Engineering Director, Water/Wastewater

American Water Works Association; Orlando (FL); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Relocation assistance

Licensing and certification support

401(k) with company match

Job summary

GAI Consultants is seeking an Engineering Director, P.E. for Orlando, FL, Hybrid. Lead and grow the Florida Water Division, overseeing a team of project managers, engineers, and technicians delivering water and wastewater projects statewide.

The role requires a licensed P.E. with 12+ years in water utility consulting, deep Florida market knowledge, strong leadership, and business development abilities. You will mentor staff and collaborate with cross‑functional teams to deliver full‑service

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Civil or Environmental Engineering.
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) license with reciprocity in multiple states.
• 12+ years of engineering experience.
• Experience in water utility consulting services including planning, design, permitting, and construction.
• Deep understanding of the Florida municipal water/wastewater utilities market and ability to communicate with client leadership on technical, financial, and regulatory matters.
• Proven technical, project management, professional leadership, and business development abilities.
• Ability to travel intermittently, approximately 10 to 30%.

Responsibilities

• Actively lead project pursuits to win new work by building relationships and monitoring opportunities.
• Manage multidisciplinary teams on planning, design, permitting, and construction projects related to water and wastewater systems.
• Plan and manage projects from inception through construction, including scope, schedule, budget, safety, QA/QC, profitability.
• Support development and management of a team of project managers, engineers, and technicians.
• Mentor and develop junior and mid-career staff in technical and project management skills.
• Collaborate with civil infrastructure, transportation, power/industry, CEI, and urban planning teams to market and deliver full-service opportunities.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Business development

Mentoring

Client relations

Team leadership

Education

Civil or Environmental Engineering degree

Job description

Engineering Director, P.E., Orlando, FL

Water / Wastewater Utilities | Orlando, FL | Hybrid

Lead and grow GAI’s Florida Water Division from our Orlando office. In this role you will support the development and management of a team of project managers, engineers, and technicians delivering the full spectrum of water utility consulting services, planning, design, permitting, and construction for public and private clients statewide. As part of GAI’s leadership team, ou will lead business strategy, project pursuits and client marketing, monitor and manage the performance of projects , and contribute directly to the overall success of the GAI’s National Water team.

We are seeking a licensed Professional Engineer with 12+ years of experience across water distribution and wastewater conveyance systems, infrastructure renewal and replacement programs, pump stations, water storage tanks and facilities, water and wastewater treatment plants, and facility upgrades and rehabilitation, plus strong client relationships in the Florida municipal water/wastewater market and proven technical, project management, professional leadership, and business development abilities, to join our strategic growth team as the Florida Water group expands its portfolio and range of services.

At GAI you get direct access to leadership, a defined development program, and the stability of a firm that has been solving infrastructure challenges since 1958, with a National Water team actively expanding its portfolio and services and a clear path to grow with it.

What You Will Do

• Actively lead project pursuits to win new work from both new and existing clients by building and maintaining customer relationships, monitoring future work opportunities, communicating regularly, and attending client events.
• Manage and guide multidisciplinary teams on the delivery of planning, design, permitting, and construction projects related to water distribution and wastewater conveyance systems, infrastructure renewal and replacement programs, pump stations, water storage tanks and facilities, water and wastewater treatment plants, and facility upgrades and rehabilitation, among other infrastructure projects.
• Plan and manage projects from inception through construction and start-up, including client coordination, team chartering, scope, schedule and budget development and management, safety, quality assurance/quality control, project profitability, staff workload coordination, and maintaining a high level of client satisfaction.
• Support the development and management of a team of project managers, engineers, construction professionals, and technicians.
• Mentor and develop junior and mid-career staff in technical and project management knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Collaborate with other GAI groups such as civil infrastructure, transportation, power/industry, Construction Engineering and Inspection (CEI), and urban planning teams to market and deliver full-service project opportunities for our clients.

Required Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Civil or Environmental Engineering.
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) license, with reciprocity in multiple states.
• 12+ years of engineering experience.
• Experience in water utility consulting services, including planning, design, permitting, and construction.
• Deep understanding of the Florida municipal water/wastewater utilities market and the ability to effectively communicate with client leadership on technical, financial, and regulatory matters.
• Proven technical, project management, professional leadership, and business development abilities, including the ability to make decisions with broad influence on the organization.
• Ability to travel intermittently, approximately 10 to 30%, for visits to other offices, onsite client meetings, project-specific meetings, and in-person business development activities.

Preferred Experience

• Master’s degree in civil or environmental engineering.
• Established client relationships in the Florida municipal water/wastewater market.
• Experience assessing engineering economic analyses and the risks associated with solutions to complex engineering problems.
• Experience evaluating solutions to complex problems involving multiple specialty areas of engineering and resolving ethical dilemmas in complicated situations.

Leadership and Management Expectations

• Make decisions with broad influence on the activities of the organization, receiving general administrative direction.
• Demonstrate a high degree of creativity, foresight, and mature judgment in planning, organizing, and guiding projects and activities of major consequence.
• Provide leadership and develop and engage others to create a common vision for their projects and the organization.
• Perform advisory or consulting work across broad project areas or within a specialized area with innovative and complex aspects.
• Assess practices and requirements to achieve sustainable performance of complex engineering projects from a systems perspective.
• Oversee multiple large or multidiscipline project teams and develop the projects needed to accomplish the objectives of the practice.
• Evaluate project management plans for complex engineering projects and develop risk mitigation plans to address project risks.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of leaders and teams.
• Develop organizational strategy for staff development through mentored experience, continuing education, and self-development.
• Negotiate critical and controversial issues with leadership.
• Represent the organization at important functions and conferences.

Why This Role Stands Out

• A practice on the rise. Our National Water team is expanding its portfolio and range of services, and this role sits on the strategic growth team driving it.
• Full-spectrum work. Planning, design, permitting, and construction across treatment plants, pump stations, storage facilities, conveyance systems, and R&R programs.
• A team to build. Support the development of project managers, engineers, construction professionals, and technicians, and mentor junior and mid-career staff.
• Full-service firm. Civil infrastructure, transportation, power/industry, CEI, and urban planning colleagues for full-service pursuits.

Compensation

Actual compensation will depend on factors such as education, licensure, qualifications, relevant experience, and current skills.

Benefits

• Health and Wellness
  Medical, dental, and vision coverage; company-paid life insurance; short- and long-term disability; Employee Assistance Program
• Time and Flexibility
  Hybrid work schedule and onsite expectations; generous paid time off; seven paid holidays plus one floating holiday; paid parental and adoption leave
• Financial and Growth
  401(k) with company match; performance and development bonuses; relocation assistance; tuition reimbursement; licensing and certification support