Executive Advisor Water & Utilities

GHD Group Pty Ltd•Irvine, CA

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Executive Advisor – Water and Utilities will strengthen GHD Advisory’s market presence and deliver strategic insights to clients. Based in the Irvine, California office, the role advises on water and utilities infrastructure investment decisions, strategy, and complex commercial and strategic challenges. This highly client- and market-facing position provides board-level advisory services and works with senior executives and client leadership teams to shape strategic direction and support client growth and delivery outcomes. The Executive Advisor leads the development of a weighted pipeline for Business Advisory-led targets in Water and Utilities and is accountable for originating, winning, and delivering work. The role leads complex advisory engagements across the Americas and combines business development, client leadership, and hands-on delivery, with a focus on growth and commercial outcomes. The role follows a hybrid work model, with three days a week in the office.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a similar field.
15 or more 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, with the ability to influence at the highest levels.

Nice To Haves

MBA.

Responsibilities

Make authoritative technical or professional recommendations based on data collection and analysis, with significant short- and long-term business impact.
Facilitate complex process-development workshops with subject-matter experts, build agreement on process flows across functional areas, and document processes and workflows.
Develop interview frameworks and protocols, conduct strategic interviews with senior managers, and clarify complex client issues.
Analyze strategic and operational information gathered through interviews and research to diagnose underlying business-unit or functional issues and inform multiple solutions.
Lead a strategically significant consulting community of practice, providing thought leadership and developing innovative consulting practices.
Develop innovative approaches and prepare high-visibility presentation materials and bespoke client reports.
Deliver training, facilitate C-suite workshops, advise clients, and provide reports addressing complex issues; manage the quality of team deliverables and client satisfaction.
Design 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; maintain accreditations and knowledge of emerging technologies, regulations, and industry practices through continuing professional development.
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 and ensure alignment with organizational objectives.
Manage strategic external client and customer relationships, using large 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.