Drinking Water Business Class Lead

HDR; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR's Water Business Group in Kansas City seeks a senior leader to guide the Drinking Water Business Class. You will oversee staff, manage multi‑discipline projects, and ensure quality, safety, and on‑time delivery while aligning with HDR values.

You will foster client relations, pursue new business opportunities, and collaborate with operations, marketing and project management to drive growth in the Water market. This is a full‑time, Regular position.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a professional, architecture, engineering or closely related field.
• 10+ years of experience.
• Professional engineering registration and related technical experience.
• Experience developing and managing diverse teams.
• Ability to collaborate with senior leaders across functions.
• Commitment to HDR values and employee-owned culture.

Responsibilities

• Lead staff in the Drinking Water Business Class, including performance reviews and staffing
• Manage multi-discipline projects ensuring budget, schedule and scope
• Ensure QA/QC and project reporting compliance
• Collaborate with operations, marketing and project management
• Identify opportunities and lead client development in the Drinking Water market
• Engage in industry associations and professional leadership
• Help with strategic planning, budgeting and plan implementation

Skills

Staff management

Project leadership

Client relations

Budgeting

Business development

Quality assurance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Professional engineering registration

Job description

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. 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.

Responsibilities

• Be responsible for management of staff in the Drinking Water Business Class, including performance reviews, salary adjustments, staff recruitment and selection, staff development and morale, quality control, and marketing support.
• Manage and execute multi‑discipline projects.
• Be responsible for profitability and identifying, obtaining, and assigning appropriate resources to projects to meet budget, schedule, and scope requirements.
• Ensure the Business Class is compliant with QA/QC requirements, and other project management and reporting requirements.
• Collaborate on business class efforts with area operations, marketing and project management.
• Identify project opportunities, lead client development and pursuits to win work of key projects in the Drinking Water market sector and assist with others as directed.
• Actively engage in selected professional conferences and industry associations with presentations, committee assignments, and leadership positions.
• 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.
• Commit to quality, improvement, and HDR values.
• Serve as a strong team player with the ability to function effectively in a variety of roles on integrated project teams.
• Perform other duties as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Actively engaged in professional or industry associations to enhance HDR technical expertise and brand.
• Water market sector business development accomplishments and aptitude.
• Strong client relations skills, along with an interest in client and business development.
• Strong leadership and organizational skills.

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.

Primary Location: United States-Missouri-Kansas City Industry: Water Schedule: Full‑time Employee Status: Regular BusinessClass: Water Treatment Job Posting: Jul 6, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.