Water Design Manager - Kiewit Water Delivery

Kiewit • Centennial, OR

3d • $170,000 - $195,000

About The Position

Kiewit is seeking a Water Design Manager to lead and integrate engineering on large municipal and industrial water and wastewater projects delivered through collaborative methods such as progressive design-build, design-build, CMAR, and EPC. The role is a leadership position for a project management professional with a strong technical foundation in water. Its day-to-day focus is aligning clients, external engineering partners, Kiewit engineering resources, and construction teams with project needs. Projects are engineering-driven but construction-led, so close coordination with construction is central to success.

The Water Design Manager is accountable for integrating and executing engineering on assigned projects from pre-construction through commissioning and closeout. The role keeps engineering scope, cost, schedule, quality, risk, and deliverables aligned with project objectives and field execution. The manager is not expected to produce or check calculations and drawings, but must use multi-discipline water and wastewater expertise to shape technical strategy, test assumptions, evaluate tradeoffs, and guide design decisions. The role also supports a Regional Sponsor on client relationships and pursuit strategy, engaging early to vet execution commitments before they are finalized.

Based in Kiewit's Lone Tree, Colorado office, the position may be considered for remote work depending on candidate qualifications and business needs. Travel of up to 50% may be required, depending on candidate location and project assignment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in civil, environmental, chemical, mechanical, or a related engineering field from an accredited program.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license; P.Eng. for Canadian candidates.
• At least 10 years of experience in water and/or wastewater engineering or similar industries, including at least 5 years as a Design Manager, Engineering Project Manager, or Project Manager leading multi-discipline design teams.
• Experience delivering projects through progressive design-build and design-build.
• Strong client-facing communication, presentation, and negotiation skills, including experience building consensus with engineering teams, clients, constructors, and regulators.
• Ability to lead, motivate, and develop high-performing teams and hold people and partners accountable through direct and indirect influence.
• Demonstrated experience managing engineering scope, fees, budgets, schedules, and change, including third-party engineering firms and subconsultants.
• Strong multi-discipline technical background in municipal and/or industrial water and wastewater facilities, such as drinking water, wastewater treatment, water reuse, biosolids, pump stations, and/or conveyance; ability to challenge assumptions, evaluate alternatives, and guide decisions across process, mechanical, civil, structural, electrical, and I&C disciplines.
• Strong analytical ability and sound judgment; comfort with change and ambiguity; adaptability, collaboration, and systems thinking.
• Working knowledge of construction means and methods, cost estimating, scheduling, procurement, and project controls, and ability to connect design decisions to cost and field execution.
• Familiarity with digital design and collaboration tools, such as 3D/BIM model reviews and electronic document management, and interest in applying AI or other new technology.
• Regular, reliable attendance; ability to work independently and productively, meet deadlines, and maintain high standards of quality and accountability.
• Ability to communicate and interact effectively and professionally with supervisors, employees, and others individually or in a team environment.
• Ability to work during normal operating hours and work overtime and weekends as required.
• Ability to work at various locations and in varying conditions.
• Travel up to 50% may be required, depending on candidate location, project assignment, and other factors.

Nice To Haves

• Additional CMAR and/or EPC project delivery experience.
• Experience working for or directly with a contractor.
• DBIA and/or PMP certification.

Responsibilities

• Lead and integrate multi-discipline engineering teams, including Kiewit engineers and third-party engineering partners, on municipal and industrial water and wastewater projects from pursuit handoff through construction, commissioning, and closeout.
• Support the Regional Sponsor during pursuits by testing technical and execution assumptions, contributing technical strategy, confirming proposal commitments and performance guarantees are deliverable, and connecting design choices to field execution.
• Lead development and review of engineering fees using approved Kiewit templates.
• Establish the engineering execution plan, including requirements, technical strategy, scope, budget, schedule, deliverables, staffing, quality expectations, risk actions, and communication rhythms.
• Manage engineering scope, budget, schedule, deliverables, and change management; identify changes early and manage them fairly and transparently.
• Provide technical leadership across disciplines, coordinate interfaces, resolve stakeholder misalignment, and guide design decisions and tradeoffs to meet performance, regulatory, permitting, and client operations and maintenance requirements.
• Develop scopes of work, negotiate and manage engineering contracts, and oversee third-party engineering partner performance for scope, quality, schedule, quantities, budget, and deliverables.
• Partner with construction, estimating, procurement, scheduling, and project controls.
• Facilitate communication and alignment between engineering and construction to ensure engineering decisions are constructible.
• Translate operational and field needs into design priorities while balancing client and engineering-partner requirements.
• Support design-to-budget, value engineering, and cost model and GMP development.
• Identify, track, and mitigate technical, execution, and business risks; maintain a decision and risk log.
• Set quality expectations and ensure design reviews, constructability reviews, and QA/QC processes are carried out by the design team.
• Serve as the primary engineering-delivery voice with clients and stakeholders during execution; run project communication rhythms and lead engineering content and delivery for monthly executive project reviews.
• Establish and use KPIs, project controls, and change discipline to reinforce accountability and improve predictability.
• Support construction and commissioning by resolving design issues, supporting commissioning and startup readiness, and closing engineering commitments.
• Coordinate engineering staffing and discipline alignment.
• Capture and share lessons learned and adopt practical digital tools, emerging technology, and AI to improve project predictability and execution.
• Champion a “Right the First Time” quality culture and lead by example.

Benefits

• Top-tier medical, dental, and vision plans covering eligible employees and dependents.
• Voluntary wellness and employee assistance programs.
• Life insurance.
• Disability benefits.
• Retirement plans with matching.
• Generous paid time off.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior