Client Account Manager - New England Water

Jacobs; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 185,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) and stock purchase program

Paid time off (PPTO)

Seven holidays and caregiver leave

Job summary

Jacobs seeks a Client Account Manager for the New England Water business. You will lead strategic client relationships, drive growth, and coordinate cross-functional pursuit activities across municipal, regional, and state water clients in New England.

The role requires deep regional water market knowledge, ability to manage executive-level relationships, and a track record of winning professional services contracts. Hybrid work policy applies.

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of experience in engineering, consulting, infrastructure or related disciplines serving the water market.
• Proven success leading client accounts and winning professional services contracts.
• Established relationships with water and wastewater clients in New England.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Jacobs' primary relationship manager for assigned New England Water clients.
• Develop and maintain trusted relationships with executive, operational, technical, and procurement leaders.
• Lead multidisciplinary account teams to ensure client engagement and service delivery.
• Identify opportunities early and drive growth across municipal and state water clients.
• Lead pursuits, Go/No-Go decisions, and bid/no-bid processes.
• Mentor future sales and client account leaders within the Northeast geography.

Skills

Client relationship management

Business development

Water sector knowledge

Leadership

Strategic account planning

Travel flexibility

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Environmental/Business

PE license (preferred)

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

At Jacobs, we challenge today to reinvent tomorrow. As the Client Account Manager (CAM) for our New England Water business, you will play a critical leadership role in developing and sustaining strategic client relationships, positioning Jacobs as the preferred partner and trusted advisor to municipal, regional, state, and select private-sector water clients across New England.

The CAM serves as the primary client-facing leader responsible for account growth, market positioning, client satisfaction, and business development strategy. Success in this role requires a deep understanding of the regional water market, client priorities, capital programs, funding drivers, and emerging infrastructure needs.

This position is aligned with Jacobs' Northeast Water business and is expected to be based in the Greater Boston/New England region.

Reporting Relationship

The Client Account Manager reports directly to the Northeast Water Market Growth Director (MGD) and collaborates closely with Operations Leadership, Geographic Sales Operations, Account Strategists, Client Service Leaders, Strategic Pursuit Leaders, and Project Delivery Teams to develop and execute client and market growth strategies.

Primary Responsibilities

Client Leadership & Relationship Management

• Serve as Jacobs' primary relationship manager for assigned New England Water clients.
• Develop and maintain trusted relationships with executive, operational, technical, and procurement leaders.
• Establish and strengthen "zippered" relationships across all levels of client organizations.
• Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary account teams to ensure consistent client engagement and service delivery.
• Maintain a detailed understanding of client organizations, business drivers, capital programs, funding strategies, and long-term objectives.
• Advocate internally on behalf of clients to ensure exceptional service, responsiveness, and client satisfaction.
• Support project teams throughout project execution to strengthen long-term client relationships.

Business Development & Market Growth

• Drive growth across municipal, regional, state government, and select private water clients throughout New England.
• Identify and position opportunities well in advance of procurement.
• Develop and execute strategic account plans aligned with Jacobs' growth objectives.
• Maintain a robust opportunity pipeline and support disciplined opportunity management.
• Lead account-based growth strategies and pursuit planning activities.
• Collaborate with market and operations leadership to prioritize investments and strategic pursuits.
• Expand Jacobs' presence through planning, engineering, PMCM, digital solutions, resilience, operations support, and alternative delivery services.
• Develop and strengthen relationships with strategic teaming partners, including DBEs, small businesses, and specialty firms.

Pursuit Leadership

• Develop and implement winning strategies for strategic pursuits.
• Lead Go/No-Go and Bid/No-Bid decision-making processes.
• Coordinate business development investments and pursuit budgets aligned with opportunity value and return on investment objectives.
• Collaborate with proposal managers, pursuit leaders, technical SMEs, and operations partners to develop compelling client-focused submissions.
• Participate in client interviews, presentations, negotiations, and contract discussions.
• Ensure successful handoff from pursuit to project delivery.

Market Leadership

• Support the Northeast Water growth strategy through targeted client development and market engagement.
• Work with the Market Growth Director and Operations Leadership to identify strategic hiring needs, succession plans, and organizational growth opportunities.
• Mentor future sales and client account leaders within the Northeast geography.
• Actively participate in industry organizations, conferences, and community initiatives that elevate Jacobs' brand and market presence.
• Foster collaboration across sales, operations, and technical teams to support sustainable growth.

New England Market Focus

• Strong relationships with municipal and regional water and wastewater clients throughout New England.
• Knowledge of regional infrastructure priorities, regulatory drivers, and funding programs.
• Experience working with major utility and water agencies, including
• Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA)
• Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC)
• Municipal and regional utilities throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont
• Proven ability to identify, shape, and capture opportunities prior to procurement.

Given the strategic importance of MWRA to Jacobs' New England growth strategy, preference will be given to candidates who possess

Preferred MWRA Experience

• Direct experience supporting MWRA programs, projects, or planning initiatives.
• Established professional relationships with MWRA leadership and key decision-makers.
• Knowledge of MWRA's capital improvement programs, procurement practices, and strategic priorities.
• Demonstrated success pursuing and winning work with MWRA.

Performance Expectations

• Gross Margin sold.
• Year-over-year account growth.
• Remaining Performance Obligation (RPO) growth.
• Pipeline development and conversion.
• Competitive win rates.

Growth of strategic client relationships.

Expansion of services and market share.

Recruitment and development of talent.

Client satisfaction and account health.

Here's what you'll need

• Minimum 15 years of experience in engineering, consulting, infrastructure, environmental services, program management, or related disciplines serving the water market.
• Proven success leading client accounts and winning professional services contracts.
• Strong business development and account management experience within the water sector.
• Established relationships with water and wastewater clients throughout New England.
• Demonstrated ability to develop account strategies and winning pursuit plans.
• Experience building executive-level and senior leadership relationships.
• Experience responding to RFQs/RFPs, leading interviews, and securing project awards.
• Strong business acumen, communication, negotiation, and influencing skills.
• Ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated leadership, mentoring, and team‑building capabilities.
• Ability to travel throughout New England as required.

Ideally, you will also have

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Business, or a related discipline.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license or other relevant professional certification.
• Technical experience delivering major water, wastewater, treatment, conveyance, resilience, or utility infrastructure programs.
• Active participation or leadership in industry organizations such as NEWEA, AWWA, WEF, or ACEC.
• Demonstrated success supporting major utility, municipal, or regional water authority clients.
• Existing relationships with MWRA leadership and stakeholders.

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well‑being. Your security. Your future.

• Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount.
• Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan.
• Jacobs has an unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full‑time salaried/exempt employees, seven paid holidays, and caregiver leave.
• And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.

The base salary range for this position is $185,000.00 to $240,000.00. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Job posted on August 10, 2026. This position will be open for at least 3 days.

We value collaboration and believe that in‑person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.