Water Quality Consultant

HDR•Raleigh, NC

About The Position

HDR is seeking a Water Quality Consultant to join its Water Business Group in Raleigh, North Carolina. The role applies water quality expertise and practical knowledge of water treatment plant and distribution system operations to help utilities understand water quality conditions, evaluate treatment performance, improve monitoring programs, and turn technical findings into actionable recommendations. The position supports public health, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure resilience through drinking water, wastewater, sustainable water supply, and flood control work. The consultant will manage water treatment, water quality, operations, and utility management assignments, including treatability studies, sampling and analysis plans, laboratory and field data review, water quality investigations, treatment process optimization, distribution system evaluations, standard operating procedures, regulatory and operational documentation, and utility performance improvement initiatives. The role also supports program management and owner’s advisor services, provides specialized technical leadership, and participates in client development. The position includes regional travel and may involve serving as an expert on projects throughout the eastern United States.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a related field; the posting also identifies chemistry, biology, environmental science, civil or environmental engineering, water resources, or a related technical discipline as relevant fields.
At least 5 years of related experience.
Efficient use of the internet and other electronic and hard-copy media for research.
Strong Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, Project, and Visio skills.
Expert Microsoft Access and Excel skills.
Strong analytical skills and ability to compile and present summary-level information.
Ability to obtain, cleanse, merge, and analyze data from multiple sources.
Excellent interpersonal skills and strong relationship, organizational, and follow-up skills.
Self-starter with a proven track record of accomplishments.
Commitment to active participation in HDR’s employee-owned culture.
Ability to work collaboratively with utility managers, operators, engineers, laboratory personnel, regulators, and multidisciplinary project teams.
Local candidates are preferred.

Nice To Haves

An advanced degree is a plus.
10 or more years of progressively responsible experience in drinking water treatment, water quality, laboratory management, utility operations, environmental laboratory services, or a closely related field.
Experience supporting regulatory compliance, treatment optimization, distribution system water quality investigations, or treatability studies.
Familiarity with laboratory information management systems, water quality databases, statistical analysis, data visualization, or related analytical tools.
Demonstrated experience managing or providing senior oversight for a water treatment laboratory, water quality program, or comparable technical function.
Strong experience developing and implementing sampling plans and coordinating field and laboratory testing for water treatment plants and distribution systems.
Demonstrated ability to analyze complex analytical and operational data, identify trends and data limitations, and develop defensible technical conclusions and recommendations.
Strong technical writing skills, including preparing and reviewing standard operating procedures, sampling and analysis plans, technical memoranda, reports, and presentations.
Demonstrated project planning, project management, communication, leadership, and mentoring skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and experience organizing, visualizing, and communicating analytical results.

Responsibilities

Plan, lead, and review water quality sampling programs for source water, treatment processes, finished water, and distribution systems, including sampling locations, frequencies, methods, quality assurance requirements, and data management procedures.
Oversee laboratory and field testing, including coordination with internal and contract laboratories, review of analytical methods, and evaluation of quality assurance and quality control results.
Analyze laboratory, field, operational, and regulatory data to identify trends, data gaps, treatment performance issues, distribution system concerns, and process improvement opportunities.
Evaluate water treatment plant performance and distribution system water quality, including treatment chemistry, process control, residual maintenance, disinfection, corrosion control, and taste and odor considerations.
Prepare and review sampling and analysis plans, standard operating procedures, quality assurance project plans, technical memoranda, reports, and presentations.
Explain sampling results and analytical findings in clear conclusions and practical recommendations for utility managers, operators, engineers, regulators, and other stakeholders.
Support water quality investigations, treatability studies, treatment process evaluations, distribution system studies, regulatory response efforts, and utility performance improvement initiatives.
Serve as Project Manager, managing scope, schedule, budget, quality, client communication, and multidisciplinary team coordination using HDR business systems and project management tools.
Provide quality control and senior technical review of deliverables.
Build trusted-advisor relationships with utility clients and support client development.
Lead and mentor staff.
Participate in industry organizations and functions, including presentations and publications.
Potentially serve as an expert on projects throughout the eastern United States.
Undertake regional travel as needed.