LA/MS Water Business Group Manager

HDR; Flowood (MS); On-site; USD 160,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR is seeking a Louisiana/Mississippi Water Business Group Manager to lead operations, staff development, and project delivery in the Water group. The role focuses on growth, profitability, and client relationships across Drinking Water, Wastewater, and Water Resources sectors.

Ideal candidates bring 10+ years in water consulting, engineering registration, and a strong network in the region. This is a senior, client-facing leadership position with a direct impact on HDR's regional success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or closely related field.
• At least 10 years of experience leading diverse teams in water consulting.
• Proven business development success in the water consulting industry.
• Existing network of clients/teaming partners in Louisiana and/or Mississippi preferred.

Responsibilities

• Recruit, manage, supervise, and mentor staff; coordinate staff training.
• Oversee quality control processes to promote quality deliverables.
• Maintain client relationships and serve as Project Principal or client-facing Project Manager for key clients.
• Partner with program and operations leadership to develop and implement an annual plan for growth and financial goals.
• Function as a senior project manager and coordinate services across service lines.
• Prepare revenue forecasts and budgets, monitor performance, and pursue new projects.
• Collaborate with regional/national leaders to coordinate services with other lines.
• Identify and develop potential projects and collaborate on proposals and interviews.
• Collaborate with marketing to develop qualifications, proposals, and marketing materials.
• Engage in industry events to promote HDR and build client networks.

Skills

Staff leadership

Client relationship development

Business development

Water industry knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

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.
HDR is seeking an action-oriented, client-facing leader to fill our Louisiana/Mississippi Water Business Group Manager role. Primary responsibilities for this role include oversight of water business group operations in Louisiana and Mississippi, staff development, project delivery, achieving profitability goals, managing team workload to achieve staff utilization goals, quality control, and business development. This role will help position our area WBG for year-over-year growth across our four Market Sectors (Drinking Water, Wastewater, Water Resources Management, and Federal Water). The Area Water Group provides drinking water, wastewater, water resource management, communications and public involvement, planning, environmental, and construction management services to water/wastewater agencies, municipal agencies, federal agencies, and private clients across the area.
In the role of Louisiana/Mississippi Water Business Group Manager, we'll count on you to:

• Recruit, manage, supervise, and mentor staff; coordinate staff training.
• Oversee application of quality control processes to promote quality deliverables.
• Maintain client relationships and, in certain cases, support project delivery by serving as Project Principal or client-facing Project Manager for key clients.
• Partner with program and operations leadership to develop and implement an annual plan, including tactical (i.e., near-term) and strategic (i.e., long-term) initiatives for achieving growth objectives and financial goals.
• Function as a senior project manager on projects in addition to management responsibilities and be administratively responsible for the group’s staff and technical service functions, subsequently leading and coordinating services across service lines with other sections.
• Prepare annual revenue forecasts and budgets, monitor performance of the business group, and sell and win projects that match the interests and skill sets of the staff.
• Work cooperatively with regional and national directors and business class leaders to coordinate services with other business lines in the company.
• Analyze and qualify potential clients that align with professional and financial value to the firm.
• Develop and strengthen client relationships.
• Monitor new market trends and participate in the development and implementation of area tactical and strategic planning.
• Collaborate with regional business development leadership and marketing staff to drive area business development activities including client engagement planning, advancing growth initiatives, opportunity tracking, and pre-positioning to win work in support of achieving bookings goals.
• Identify and develop potential projects and collaborate with national and local resources to develop and implement successful proposals and interviews that result in shortlisting and selection.
• Collaborate with marketing services staff, including marketing coordinators and proposal managers, to develop qualifications, proposals, interview presentations, specialty brochures, and other marketing information promoting the water program.
• Participate in industry conferences, seminars, professional associations, and other external water-focused organizations to develop business contacts, promote HDR, and engage potential clients and partners.

Preferred Qualifications

• Maintains a professional or engineering registration and has related technical experience
• 15 years or more of experience with program development, pursuit management, and client relationship development in the water consulting industry.
• Proven business development success in the water consulting industry.
• Existing network of clients and teaming partners in Louisiana and/or Mississippi is preferred.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a Professional, Architecture, Engineering or closely related field
• A minimum of 10 years experience
• Demonstrated experience with leading diverse teams
• Committed to quality, improvement and HDR values
• Actively engaged in professional or industry associations to enhance HDR technical expertise and brand
• Ability to work cooperatively with regional and local office managers, other area business group directors, technical directors and marketing managers
• 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-Louisiana-Lafayette Other Locations:United States-Mississippi-Flowood, United States-Louisiana-Baton Rouge, United States-Louisiana-Metairie Industry:Water Schedule:Full-time Employee Status:Regular BusinessClass:Stormwater / Wet Weather Job Posting:Jul 26, 2026
At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Aff