Executive Advisor Water & Utilities

GHD•Irvine, CA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

GHD is seeking an Executive Advisor – Water and Utilities, based in its Irvine, California office, to strengthen GHD Advisory’s market presence and provide strategic insights to clients. The role advises clients on water and utilities infrastructure investment decisions, strategy, and complex commercial and strategic challenges. It works closely with clients, senior executives, and leadership teams to provide board-level advisory services and shape strategic direction while supporting client growth and delivery outcomes. This is a highly client- and market-facing seller–doer role. The Executive Advisor is accountable for originating, winning, and delivering work; developing a weighted pipeline for Business Advisory-led targets in Water and Utilities; and leading complex advisory engagements across the Americas and GHD’s priority markets. The role combines business development, client leadership, and hands-on delivery, with an emphasis on growth and commercial outcomes. The position follows a hybrid work model, with three days per week in the office. Responsibilities include making authoritative recommendations; facilitating process development workshops; interviewing senior managers and diagnosing complex business issues; leading a consulting community of practice; developing client-facing materials; delivering and managing advisory engagements; designing transformational programs; maintaining subject-matter expertise; managing projects; advising on corporate decision-making; and managing strategic client relationships.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a similar field of study.
15+ years of experience in the water and utilities sector, infrastructure, strategy consulting, or commercial advisory.
Experience advising executive leadership and boards on strategic decisions.
Strong understanding of water and utilities markets, including regulatory frameworks, asset management, capital investment planning, and funding and investment drivers.
Exceptional analytical, stakeholder engagement, and communication skills, including the ability to influence at the highest levels.

Nice To Haves

MBA.
Experience in water, wastewater, or stormwater.

Responsibilities

Make authoritative technical or professional recommendations with significant short- and long-term business impact.
Facilitate complex process development workshops with subject-matter experts, build agreement on process flows, and document process maps and activity workflows.
Develop interview frameworks and protocols, conduct strategic interviews with senior managers, and clarify complex client issues.
Analyze information gathered through interviews and research to diagnose underlying business-unit or functional issues and inform potential solutions.
Lead a community of practice in a strategically significant consulting area, providing thought leadership and developing innovative consulting practices.
Develop innovative approaches and high-visibility client materials, including presentation decks and bespoke reports.
Deliver bespoke training, facilitate C-suite workshops, advise clients, and prepare reports addressing complex client issues.
Manage the quality of team delivery to maximize client satisfaction.
Design high-impact transformational project and program architectures and develop solutions that meet client requirements and address senior-management issues.
Act as a subject-matter expert in technology, policy, regulation, or operational management, maintaining relevant expertise through professional development and industry engagement.
Manage delivery of a major part of the organization's project management program and take personal responsibility for a small number of business-critical projects.
Manage corporate decision-making for business advisory within a function, ensuring alignment with broader organizational objectives.
Manage strategic external client and customer relationships, using account teams as needed to maintain satisfaction and loyalty.
Originate, win, and deliver advisory work; develop a weighted pipeline for Business Advisory-led Water and Utilities targets; and lead complex engagements across the Americas.
Advise executive leadership and boards on strategic decisions concerning water and utilities.