Associate Director, Water-Wastewater

Prime AE Group; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

PRIME AE Group is seeking an experienced Associate Director for Water/Wastewater to lead and expand the Ohio practice. The role emphasizes strategic growth, major public infrastructure projects, and mentoring staff while strengthening client relationships across the region.

You will work with regional and corporate leaders to drive business development, oversee delivery, and ensure technical excellence in water and wastewater systems, treatment, and infrastructure programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Civil or Environmental Engineering required; Master’s degree preferred.
• PE license in Ohio required or ability to obtain within six months.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive water/wastewater/municipal infrastructure engineering experience.
• Minimum 3–5 years leading projects, teams, or functional groups in a consulting setting.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain relationships with public-sector water/wastewater clients.
• Strong business development experience including proposal leadership and revenue growth.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership in business development, project delivery, operations, and staff development for the Water/Wastewater practice.
• Guide strategic growth, pursue opportunities, and manage major public infrastructure projects.
• Mentor staff, coordinate with marketing and leadership, and ensure client satisfaction.
• Oversee project scope, schedule, budget, quality, and regulatory compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Business development

Client relations

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

We Make Everything Around Us BetterAt PRIME AE, that's not a slogan, it's how we work.Every bridge, building, campus, park, and roadway we design exists to improve how people live, move, learn, and connect. Through architecture, engineering, planning, and consulting, we partner with clients to create thoughtful, practical solutions that leave communities stronger than we found them.If you want your work to matter, and to be surrounded by smart, collaborative people who care about doing things the right way, you'll feel at home here.Who We Are:PRIME AE Group, Inc. (www.primeeng.com) is a nationally ranked, full-service architecture and engineering firm driven by collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to strengthening the communities we serve. With a growing footprint of offices across the country and a diverse team of more than 550 professionals, we partner with public and private sector clients to deliver thoughtful, high-impact solutions across transportation, education, healthcare, municipal, federal, commercial, and recreational markets.Our culture blends entrepreneurial energy with the resources of a scaled, multidisciplinary platform-giving our people the opportunity to shape meaningful projects while influencing the future direction of the firm. As PRIME AE continues to expand its capabilities, geographic reach, and leadership bench, this is an exciting time to join a team that is building momentum, investing in growth, and empowering leaders to make a lasting impact.

The Opportunity:

We are seeking an experienced Associate Director - Water/Wastewater to help lead and expand PRIME AE's Water | Wastewater practice across Ohio.This is a key leadership opportunity for a proven engineering professional with strong technical expertise, business development acumen, and a passion for building client relationships. In this role, you will help shape the strategic growth of the practice, lead major public infrastructure projects, mentor and develop staff, and strengthen PRIME AE's presence within the Ohio and Kentucky water/wastewater markets.Working closely with regional and corporate leadership, you will support business development initiatives, oversee project delivery, and contribute to the long‑term growth and success of the Water | Wastewater practice. This position offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on critical infrastructure projects that improve communities and protect public health.

What You’ll Do:

As the Associate Director - Water/Wastewater, you will provide leadership in business development, project delivery, operations, and staff development while serving as a trusted advisor to clients and project teams. You will help drive the growth of the practice through strategic planning, client engagement, pursuit leadership, and technical excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead business development efforts and pursue new opportunities with municipal, county, state, federal, and utility clients throughout Ohio and the surrounding region.
• Develop and maintain strong client relationships, positioning PRIME AE as a trusted partner for water and wastewater infrastructure programs.
• Lead major pursuits from opportunity identification and Go/No-Go decisions through proposal development, interviews, contract negotiations, and project execution.
• Provide executive‑level oversight and guidance for water and wastewater projects including treatment facilities, pump stations, collection systems, distribution systems, stormwater infrastructure, and water quality initiatives.
• Collaborate with project managers and technical leaders to ensure successful project delivery, including scope, schedule, budget, quality, and client satisfaction.
• Support strategic planning and growth initiatives for the Water | Wastewater practice across Ohio and Kentucky.
• Coordinate with marketing, operations, and business line leadership to develop market strategies and expand client relationships.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop engineering staff while fostering a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Support resource planning, staffing decisions, and operational performance across the practice.
• Represent PRIME AE through industry organizations, conferences, professional associations, and community engagement activities.
• Monitor industry trends, funding opportunities, regulatory developments, and emerging technologies to identify opportunities for growth and innovation.

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or related discipline required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in Ohio required or ability to obtain within six months.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in water, wastewater, environmental, or municipal infrastructure engineering.
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience leading projects, teams, or functional groups within a consulting engineering environment.
• Demonstrated success developing and maintaining relationships with public‑sector water and wastewater clients.
• Proven business development experience including proposal leadership, client development, strategic pursuits, and revenue growth.
• Strong technical background in water and wastewater systems, treatment processes, utility infrastructure, hydraulic and hydrologic modeling, regulatory compliance, and capital improvement planning.
• Experience managing complex infrastructure projects and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong understanding of project financial management, budgeting, forecasting, and operational performance metrics.
• Excellent leadership, communication, presentation, and relationship‑building skills.
• Active participation in professional organizations such as AWWA, WEF, ASCE, APWA, or similar industry associations preferred.
• Ability to travel throughout Ohio, Kentucky, and surrounding markets as needed.

Why PRIME AE:

We don’t just fill positions; we invest in people.At PRIME AE, you’ll find a supportive, flexible environment where careers are built intentionally, not accidentally. You’ll work on projects that improve everyday life, alongside colleagues who challenge and respect one another.

What sets us apart:

• Career Growth: Flexible career paths across disciplines, from technical expertise to project and people leadership.
• People-First Culture: We value trust, integrity, and collaboration, and we mean it.
• Meaningful Work: Projects that strengthen communities, infrastructure, and public spaces.
• Growth with Purpose: Strategic expansion backed by strong leadership and investment.
• National Reach, Local Feel: Big‑firm resources with the agility and relationships of local offices.

Our Commitment:

PRIME AE Group is committed to creating an inclusive environment where differences are respected, voices are heard, and everyone has the opportunity to succeed.