Collaborative Delivery Project Manager - Water/Wastewater

Kennedy/Jenks Consultants, Inc.•Irvine, CA

36d•$127,000 - $212,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Kennedy Jenks is seeking a Collaborative Delivery Project Manager to join its California team and lead complex, multidisciplinary projects across its water, environmental, and industrial practices. The role is accountable for delivery outcomes and guides teams through technical, regulatory, and organizational complexity, translating client goals into delivery strategies and ensuring projects are effectively executed from start to finish. The position combines project leadership, client engagement, and delivery strategy. It owns project scope, schedule, budget, quality, safety, and risk across all phases; coordinates integrated teams across disciplines, locations, and partner organizations; and serves as a primary client and stakeholder contact. The Project Manager monitors project performance, supports proposals and feasibility studies, anticipates and manages risks, mentors staff, and contributes to continuous improvement in delivery practices. The position uses a hybrid home-and-office work model, with a minimum of two days per week in the office. The expected salary range is $127,000 to $212,000, varying based on education, experience, qualifications, licensure or certifications, and geographic location.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field.
At least 10 years of progressive experience delivering technically complex projects.
Experience leading complex, multidisciplinary infrastructure, environmental, industrial, or treatment system projects.
Ability to translate client goals into delivery strategies and align teams to execute.
Experience managing scope, schedule, budget, quality, and risk across project lifecycles.
Knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, resource planning, and change management processes.
Experience working in regulatory or compliance-driven environments.
Proactive, solutions-oriented mindset and strong judgment.
Strong communication skills and ability to build trust with clients, partners, and internal teams.
Strong working knowledge of project management principles, project controls, and delivery frameworks.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a related technical field.
Professional Engineer (PE) license in California, or ability to obtain one.

Responsibilities

Own scope, schedule, budget, quality, safety, and risk across complex projects through all phases of delivery.
Translate client objectives into clear, actionable delivery plans and align multidisciplinary teams to execute them.
Lead integrated teams across disciplines, locations, and partner organizations, ensuring work is aligned, sequenced, and progressing.
Serve as a primary point of contact for clients and stakeholders; lead meetings, facilitate discussions, and build trust through clear communication and sound judgment.
Monitor budgets, schedules, forecasts, and change management to support consistent performance and informed decisions.
Anticipate challenges, evaluate options, and guide teams toward practical solutions aligned with client and firm objectives.
Support proposals, feasibility studies, and delivery planning with an execution-focused perspective.
Mentor project staff, provide clear direction, and improve delivery practices through lessons learned and continuous improvement.