Drinking Water Project Manager

HDR; Ames (IA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee-owned culture

Job summary

HDR is seeking a Drinking Water Project Manager within the Water Business Group to lead multi-disciplinary teams in delivering water treatment plant upgrades and related projects. The role includes client management for customers in Iowa and Nebraska, with responsibility for design, production, and compliance.

The candidate will coordinate with engineers and CAD/BIM staff, manage contracts, and contribute to marketing and business development, ensuring on-time and on-budget delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering is required.
• PE license is required.
• 7 years related experience.
• Minimum 2 years project management experience.
• Strong leadership and client development skills.
• MS Office and MS Project experience required; Access is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary teams to develop facility planning documents, process design, detailed designs, plans, specifications, and cost estimates for water treatment plant upgrades.
• Administer construction contracts and support marketing efforts; act as client manager for multiple clients in IA/Neb area.
• Coordinate with staff engineers and CAD/BIM technicians to meet deadlines and budgets.
• Develop client relations and participate in contracting, design, and production.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and report preparation.

Skills

Leadership

Client relations

Communication

Team coordination

Project management

Water treatment design

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Tools

MS Office

MS Project

Access (plus)

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 work to weave diversity, equity, and inclusion into our work and foster a sense of belonging throughout the 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.

In the role of Drinking Water Project Manager we'll count on you to:

Independently lead multidisciplinary teams to develop facility planning documents, process design, detailed designs, plans, specifications, and cost estimates for water treatment plant upgrades including lime softening, membrane treatment, disinfection, chemical feed systems; water supply improvements including water production wells and well field development; as well as distribution system infrastructure. The candidate will lead the administration of construction contracts during the construction of the improvements. The candidate will also support marketing efforts, is expected to be a client manager for multiple clients, who are primarily centered in the Iowa and Nebraska areas, and be an integral component in the expansion of our drinking water portfolio in the area.

Other specific responsibilities include working directly with clients, drinking water process design, establishing appropriate design methods, report preparation and coordination, equipment sizing and selection, reviewing engineering specifications, and permitting and regulatory compliance. The project manager will be responsible for independently coordinating the work of staff engineers and CADD/BIM technicians throughout the development of projects while ensuring deadlines are met and within budget.

The selected candidate will have excellent writing, presentation, and speaking skills, as they will work directly with the facility owners. The ability to establish client relations is important because they will be involved in client development, marketing, contracting, design, and production.

Preferred Qualifications

• 7 years of related experience, including municipal water planning, design, and project management.
• Strong technical background in process design for water treatment facilities.
• Demonstrated business development and strategic planning skills.
• Self-motivated with an ability to work both independently and collaboratively with project teams
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Experience handling multiple assignments.
• Experience leading teams and coordinating project details.
• Preference given to local candidates.
• Active in area municipal drinking water industry associations is a strong plus.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering
• 7 years related experience
• A minimum 2 years project management experience
• Professional Engineer (PE) license
• MS Office and MS Project experience is required (Access experience would be plus)
• Demonstrated leadership skills
• 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-Nebraska-Omaha Other Locations: United States-Iowa-Des Moines, United States-Iowa-Ames, United States-Iowa-Davenport, United States-Iowa-Cedar Rapids, United States-Nebraska-Lincoln Industry: Water Schedule: Full-time Employee Status: Regular BusinessClass: Water Treatment Job Posting: Jul 16, 2026

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