Department Leader - Water Services

Verdantas; Wilkes-Barre (Luzerne County); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Work Environment

Paid Parental Leave

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life and AD&D Insurance

Short-Term and Long-Term Disability

401(k) with Company Match

Paid Time Off + Holidays

Job summary

Verdantas in the Northeast seeks a dynamic Leader of the MidAtlantic Water Services Department to guide and expand our water practice across PA, MD, and DE, with support for New England. You will oversee multi-disciplinary teams delivering water, wastewater, flood control, and stormwater projects for public and private clients.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker and proven people leader with strong business acumen, a passion for client service, and a track record of sustainable growth

Qualifications

• PE license required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering; Master’s preferred.
• 15+ years in water-related planning, design, and delivery.
• Proven leadership of multi-office teams and client portfolios.
• Experience in business development and growth of water programs across multiple states.

Responsibilities

• Provide regional leadership for the Water Services practice across PA, MD, DE, and NE.
• Lead client management, pursuit strategy, and proposals.
• Oversee technical delivery for water, wastewater, flood control, and stormwater projects.
• Develop and mentor design and project delivery teams; manage performance metrics.

Skills

Leadership

Client management

Strategic planning

People development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Tools

Project management

Job description

Hybrid

Wilkes Barre PA

Dover DE

Wilmington DE

Philadelphia PA

Pittsburgh PA

Lehigh Valley PA

Full time

R-100609

Welcome to Verdantas, where innovation meets sustainability, and your career finds purpose!

At Verdantas, we’re redefining environmental consulting and sustainable engineering through our use of cutting‑edge modeling and digital technology and our genuine commitment to people. Our work spans high‑growth sectors like water resources, resilient land use, energy transformation, and civil infrastructure.

Our commitment to excellence, across more than 90 offices, is championed by a team of over 2,000 experts, scientists, engineers, geologists, and technical specialists, embedded in a people‑focused culture, prioritizing the well‑being of our employees, clients, and the communities we serve. We partner with clients to deliver smart, data‑driven solutions to complex environmental and infrastructure challenges. We don’t just solve problems; we help shape a more sustainable future.

Join a people‑first culture that values your well‑being, empowers your growth, and amplifies your impact. At Verdantas, your career goes beyond the expected, and your work helps build a better world.

Ready to shape the future of resilient communities?

Verdantas is seeking a dynamic, growth-minded Leader of the MidAtlantic Water Services Department to guide and expand our water practice across the Northeast area. While the primary geographic focus will be Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware , this role will also provide technical leadership and strategic support to teams serving the New England market.

This senior leadership role is responsible for overseeing multiple multidisciplinary design teams delivering clean water, wastewater, flood control, and stormwater management solutions to public and private sector clients.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker and proven people leader with strong business acumen, a passion for client service, and a track record of achieving sustainable growth and operational excellence.

What You’ll Do:

Practice Leadership & Strategy

• Provide vision, direction, and leadership for the regional Water Services practice, aligning technical delivery with business and growth objectives
• Develop and execute regional growth strategies, including market positioning, client targeting, and service line expansion
• Partner with regional leadership to establish and achieve annual revenue, backlog, utilization, and profitability goals

Client Management & Business Development

• Serve as a trusted advisor and senior point of contact for key clients across municipal, utility, industrial, and private sectors
• Lead and support business development efforts, including pursuit strategy, teaming, proposal development, and interviews
• Strengthen long‑term client relationships and expand existing accounts through exceptional service and value‑driven solutions

Technical & Project Oversight

• Provide technical leadership and quality oversight for water, wastewater, flood control, and stormwater management projects
• Support project managers and design teams with complex technical challenges, risk management, and QA/QC processes
• Promote innovation, best practices, and consistent design standards across regional teams

People & Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop multiple design and project delivery teams across offices and geographic areas
• Foster a high‑performance culture focused on collaboration, accountability, professional development, and work‑life balance
• Support hiring, succession planning, and talent development to meet current and future workload demands

Operational & Performance Management

• Monitor and drive performance against key metrics, including financial results, project delivery, client satisfaction, and staff utilization
• Identify opportunities for operational efficiencies and continuous improvement across the practice
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, licensing standards, and company policies

What You Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related discipline (Master’s degree preferred)
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required
• 15 or more years of progressive experience in water‑related planning, design, and project delivery
• 15 or more years of experience in the engineering/professional services industry
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing teams, projects, and client portfolios
• Proven success in business development, client management, and achieving growth and performance goals
• Experience supporting or leading water programs across multiple states and offices
• Strong understanding of public‑sector procurement, utility operations, and water market infrastructure funding mechanisms
• Excellent communication, leadership, and relationship‑building skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
• Established client relationships within Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and/or New England
• Experience integrating multidisciplinary teams (water, environmental, resilience, civil/site)

Salary Range:

The compensation range for this position is $135,000 - $195,000, with final compensation determined based on years of experience, qualifications, and licensing status.

Benefits:

• Flexible Work Environment
• Paid Parental Leave
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Paid Time Off + Holidays

Verdantas strives to develop new ways to increase diversity awareness within our organization. We recruit and reward our employees based on capability and performance — regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, lifestyle, age, educational background, national origin, religion, or physical ability. For us, it is imperative to build balanced teams from all walks of life and we believe that a diverse workforce is a stronger workforce.

Verdantas is an EOE race/color/religion/sex/sexual orientation/gender identity/national origin/disability/vet

Ready for what’s next?

Your future starts here.

Explore our open opportunities and find a role that not only matches your skills—but fuels your ambition. From innovative projects to collaborative teams, we offer careers where you can grow, make an impact, and do your best work.

Take the next step, discover where you belong, and build something meaningful with us.

Your next opportunity is waiting—go find it and come grow with us!