Client Services Manager (Water / Wastewater) - Alexandria, VA

Brown and Caldwell, Inc.; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 117,000 - 191,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Short & long-term disability

Life insurance

Employee assistance program

Paid time off & parental leave

Paid holidays

401(k) with employer match

Performance-based bonus eligibility

Employee referral bonuses

Tuition reimbursement

Pet insurance

Long-term care insurance

Job summary

Brown and Caldwell is seeking a Client Service Manager in the DC Metro area to lead client development, relationship management, and delivery of municipal water, wastewater, and stormwater projects. The role drives profitable portfolio performance, guides pursuit strategies, and leads a cross-disciplinary client service team with significant client-facing time.

The position emphasizes growth, strategic client leadership, and governance between CSM and PM roles, with a focus on expanding services

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years in environmental engineering and consulting with marketing and business development.

Responsibilities

• Own and execute a multi-year client growth strategy aligned with BC and client business objectives.

Skills

Client portfolio management

Strategic account growth

Proposal development

Cross-functional leadership

Sales leadership

Budget and risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, science, business, or related field

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Client Service Manager (CSM) with a demonstrated background in business development, client relations, and delivery of municipal water, wastewater and stormwater engineering projects in the DC Metro area, where Brown and Caldwell (BC) has a highly regarded reputation, and is poised for growth. This position will serve as a key leadership team member in supporting our existing clients and executing our growth plans for the DC Metro area and beyond. In this capacity, you will have responsibilities that include overseeing the sales, client development, client relationship management, professional engineering services proposal writing and contract scope, schedule and price preparation, and client service team leadership.

The CSM is a mid-level client leader who demonstrates consistent success in growing client relationships, advancing strategic positioning, and delivering measurable business outcomes. A CSM has progressed beyond relationship maintenance and is actively shaping client strategy, leading coordinated account growth, and driving profitable portfolio performance.

This role requires demonstrated capability in relationship expansion, pursuit leadership, and cross-functional team alignment. The CSM develops and executes client growth strategies while continuing to contribute to project delivery excellence.

Responsibilities

• Own and execute a multi-year client growth strategy aligned with BC and client business objectives.
• Develop and advance the client business case, including revenue targets, service expansion, and positioning milestones.
• Secure and deliver profitable work while managing risk exposure.
• Lead the performance of the full client portfolio (projects and pursuits) to achieve revenue, margin, and backlog targets.
• Maintain utilization aligned with portfolio expectations.
• Provide regular performance calibration with Business Unit and Area/Market leadership.
• Build and lead an engaged, high-performing Client Service Team (CST) with clear accountability.
• Coordinate resources across business lines and engage SMEs to expand service breadth.
• Mentor developing team members and model effective client leadership.
• Expand relationships across client functional areas and leadership levels.
• Translate client insights and market intelligence into actionable growth strategies.
• Execute structured client engagement plans (minimum 20% client-facing time).
• Serve as Sales Leader on key pursuits; evaluate opportunities and develop win strategies.
• Maintain accurate client data and apply governance between CSM and PM roles to ensure unified client messaging and delivery alignment.
• Flexibility to adapt and execute various additional assignments based on evolving needs.

Mentorship

• May provide mentorship, guidance, support, and knowledge-sharing to help less experienced team members develop their skills and grow within their roles.

Skills And Competencies

• Proficiency in managing client portfolios to achieve revenue, margin, and growth outcomes.
• Advanced professional acumen in balancing project oversight with strategic client leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, evaluate, and scope new business opportunities in coordination with business leaders.
• Proficiency in go/no-go decision support and development of effective pursuit win strategies.
• Experience serving as Sales Leader for key proposals.
• Ability to identify and engage appropriate teaming partners to strengthen competitive positioning.
• Advanced proficiency in developing, expanding, and leveraging client relationships across multiple organizational levels.
• Strong ability to research and translate client business drivers into actionable growth strategies.
• Capability to identify emerging client needs and align BC capabilities to capture new market opportunities.
• Demonstrated ability to motivate and align multidisciplinary teams to execute business plans.
• Advanced facilitation, interview, and executive communication skills (written and oral).
• Working proficiency in risk identification, mitigation, and performance management.
• Familiarity with governance principles, decision-support models, and change leadership practices.
• Proficiency in leveraging digital tools, data systems, and AI-enabled platforms to support client and business performance.
• Advanced leadership skills with the capability to inspire and guide a team.

Experience

• Typically, a minimum of 10 years of experience in environmental engineering and consulting industry with progressive responsibilities including marketing and business development.

Preferred Skills And Experience

• MS degree in related engineering field with a focus on wastewater and water
• Professional registration in Virginia, the District of Columbia, or the credentials to obtain registration in a timely manner is also strongly preferred
• Experience with water/wastewater design, planning and studies along with leadership on projects

Education

• A bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, business, sales, or equivalent experience is required.

Salary Range: The anticipated starting pay range for this position is based on the employee’s primary work location and may be more or less depending upon skills, experience, and education. These ranges may be modified in the future.

Location A: $117,000 - $159,000

Location B: $128,000 - $175,000

Location C: $140,000 - $191,000

Benefits and Other Compensation: We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee health, performance, and success which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time off and parental leave, paid holidays, 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match, performance-based bonus eligibility, employee referral bonuses, tuition reimbursement, pet insurance and long-term care insurance.

About Brown And Caldwell

Headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, Brown and Caldwell is a full-service environmental engineering and construction services firm with 50 offices and over 2,100 professionals across North America and the Pacific. For more than 75 years, we have created leading-edge environmental solutions for municipalities, private industry, and government agencies. We strive to be the company of choice—to our clients, who benefit from our passion for delivering exceptional quality, and to our employees, present and future, who share our commitment to client service, collaboration, and innovation. Join us, and you will find a home where you can do your best work, reach new levels of expertise, and enjoy exceptional development opportunities. For more information, visit www.brownandcaldwell.com

This position is subject to a pre-employment background check and a pre-employment drug test.

Notice to Third Party Agencies: Brown and Caldwell does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement and approved engagement request with Brown and Caldwell, Brown and Caldwell reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency.

Brown and Caldwell is proud to be an EEO/AAP Employer. Brown and Caldwell encourages protected veterans, individuals with disabilities, and applicants from all backgrounds to apply. Brown and Caldwell ensures nondiscrimination in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.