Waterfront Growth Leader
About The Position
VHB is seeking a Waterfront Growth Leader to expand its Coastal Engineering & Resiliency (CE&R) services team in the Northeast Region. The role leads strategic growth and business development focused on urban, recreational, and marina-based waterfront sectors, including municipal and state parks, mixed-use developments, and large-scale coastal infrastructure projects. This growth- and leadership-oriented position focuses on market expansion, client relationship development, strategic program support, and business unit leadership. The successful candidate will bring deep industry knowledge, business acumen, and trusted-advisor relationships with key clients to strengthen VHB’s position in coastal engineering and waterfront development. VHB describes its culture as technology-empowered, people-driven, future-ready, and shaped by agility, innovation, and collaboration. Employees can work on complex projects with community impact, grow their skills, and access learning and development supported by evolving tools and technologies. The company offers a flexible, hybrid work environment and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Coastal Science, Marine, Construction or Environmental Science, Civil Engineering, or a related field.
- 10 or more years of relevant professional experience.
- Five or more years in a strategic leadership, market development, or business-unit management role.
- Demonstrated history of successful waterfront project delivery and client relationship management across a broad regional footprint.
- Deep expertise in waterfront development or redevelopment, coastal-adjacent infrastructure, coastal engineering, and resiliency.
- Demonstrated business-development success, including securing new clients and winning small- and large-scale projects.
- Strong knowledge of local, state, and federal regulatory permitting processes.
- Strategic thinking and strong program-management skills, including supporting clients from concept through permitting and implementation.
- Strong leadership, team-building, and mentorship capabilities.
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Strong industry presence in the Northeast, with a focus on Long Island, New York City, and New Jersey.
- Experience working with agencies such as USACE, FEMA, NOAA, and state-level coastal or environmental departments.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree.
- Professional certifications or licensure in applicable fields.
- Recognized industry leadership and effectiveness as a regulatory strategist, ideally with multi-state experience.
- Expertise in urban waterfront redevelopment, marinas, waterfront parks, feasibility studies, and resilient coastal infrastructure.
- Recognition as a subject matter expert or contributions to industry-wide best practices.
Responsibilities
- Lead the growth and strategic positioning of the CE&R practice in the tristate area.
- Identify, secure, and manage key client relationships across municipal, state, federal, and private sectors, including new business and existing accounts.
- Oversee and contribute to grant identification, funding strategy, and grant writing for major waterfront and coastal projects.
- Partner with multidisciplinary internal and external teams to deliver waterfront and marina development projects, including feasibility studies, site planning, design, and coastal-system construction.
- Work with landside planners and designers to develop integrated land-water site plans that are functional, resilient, and economically viable.
- Provide strategic oversight and mentorship to multidisciplinary technical and administrative staff, fostering collaboration, innovation, and professional growth.
- Collaborate across business units to enhance cross-market integration and service-line synergy.
- Participate in branding, visibility, and thought-leadership activities, including conferences, speaking engagements, and industry forums.
- Lead proposal development, cost estimation, and project scoping for new waterfront work in coordination with proposal teams.
- Monitor and manage CE&R practice key performance indicators, including revenue, profitability, utilization, and client satisfaction.
Benefits
- Eligibility to participate in the VHB 401(k) plan.
- Medical insurance.
- Dental insurance.
- Vision insurance.
- Life insurance.
- Disability insurance.
- Wellness programs.
- Tuition reimbursement.
- Recognition programs.
- Eligible employees may receive annual incentive compensation bonuses, spot bonuses, and merit-based salary increases.
- Flexible, hybrid work environment.
- Learning and development supported by evolving tools and technologies.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
