Drinking Water Project Manager

HDR; Columbia Township (MO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR seeks a Drinking Water Project Manager in Missouri to lead multi-discipline teams for treatment facilities and distribution systems. You will oversee planning, design, and asset management within the Water Business Group across Missouri and Kansas.

Responsibilities include developing client relationships, pursuing opportunities, and guiding projects from development to closeout. Strong leadership, communication, and a PE license are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering is required.
• MS Office and MS Project experience are required.
• Demonstrated leadership and strong organizational skills are expected.
• Active participant in our employee-owned culture is a must.
• Professional Engineer license (PE) is required.

Responsibilities

• Direct and coordinate projects with technical complexity across lifecycles.
• Develop marketing initiatives to identify new opportunities.
• Establish and maintain client relationships.
• Lead design production and review meetings with stakeholders.
• Coordinate staffing and workload to meet budget and schedule.
• Track financials and drive projects to on-time delivery.
• Collaborate with leadership for periodic project reviews.
• Maintain QA/QC and ensure high-quality project delivery.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Communication

Team collaboration

Client relationship management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

MS in Civil/Environmental Engineering preferred

Professional Engineer license

Tools

MS Office

MS Project

Access

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?

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.

HDR is seeking an experienced Drinking Water Project Manager to join our Water Business Group in our Missouri locations of St Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, or Columbia. In this position, you will support the growth and delivery of HDR’s Drinking Water Market Sector in St Louis and throughout Missouri and Kansas. You will lead multi-discipline teams in the planning and design of treatment facilities, pump stations, and distribution systems, including condition assessment, asset management, and master planning.

As the Drinking Water Project Manager, you will help to promote the advancement of business development strategies, pursuit of new clients and new projects; maintain and strengthen existing client relationships; provide project management and technical expertise for key projects; and support staff development. Specific responsibilities include:

• Direct and coordinate projects with technical complexity, including management of teams throughout the project’s lifecycle (from development and initiation to closeout).
• Participate in developing marketing initiatives to identify and capture expanding service opportunities.
• Establish and maintain client relationships.
• Conduct work sessions for deliverable development in conjunction with other staff and stakeholders.
• Support contractual negotiations, and lead design production and review meetings.
• Coordinate staffing and workload balance through the project lifecycle to drive successful completion of deliverables on schedule.
• Track financial aspects of projects, coordinate and adjust work effort of team to deliver contracted services within budget and schedule.
• Work closely with the Accounting, Operational, and Business leadership for periodic project reviews.
• Maintain quality in project delivery and implement QA/QC procedures.
• Collaborate with other Business Class and Marketing staff in the pursuit of new projects, taking a champion role in selected key pursuits.
• Serve as Project Manager for key/strategic projects, provide technical input for Business Class, and assist in developing capabilities of Business Class staff.
• Supervise project staff and mentor staff.

Preferred Qualifications

• MS in Civil or Environmental Engineering preferred
• Experience with designing of complex municipal drinking water systems.
• Strong technical background and experience in designing treatment facilities and collection systems
• Proven project leadership, project management (staffing, schedule, and budget), and mentorship skills
• Ability to lead and manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Strong business development and strategic planning skills
• A team player with the ability to function effectively in a variety of roles on integrated project teams
• Must have the ability to interact with various design teams
• Excellent organizational, project management, and communication skills (both written and verbal)
• An active participant in our employee-owned culture is a must
• Preference is given to local candidates

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering
• 7 years related experience
• A minimum 2 years project management experience
• Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng) 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-Missouri-Kansas City

Other Locations:United States-Missouri-St Louis, United States-Missouri-Columbia, United States-Kansas-Wichita, United States-Missouri-Springfield

Industry:Water

Schedule:Full-time

Employee Status:Regular

BusinessClass:Water Treatment

Job Posting:Aug 13, 2026

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