California Wastewater Practice Lead

Arcadis; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 164,000 - 282,000; Full time

Job summary

Arcadis, the world-leading design, engineering and consultancy firm, seeks a California Wastewater Practice Lead in Los Angeles to drive growth, technical excellence and delivery of our wastewater business across the state. This senior leadership role blends technical credibility with strategic leadership, market development, client engagement and people development.

You will translate national wastewater strategy into California-specific priorities, lead technical positioning with strategic

Qualifications

• BS in Civil, Environmental, or Chemical Engineering or related field.
• PE license in California (or ability to obtain within 6 months).
• 15+ years experience in wastewater with consulting and business development experience.

Responsibilities

• Translate national wastewater strategy into California priorities for growth, technical excellence, and innovation.
• Identify priority clients and lead technical positioning, client workshops, major pursuits, and industry engagement.
• Oversee the delivery of complex wastewater projects from planning through construction, ensuring quality and client outcomes.
• Mentor emerging technical leaders, support recruitment and succession planning, and champion collaboration across disciplines.

Skills

Leadership experience

Business development experience

PE license in California

15+ years wastewater experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil, Environmental, or Chemical Engineering or a related field

Job description

Arcadis is the world's leading company delivering sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets.

We are more than 34,000 people, in over 30 countries, dedicated to improving quality of life. Everyone has an important role to play. With the power of many curious minds, together we can solve the world’s most complex challenges and deliver more impact together.

Role description:

Arcadis is seeking a dynamic California Wastewater Practice Lead to drive growth, innovation, technical excellence and delivery of our wastewater business across California, aligned with Arcadis’ national water sector strategy. This is a senior leadership opportunity for a proven professional who thrives at the intersection of technical and strategic leadership, market development, innovation, client engagement, and people development. The California Wastewater Practice Lead will translate national strategy into California-specific priorities, serve as a visible technical leader in the market, and help connect Arcadis’ capabilities across wastewater to address our clients’ most complex challenges.

Role Accountabilities:

As the California Wastewater Practice Lead, you will play a pivotal role in advancing Arcadis’ wastewater strategy and technical practice across the state. You will help shape the regional vision for wastewater, strengthen Arcadis’ position with strategic and emerging clients, support delivery of high-impact projects, advance innovation, and mentor the next generation of technical leaders.

Working collaboratively with Arcadis’ Water Sector leadership, California staff and technical experts, you will help deliver sustainable, resilient solutions while reinforcing our reputation as a market leader in wastewater infrastructure.

Responsibilities include:

• Lead Regional Practice Strategy: Translate Arcadis’ national wastewater strategy into California-specific priorities that drive growth, technical excellence, and innovation.
• Advance Strategic Clients: Identify priority clients and opportunities, build trusted relationships, and lead technical positioning, client workshops, major pursuits, and industry engagement.
• Ensure Project Excellence: Oversee the delivery of complex wastewater projects from planning through construction, ensuring quality, risk management, financial performance and strong client outcomes.
• Collaborate Across Disciplines: Partner with cross-functional leaders and technical experts to deliver integrated, innovative solutions that address California’s evolving regulatory, climate, and infrastructure challenges around wastewater.
• Develop and Inspire Talent: Mentor emerging technical leaders, support recruitment and succession planning, and champion a culture of collaboration, inclusion, and professional development.

What Sets You Apart?

You are a recognized leader in the wastewater industry who combines technical credibility with strategic and client leadership. You understand California’s wastewater market and can translate emerging regulatory, infrastructure, sustainability, and operational challenges into market opportunities and practical solutions.

You are comfortable engaging directly with utility executives, operators, regulators, and industry partners while also serving as a trusted resource to project teams and emerging professionals. You bring people and capabilities together across organizational boundaries and are energized by helping teams turn new technologies, research, and ideas into measurable client value.

You are actively engaged in professional organizations such as CWEA, WEF, or WateReuse California and contribute to the broader advancement of the wastewater profession. Above all, you are passionate about technical excellence, collaboration, and developing the next generation of water professionals.

Qualifications & Experience:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Civil, Environmental, or Chemical Engineering or a related field
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in California (or ability to obtain within 6 months)
• 15+ years of experience in the wastewater sector, with consulting and business development experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated success in leading teams, managing key client accounts, and delivering large-scale projects.
• Deep knowledge of California’s regulatory landscape, funding programs, and municipal utility market.
• Proven track record of business development and strategic growth.

Why Arcadis?

We can only achieve our goals when everyone is empowered to be their best. We believe everyone's contribution matters. It’s why we are pioneering a skills-based approach, where you can harness your unique experience and expertise to carve your career path and maximize the impact we can make together.

You’ll do meaningful work, and no matter what role, you’ll be helping to deliver sustainable solutions for a more prosperous planet. Make your mark, on your career, your colleagues, your clients, your life and the world around you.

Together, we can create a lasting legacy.

Join Arcadis. Create a Legacy.

Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

We want you to be able to bring your best self to work every day.

Our ambition is to be an employer of choice and provide a great place to work for all our people.

We are an equal opportunity employer.

We are dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

Arcadis offers benefits for full-time and part-time positions. These benefits include medical, dental, and vision, EAP, 401K, STD, LTD, AD&D, life insurance, paid parental leave, reward & recognition program and optional benefits including wellbeing benefits, adoption assistance, and tuition reimbursement.

We offer nine paid holidays, and 20 days PTO that accrue per year. This position is eligible for participating in a company bonus program. The salary range for this position is $163,680 - $282,348. Actual salaries will vary on several factors such as experience, education, budget, internal equity, project, and location.

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