Drinking Water & Wastewater Market Sector Leader

HDR•Portland, OR

About The Position

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we work to weave diversity, equity, and inclusion into our work and foster a sense of belonging throughout the company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world? Watch Our Story:' https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story' We believe water is more than a resource, it's a shared responsibility. As part of our Water Business Group, you’ll help shape how communities manage water for generations to come. From delivering safe drinking water and treating wastewater responsibly to developing sustainable water supplies and protecting lives and property through flood control, your work will directly support public health, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure resilience. We bring together experts across disciplines to solve complex challenges with bold thinking and technical excellence. Whether you're modernizing aging systems or pioneering innovative approaches, your contributions will make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. This isn’t just a job, it's a chance to lead change, drive progress, and leave a lasting legacy. Employee-owned HDR has an excellent career opportunity for a Drinking Water and Wastewater Market Sector Leader who is passionate about protecting public health and understands the intersection between the drinking water, wastewater, recycled water, and stormwater markets. We are looking for someone who will collaborate with local and national leadership to set the vision and strategy to expand and provide engineering services to drinking water agencies, related clients in other sectors, and relevant research organizations. More specifically, HDR’s Portland Water/Wastewater group endeavors to be different. Our small team is composed of engineers with experience ranging from 0-25 years, including several senior staff who began their careers as interns and have been promoted into leadership positions over time. Our origins spread across the globe, including South Korea, Columbia, Ireland, and Hawaii, in addition to staff having been born and raised here in the northwest. As a team, we are invested in projects within the communities where we live, but we work throughout the nation and beyond. Joining HDR Portland is an opportunity not only to contribute to your community and an expanding department, but also to shape your own identity as a leader within our team. This leader will serve as a client manager, and will serve as either Principal in Charge, Project Manager, Technical Lead and/or Quality Manager on projects. Services may include studies, planning, design, financial analysis, O&M, and alternative delivery. They will identify and develop new project opportunities in collaboration with business development teams, serve as a pursuit champion, and act as a resource for HDR pursuits where assistance is needed relative to the drinking water market. This role will collaborate with our business class practice leaders and professional discipline groups on technical services, marketing, activities to continually improve standards and best practices, and to implement effective quality assurance and quality control reviews. As a leader and mentor to junior staff, the successful candidate will engage in and encourage technical involvement in industry organizations and functions including presentations and publications. The candidate will also participate in discussions and facilitate lessons learned for project delivery processes, trends, successes, strengths, and weaknesses. In the role of Drinking Water & Wastewater Market Sector Leader, we'll count on you to: Have a focus on client management and development, serving as a client manager and project manager for future assignments and pursuits with key clients in the area

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in an engineering, planning or a related field
A minimum of 10 years of industry experience
If an engineer, maintain engineering registration
Experienced in development and management of strategic marketing programs for planning and/or engineering services
Experienced in development and management of a wide range of client relationships and specific program and/or project pursuits
Experienced in overall staff development to include recruiting, career path and professional growth
Experienced with industry associations and maintains a visible profile in the market sector
Ability to work cooperatively with Regional Market Sector Directors, Market Sector Directors, Business Class Directors, Regional Business Group Directors, Area Business Group Managers, Area Marketing Managers and Area Managers
Demonstrated commitment to HDR values. An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must

Responsibilities

This individual will be expected to identify and develop project opportunities, serve as a pursuit champion, and act as a resource for HDR pursuits
Duties will also include planning, directing, and monitoring all aspects of large multi-discipline projects or medium-sized projects with a high degree of technical complexity
The position will be the responsible for assessing the areas marketplace and determining the best business approach to win and secure contracts
Their business development efforts will need to work cross-sector with other market sectors as well as other market sectors in other business groups
Serve as the Client Manager for selected key clients within the region, and be active and visible in the industry
Promote the marketing and delivery of all HDR services to clients while working with our client managers
Work with Business Group Managers on development and delivery of area and department market sector initiatives
Work with the client development leaders to drive client development and pursuit processes based on proven capture techniques
Support selected pursuits through client relationship development and/or through development of strategy and participation in pursuit activities
Participate in industry associations and serve as a company role-model in business and community organizations
Identify key investments (acquisitions and technology) that will maintain or drive HDR into industry leadership position
Develop relationships with industry counterparts in other consulting organizations.
Develop relationships with senior leadership in key client organizations
The position will seek opportunities to enhance our practices so that we will best perform within the marketplace to win new work and to provide opportunities for staff growth and development
They will also lead and/or assist with the identification and recruitment of prospective future market sector employees
Assume responsibility for coordination with the area and coordinate support of work-sharing among departments
Work with the business class directors and practice groups to drive technical excellence and coordinate technical staff to support the program and marketing efforts
Lead the area in identifying needs and opportunities for new and improved technical services and products so as to maximize the depth, effectiveness and efficiency of the practice
Work with the Market Sector Directors to coordinate staffing/recruiting plans for key hires and assist local leadership as necessary with local hires
Identify resource gaps and support talent management and recruiting
The position will assist the Area Business Group Managers to deliver services within the market sector
Key responsibilities consist of helping to drive client management, monitoring and taking action regarding market sector profit and loss, ensuring project delivery and supporting the QA/QC program
Facilitate cooperation and eliminate hurdles and barriers to success
Monitor market sector performance indicators NFE/NFB/profits/positive equity/AR/losses/investments
Work with area business group leadership to implement process improvements and leverage work sharing to meet or exceed planned goals
Be aware of staff workload and facilitate work sharing within the market sector; promote effective use of company resources and assist in applying key staff/expertise to projects
Assist with contract review on key projects to help ensure risk management, proper staffing, quality reviews and resolution of claims
Promote Quality Assurance/Quality Control; work with business class and area leadership to assist the local programs with key technical expertise to support marketing and project activities
Facilitate development and dissemination of "lessons learned"
Take on Project Management Assignments that make sense for this leadership role