Drinking Water Market Sector Lead

HDR; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 160,000 - 229,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Short and long-term disability

Life insurance

Employee assistance program

Paid time away

Parental leave

Paid holidays

Retirement savings plan with employer

Employee referral bonus

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

HDR is seeking a Drinking Water Market Sector Lead in Honolulu. The role focuses on shaping strategy, managing growth, and guiding multi-disciplinary teams across HDR's Water Business Group. You will collaborate with regional and national leaders, mentor staff, and oversee client relationships in the drinking water sector.

The position emphasizes leadership in market development, project oversight, and delivering innovative water solutions in alignment with HDR values and employee-owned culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in engineering, planning or a related field.
• 10+ years of industry experience.
• Experience developing and managing strategic marketing programs for planning/engineering services.
• Experience managing client relationships and program/project pursuits.
• Strong staff development and recruiting experience.

Responsibilities

• Identify upcoming pursuits and lead pursuit teams.
• Set vision, goals, and growth initiatives for the drinking water market.
• Serve as client manager for drinking water agencies.
• Coordinate with HDR leaders to advance wastewater projects.
• Lead multidisciplinary project design teams and manage budgets.
• Direct and monitor multidiscipline projects with high technical complexity.
• Prepare scope of work and fee estimates for proposals.
• Review project workload and staffing with operations managers.
• Act as Principal, Technical Manager, or Quality Control Reviewer when appropriate.
• Mentor staff and conduct performance reviews.
• Drive staff skill development through training.

Skills

Strategic marketing

Client relations

Staff development

Collaboration

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree in engineering/planning/related field

Master's Degree

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?. 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.

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.

In the role of Drinking Water Market Sector Lead, we'll count on you to:

• Collaborate with Area Water Business Group manager and Water Business Development Manager to identify upcoming pursuits, lead pursuit teams, lead annual qualifications solicitations, and perform other business development marketing activities as required.
• Work with area, regional, and national leadership to set and manage the vision, goals, and growth initiatives for the drinking water market sector.
• Serve as a client manager for select drinking water agencies. Oversee other client managers for other drinking water agencies in collaboration and with support from the Area Water Business Group Manager and Water Business Development Manager.
• Interface with HDR’s regional and national technology and market sector leaders to advance local capabilities and support strategic wastewater projects across the company as they align with candidate’s expertise.
• Manage and lead multi-discipline project design teams, including subconsultants, and establish work priorities while putting an emphasis on quality and productivity.
• Plan, direct and monitor all aspects multidiscipline projects or medium-sized projects with high degree of technical complexity
• Prepare and/or review civil engineering scope of work and fee estimates for proposals
• Track and manage project budgets and scope of work
• Collaborate with operations and other managers to review project workload, status, and staffing requirements.
• When appropriate, serve as the Principal, Technical Manager, or Quality Control Reviewer on projects and pursuits
• Supervise and mentor staff, and provide new employee mentoring, as needed.
• Work with direct reports to establish annual goals and conduct employee performance reviews.
• Advance the skill level of personnel through training, education, experience, etc.
• Coordinate with other project managers and supervisors throughout HDR to review project workload, status, and staffing requirements.
• Perform project engineer duties when required.
• When appropriate serve as the Principal, Technical Manager, or Quality Control Reviewer on projects and pursuits.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in an engineering, planning or a related field
• A minimum of 10 years of industry experience
• Experienced in development and management of strategic marketing programs for planning and/or engineering services
• Experienced in development and management of a wide range of client relationships and specific program and/or project pursuits
• Experienced in overall staff development to include recruiting, career path and professional growth
• Experienced with industry associations and maintains a visible profile in the market sector
• Ability to work cooperatively with Regional Market Sector Directors, Market Sector Directors, Business Class Directors, Regional Business Group Directors, Area Business Group Managers, Area Marketing Managers and Area Managers
• Demonstrated commitment to HDR values.
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in an engineering, planning or a related field
• A minimum of 10 years of industry experience
• Experienced in development and management of strategic marketing programs for planning and/or engineering services
• Experienced in development and management of a wide range of client relationships and specific program and/or project pursuits
• Experienced in overall staff development to include recruiting, career path and professional growth
• Experienced with industry associations and maintains a visible profile in the market sector
• Ability to work cooperatively with Regional Market Sector Directors, Market Sector Directors, Business Class Directors, Regional Business Group Directors, Area Business Group Managers, Area Marketing Managers and Area Managers
• Demonstrated commitment to HDR values. 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.

We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus, and tuition reimbursement.

Benefits

• medical
• dental
• vision
• short and long-term disability
• life insurance
• an employee assistance program
• paid time away
• parental leave
• paid holidays
• a retirement savings plan with employer match
• employee referral bonus
• tuition reimbursement

The expected compensation range for this position depends upon skills, experience, education and geographical location. (Stated benefits are for full-time regular positions. Temporary and part-time roles eligible for limited benefits.) Honolulu, Hawaii: $160,000 - $229,000

Primary Location: United States-Hawaii-Honolulu
Industry: Water
Schedule: Full-time
Employee Status: Regular
BusinessClass: Water Supply Management
Job Posting: Jul 31, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer (https://www.hdrinc.com/equal-employment-opportunity-employer). We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.