Dams, Levees, and Civil Works Business Class Leader

HDR; Folsom (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR is seeking an experienced leader to serve as the Dams Levees and Civil Works Business Class Leader for the Northern California Water Business Group. You will provide strategic, operational, and people leadership for a multidisciplinary team delivering planning through construction for water projects.

The role focuses on growing people, strengthening client partnerships, advancing technical excellence, and executing business strategy while aligning with HDR’s employee-owned culture.

Responsibilities

• Take responsibility for area coordination and improve technical competencies of staff and products to meet client needs and market drivers.
• Participate in delivery of project services to meet client expectations.
• Collaborate on business class efforts with area operations, marketing and project management.
• Participate in practice and professional groups to improve standards and implement quality assurance and control reviews.
• Engage in strategic planning, budgeting and plan implementation for the business class.
• Perform other duties as needed.
• Supervise and advocate for staff.
• Mentor staff and perform AROs; focus on staff development.
• Manage resources, workload, and staff utilization.
• Coordinate and confirm staff assignments.
• Collaborate on recruiting activities.
• Manage and report BC utilization to PSL; update PSL on BC activities.
• Lead BC communications.
• Promote technical excellence and knowledge sharing in the BC.
• Support and guide development of BC staff.
• Organize participation in practice groups and technical communities.
• Support development of technical skills and professional growth opportunities.
• Monitor and support company policy/compliance.
• Collaborate with project teams to address delivery risks.
• Promote adherence to quality management processes and delivery best practices.
• Develop and/or support scope and fee reviews.

Job description

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?

Watch Our Story: https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story

Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

We believe water is more than a resource, it's a shared responsibility. As part of our Water Business Group, you’ll help shape how communities manage water for generations to come. From delivering safe drinking water and treating wastewater responsibly to developing sustainable water supplies and protecting lives and property through flood control, your work will directly support public health, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure resilience. We bring together experts across disciplines to solve complex challenges with bold thinking and technical excellence. Whether you're modernizing aging systems or pioneering innovative approaches, your contributions will make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. This isn’t just a job, it's a chance to lead change, drive progress, and leave a lasting legacy.

HDR is seeking an experienced and collaborative leader to serve as Business Class Lead (BCL) for the Dams Levees, and Civil Works Business Class (DLCW) within the Northern California Water Business Group (WBG). This role provides strategic, operational, and people leadership for a diverse, multidisciplinary technical team delivering a full suite of services from planning through construction for Water projects. The DLCW BCL will report to the Professional Services Lead (PSL) and will be accountable for growing people, strengthening client partnerships, advancing technical excellence, and executing business strategy, while aligning closely with HDR’s values and employee‑owned culture.

In the role of Dams, Levees, and Civil Works Business Class Leader, we'll count on you to:

• Take responsibility for area coordination, monitoring and improvement of technical competencies of business class staff and products to meet client needs and market drivers, all within direction and goals of business class plans
• Participate in delivery of project services to meet client expectations
• Collaborate on business class efforts with area operations, marketing and project management
• Participate in business class practice and professional discipline groups, project teams and activities to continually improve standards and best practices, and implement effective quality assurance and quality control reviews
• Participate in business class strategic planning, budgeting and plan implementation
• Perform other duties as needed

Staff and Resource Management

• Supervise and advocate for staff
• Mentor staff and perform AROs. Focus on staff development
• Manage resources, workload, and staff utilization
• Coordinate and confirm staff assignments
• Collaborate on and support recruiting activities
• Manage and report BC utilization to PSL
• Update PSL on BC activities
• Lead BC communications

Technical Excellence

• Promote technical excellence and knowledge sharing in the BC
• Support and guide development of BC staff
• Organize and encourage participation in practice groups and technical communities
• Support development of technical skills, subject matter expertise, and professional growth opportunities

Project Delivery and Quality Oversight

• Monitor and support company policy / compliance
• Collaborate with project teams to address delivery risks
• Promote adherence to quality management processes and delivery best practices
• Develop and/or support scope and fee reviews