Design Manager (Water / Wastewater)

GHD Inc.; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

GHD Inc. is seeking a driven Water & Wastewater Process Design Manager to join our Engineering Design Organization in Buffalo, NY.

You will coordinate technical teams across multiple design disciplines, develop work plans with Project Managers, and ensure projects meet client needs and regulatory requirements. This hands‑on role involves QA/QC, procurement documentation, change management, and client engagement in a dynamic, high‑performing team.

Responsibilities

• Needs Assessment: Uncover emerging issues or needs, identifying potential causes, barriers, and key stakeholders, as well as related issues.
• Culture of Innovation: Drive a culture of innovation by creating multistakeholder solutions that boost creativity, innovation, and collaboration across business units
• Engineering Solutions Design: Design engineering solutions and the associated validation process to enable the realization of a design brief (for example, in terms of functionality, performance, aesthetics, and cost) that conforms to organizational and/or regulatory standards.
• Engineering Standards Specification: Analyze information, draft engineering standards and specifications, and evaluate the effectiveness of those standards within own engineering discipline to ensure work of the required quality is delivered and to inform engineering work in the organization and/or of its suppliers, contractors, and consultants.
• Knowledge Management: Develop policies and processes, create best practices, set up case studies, and deliver internal knowledge-sharing sessions to capture and share knowledge among colleagues on project/program outcomes and innovative practices in a particular area of expertise and to support the practice.
• Health, Safety, and Environment: Monitor and review performance against health, safety, and environment (HSE) key performance indicators (KPIs) and patterns of behavior within the area of responsibility. Take action to improve performance and to resolve noncompliance with the organization’s HSE policies, procedures, and mandatory instructions.
• Technical Developments Recommendation: Discuss and recommend more complex or innovative technical developments to improve the quality of the website/portal/application software and supporting infrastructure to better meet project needs.
• Professional Supervision: Lead and oversee the provision of professional supervision to ensure that there is effective professional supervision that supports practitioners’ professional development and embeds reflective practice.
• Feasibility Studies: Conduct complex feasibility studies from a technological and organizational perspective and document findings to complete cost-benefit analysis on implementing changes to business processes, products, or business unit structure.
• Project Management: Manage a portfolio of projects while reporting to senior colleagues.
• Client & Customer Management (External): Manage important client relationships with guidance from senior colleagues.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Master’s degree in Engineering

Job description

Job Description

Help us build the future and we’ll help you build a rewarding and purposeful career. Our global network is made up of architects, designers, planners, engineers, and environmental scientists all working towards the same goal. Join a team that brings inspirational architecture, landscapes, townscapes and places to our world, and we’ll provide you unlimited space to grow.

Who are we looking for?

We’re looking for a driven and experienced Water & Wastewater Process Design Manager to join our Engineering Design Organization! In this role, you’ll coordinate technical teams across multiple design disciplines, ensuring projects meet client needs and comply with all applicable regulations. You’ll be responsible for executing the technical scope of projects, developing work plans in collaboration with Project Managers and Directors, and verifying progress against schedule and budget. You’ll empower team leads with the resources they need, facilitate design decisions, and oversee QA/QC and client review processes. From finalizing procurement documents to managing change records and participating in site visits and proposal development, this is a hands‑on opportunity to shape impactful infrastructure projects with a collaborative, high‑performing team. Working with an energetic and high performing team, this position offers a variety of work and will see you involved in:

• Needs Assessment: Uncover emerging issues or needs, identifying potential causes, barriers, and key stakeholders, as well as related issues.
• Culture of Innovation: Drive a culture of innovation by creating multistakeholder solutions that boost creativity, innovation, and collaboration across business units
• Engineering Solutions Design: Design engineering solutions and the associated validation process to enable the realization of a design brief (for example, in terms of functionality, performance, aesthetics, and cost) that conforms to organizational and/or regulatory standards.
• Engineering Standards Specification: Analyze information, draft engineering standards and specifications, and evaluate the effectiveness of those standards within own engineering discipline to ensure work of the required quality is delivered and to inform engineering work in the organization and/or of its suppliers, contractors, and consultants.
• Knowledge Management: Develop policies and processes, create best practices, set up case studies, and deliver internal knowledge-sharing sessions to capture and share knowledge among colleagues on project/program outcomes and innovative practices in a particular area of expertise and to support the practice.
• Health, Safety, and Environment: Monitor and review performance against health, safety, and environment (HSE) key performance indicators (KPIs) and patterns of behavior within the area of responsibility. Take action to improve performance and to resolve noncompliance with the organization’s HSE policies, procedures, and mandatory instructions.
• Technical Developments Recommendation: Discuss and recommend more complex or innovative technical developments to improve the quality of the website/portal/application software and supporting infrastructure to better meet project needs.
• Professional Supervision: Lead and oversee the provision of professional supervision to ensure that there is effective professional supervision that supports practitioners’ professional development and embeds reflective practice.
• Feasibility Studies: Conduct complex feasibility studies from a technological and organizational perspective and document findings to complete cost-benefit analysis on implementing changes to business processes, products, or business unit structure.
• Project Management: Manage a portfolio of projects while reporting to senior colleagues.
• Client & Customer Management (External): Manage important client relationships with guidance from senior colleagues.

What you will bring to the team:

Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree in Engineeri g or oth