Director - Water/Wastewater

RK&K•Raleigh, NC

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

RK&K is seeking a Regional Water/Wastewater Leader to guide and grow its established practice across Virginia and North Carolina. This role leads an existing team of experienced professionals supporting a strong backlog of active and upcoming projects, along with established client relationships and ongoing work. The selected leader will focus on strengthening regional coordination, supporting successful project delivery, and expanding RK&K’s market presence across both states. This is a seller-doer leadership role, ideal for a senior professional with strong technical expertise, proven success in municipal and utility client relationships, and a track record of winning and delivering water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related field.
Professional Engineer license; licensure in Virginia and/or North Carolina preferred.
20+ years of progressive experience in water and wastewater consulting, design, project delivery, and client service.
Demonstrated success developing business with municipal, county, utility authority, or public-sector clients.
Strong understanding of water and wastewater infrastructure markets in Virginia and/or North Carolina.
Proven ability to lead teams, win work, support proposals, and maintain long-term client relationships.
Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and complex infrastructure projects.
Strong communication, leadership, organizational, and presentation skills.
Ability to travel within Virginia and North Carolina for client meetings, project needs, staff coordination, and business development.

Nice To Haves

Established relationships with municipal utilities, public works departments, water/sewer authorities, or state/local agencies in Virginia and North Carolina.
Experience leading or growing a regional water/wastewater practice.
Experience taking leadership of an existing team and helping organize staff around backlog, growth, and client priorities.
Experience with water distribution systems, wastewater collection systems, pump stations, force mains, treatment facilities, utility master planning, asset management, and rehabilitation programs.
Familiarity with regulatory, funding, and permitting considerations affecting water/wastewater projects in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.
Experience leading on-call contracts, IDIQ contracts, utility capital improvement programs, and large multidisciplinary assignments.
Prior responsibility for regional growth, revenue generation, team leadership, project delivery, or profit/loss performance.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership for RK&K’s established water/wastewater team in Virginia and North Carolina. Guide staff in delivering current backlog while shaping a regional business plan focused on sustainable growth, client service, and quality. Partner with firm leadership to align resources, staffing, and pursuit strategies, serving as a visible leader internally and externally.
Strengthen and expand relationships with municipal utilities and other water/wastewater clients. Identify and pursue strategic opportunities, lead client engagement and capture efforts, and support proposals, interviews, and pursuit strategies. Build on existing backlog to secure repeat and new work.
Provide senior oversight for planning, design, and construction-phase services for water/wastewater infrastructure. Support project managers with scope, budget, schedule, and quality control while reviewing key deliverables. Ensure successful, profitable delivery of projects and resolution of technical and delivery challenges.
Lead and mentor an established regional team, supporting recruitment, development, and collaboration across offices. Foster a culture of accountability, technical excellence, and client service while strengthening career growth for staff at all levels.
Support regional goals for revenue, backlog, profitability, and utilization. Assist with forecasting, staffing, and resource planning while monitoring project performance and ensuring delivery aligns with budget, schedule, and quality expectations.