Dams, Levees, and Civil Works Business Class Leader

HDR, Inc.; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR, Inc. is seeking an experienced Dams, Levees, and Civil Works Business Class Leader in Northern California (Folsom). The role leads a diverse, multidisciplinary team delivering planning through construction for water projects.

You will drive staff development, client partnerships, and technical excellence while aligning with HDR values and a collaborative employee-owned culture. The role emphasizes strategic planning, quality control, and effective communication with PSL and project teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MS preferred and PE license highly valued.
• 10 years of experience in civil/Water/engineering consulting.
• Committed to quality, HDR values, and continuous improvement.
• Maintains professional registration and strong teaming capability.
• Experience directing multi-disciplinary teams and projects.
• Active involvement in professional associations to enhance HDR expertise.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate area activities and monitor technical competencies to meet client needs.
• Supervise staff, mentor teams, and manage workload and utilization.
• Promote technical excellence and share knowledge across groups.
• Ensure delivery of projects with quality assurance and risk management.
• Lead strategic planning, budgeting, and program implementation.
• Support business development and client engagement on select projects.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Technical writing

Presentation skills

Education

MS in civil, environmental, or water resources engineering

Bachelor's degree in a Professional, Architecture, Engineering or closely related field

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Job description

Dams, Levees, and Civil Works Business Class Leader - ( 195712 )

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

• Promotetechnical 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 matterexpertise, and professional growth opportunities

Project Delivery andQuality Oversight

• Monitor and support company policy / compliance
• Collaborate with project teams toaddress delivery risks
• Promote adherence to quality management processes anddeliverybest practices
• Develop and/or support scope and fee reviews
• Provide subject matter expertise for the BC
• Collaborate with PSL and Section Leads on BC operations (identify training, address issues, promote BC health)
• Manage and deliver work consistent with technical skill sets

Business Development and Industry Engagement

• Lead BC strategic initiatives
• Support business development and marketing activities. Provide technical leadership and subject matter expertise during pursuits
• Serve as Project Manager or Client Manageron select projects/clients.
• Provide client engagement and present at professional organizational conferences.
• Integrate with BC counterparts (NorCal and National)
• Be a champion for collaboration with other BCs
• Coordinate with leadership to support WBG strategy

Preferred Qualifications

• California Civil Professional Engineer (PE) license
• MS in civil, environmental, or water resources engineering
• Experience as a project manager in a consulting business
• Experience directing multi-disciplinary teams and multi-disciplinary projects
• Experience with providing engineering during construction services
• Strong technical writing abilities and effective presentation skills
• Actively engaged in professional or industry associations to enhance HDR technical expertise and brand

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a Professional, Architecture, Engineering or closely related field
• 10 years of experience
• Committed to quality, improvement and HDR values
• Maintains a professional or engineering registration and has related technical experience
• Experienced in development and management of diverse teams
• Works cooperatively with other area business class leaders, operations managers, technical directors and marketing managers on business class efforts
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee‑owned culture is a must

What We Believe

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment

As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

Primary Location

United States-California-Folsom

Industry

Water

Schedule

Full-time

Employee Status

Regular

BusinessClass : Dams Levees Civil Works

Job Posting

Sep 1, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity.

We are an affirmative action and Equal Opportunity Employe r.

We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.

#LI-MO1