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance.
- Generous paid time off (PTO) allocation.
- Hybrid remote work flexibility.
- Dedicated pathways for professional and personal development.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
