Senior Water / Wastewater Planning Project Manager

HDR•Salem, NC

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

HDR is seeking qualified applicants for a Senior Water / Wastewater Planning Project Manager for utility infrastructure planning projects in the North Carolina Area. This position may be based in our Charlotte, Raleigh, or Winston-Salem office. Desired areas of expertise include asset management, water and sewer system master planning, river basin water supply planning, GIS analyses, risk assessments, and alternative analyses. The position involves all aspects of project management for small- to large-sized planning projects in support of water and wastewater system facility improvements.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in related field
10 years related experience
A minimum of 5 years of project management experience
Familiar with Microsoft Office, estimating and scheduling software, project management software
Must have the ability to interact with various design teams, have excellent organizational, project management and communication (both written and verbal) skills
An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering or related field
Experience with water/wastewater planning projects preferred
Ability to perform out-of-office travel with occasional evening and overnight assignments, local candidates are preferred
Proven ability to write technical information using appropriate grammar, punctuation and spelling for concise, reader-friendly clarity.
Maintaining professional competency may require attending education classes and seminars, reading professional publications, and attending professional society meetings
5 years of experience in project management, planning, engineering, and/or construction on capital improvement projects with a track record of successful delivery of projects on time and within budget
Excellent writing and communication skills are essential
Experience with GIS
Candidates should be proficient in using project control systems, problem solving, management, and client relations
Strong written and interpersonal communication skills, including team leadership, presentations, proposals, and management of client interactions
Strong organizational skills, ability to prioritize assignments, and build strong client relationships
Working knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
Must effectively communicate with all project team members

Responsibilities

Serve as the project manager for planning projects, maintaining task/project budgets and schedules, and mentoring junior-level staff.
Establish strong, productive, collaborative relationships.
Work closely with client development leads, other project managers, other internal staff and client staff to define scopes of work, resource requirements, budgets, schedules and deliverables.
Develop and maintain a backlog of planning project work.
Prepare and periodically review/update project execution plans.
Communicate progress effectively with team members and senior management.
Provide effective leadership of the project team.
Supervise project engineers/scientists and subcontractors in the successful delivery of technical projects.
Manage financial aspects of project contracts to protect HDR’s interests and simultaneously maintain good relationships with the client.
Ensure that all project work is completed on time and within budget, with a focus on meeting contract scope and terms and conditions.
Monitor significant deviations/inconsistencies and project progress and take corrective action when required.
Lead planning efforts and coordinate with other project managers, client staff, and stakeholders, including written reports, meetings, and presentations.
Communicate efforts with client counterparts and ensure an ongoing positive relationship.
Represent HDR in project meetings.
Participate in or lead proposal preparation, presentations, contract negotiations, amendments, change notices, and contract claims.
Understand and possess the ability to communicate technical concepts to other staff and the client.
Develop relationships with HDR clients to identify and develop new planning project opportunities.
Identify, develop, and lead the pursuit of new planning work.
Lead proposal and interview efforts to win new work.
Participate in regional and national conferences to promote HDR clients and projects.
Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication and negotiating skills.
Consistently adhere to and enforce internal HDR processes and policies such as business and contracting rules.
Work in a manner to ensure personal safety and that of fellow employees by following HDR and client health and safety guidelines and policies.
Perform additional assignments as requested by senior management.
Perform other duties as needed.

Benefits

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.
Fostering a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities.
Water is more than a resource, it's a shared responsibility.
Help shape how communities manage water for generations to come.
Delivering safe drinking water and treating wastewater responsibly.
Developing sustainable water supplies and protecting lives and property through flood control.
Work will directly support public health, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure resilience.
Bringing together experts across disciplines to solve complex challenges with bold thinking and technical excellence.
Modernizing aging systems or pioneering innovative approaches.
Contributions will make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
A chance to lead change, drive progress, and leave a lasting legacy.
As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.
Eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute.