Senior Project Technical Lead

Stantec•Virginia Beach, VA

About The Position

Stantec is seeking a Water/Wastewater Senior Project Technical Lead/Engineer with strong leadership experience in wastewater planning and distribution and collection systems. The role works on water and wastewater projects in collaboration with a broad range of technical disciplines, applying integrated planning, hydraulic modeling, and infrastructure design to address wet-weather challenges, manage flood risk, protect water quality, improve collection system performance, prioritize investment, and develop resilient, sustainable systems. The position manages multidisciplinary projects and provides technical leadership for municipal wastewater and storm sewer planning, analysis, permitting, design, and implementation. Work includes collection system analyses and planning or design reports, as well as project management for planning and hydraulic modeling projects. The role also supports business development, client relationships, project forecasting, proposal development, and winning water and wastewater projects. It supervises and mentors local staff and collaborates with geographically distributed teams to deliver quality projects on schedule and within budget. Travel to other offices and project sites may be required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.
Minimum of 15 years of related experience in project management, preferably on water/wastewater projects.
Professional Engineer (PE) license, or ability to obtain licensure within 6 months.
Demonstrated leadership experience, including setting direction for a team, project, and office; strategy development; change management; and corporate stewardship.
Strong technical leadership skills, including establishing design criteria, guiding multidisciplinary teams, and resolving complex water/wastewater engineering challenges.
Ability to apply sound engineering judgment, lead technical reviews, and communicate design alternatives and trade-offs to support client decisions.
Strong client management skills, including building trusted relationships, understanding priorities, and aligning delivery with operational, regulatory, and capital investment objectives.
Ability to serve as primary client contact, manage expectations and scope changes, resolve project issues proactively, and identify opportunities for continued collaboration.
Ability to perform mass and energy balance and process equipment sizing calculations and coordinate with stress/structural, instrumentation and controls, and electrical disciplines.
Understanding of local and regional jurisdictional codes, legal requirements, and design requirements in relevant jurisdictions.
Travel to other offices and project sites may be required.

Nice To Haves

Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Responsibilities

Manage projects of varying complexity within multidisciplinary teams and make decisions on large projects.
Coordinate regulatory review and seek final approval; research regulatory and other drivers affecting current and future projects.
Assist business leaders with project revenue forecasting and oversee scope development and level-of-effort estimates.
Take a leadership role in identifying, pursuing, and winning water and wastewater projects.
Supervise local staff, mentor and coach future leaders, and develop succession plans for key projects.
Perform, direct, and review engineering work for municipal wastewater and storm sewer system planning, analysis, permitting, design, and implementation.
Conduct collection system analyses and prepare planning or design reports.
Support business development and client relationship building, including proposal development, client meetings, site walk-downs, and presentations.
Develop scopes of work, estimates, and conceptual plans for municipal civil and utility projects.
Organize, document, communicate, and present technical analyses, findings, and recommendations verbally and in writing.
Interact with clients and stakeholders in meetings, workshops, and professional conferences to promote Stantec and identify business opportunities.
Lead or participate in project teams to deliver quality work on schedule and within budget, including work with geographically distributed teams.
Coordinate with leadership and technical staff on project staffing, technical reviews, and project management.
Perform technical project management activities related to contract negotiation and project planning and execution, including planning and hydraulic modeling projects.
Identify and lead or support research and development aligned with Stantec’s business needs and industry technological advancements.
Establish design criteria, guide multidisciplinary teams, lead technical reviews, and resolve complex engineering challenges.
Manage client expectations and scope changes, proactively resolve project issues, and identify opportunities for continued collaboration.
Engage employees in discussions about job satisfaction and engagement and provide ongoing recognition and feedback.