National Water Treatment Technical Expert

Kennedy Jenks; Virginia Beach (VA); Hybrid; USD 213,000 - 266,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Tuition reimbursement

Employee ownership

Professional registration support

Paid time off

Job summary

Kennedy Jenks, based in the United States, seeks a National Water Treatment Technical Expert in a hybrid work model. Lead technical guidance for complex municipal water projects, pursue new work, and mentor mid-level staff across water treatment, reuse, and purification initiatives.

This role requires a PE license and 15+ years of drinking water engineering experience, with a focus on quality delivery, client advisory, and cross‑disciplinary collaboration. Virginia Beach area preferred.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated success developing client relationships and capturing project opportunities in the water sector.
• Proven ability to translate technical expertise into long-term client relationships and revenue growth.
• Strong communication skills to explain complex information to clients and project teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for municipal drinking water treatment, water reuse, and advanced purification.
• Develop and maintain relationships with municipal and private-sector water clients and lead pursuit strategies.
• Evaluate process design in feasibility studies, basis of design, and preliminary drawings for water projects.
• Guide development and quality control of PFDs, process design criteria, and P&IDs.
• Collaborate with Applied Research Group on water quality projects; mentor staff.

Skills

Client relationship management

Strategic water treatment expertise

Communication skills

Mentoring staff

Independent / team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Job description

Founded in 1919, KJ has always looked to the future. With a talented team of professionals and a culture of continuous improvement, we deliver exceptional engineering, environmental consulting, and construction management services, with a focus on innovation and sustainability. Using advanced analytics, technology, and tools, KJ improves designs, reduces risk, and finds better ways to deliver projects from planning through construction. KJ is at the forefront of developing sustainable solutions for clients, including green infrastructure design, strategies to reduce energy use and environmental impacts, award-winning water reuse projects, and efficient construction management practices that ensure quality, safety, and on-time delivery. We are known for our dedication to industry-leading client service and tailored solutions.

As a National Water Treatment Technical Expert, you will provide technical leadership, strategic guidance, and client-facing support for complex water quality and treatment initiatives.

• Provide technical process and water quality expertise for municipal drinking water treatment, water reuse, and advanced water purification, including treatment process evaluation, process selection, preliminary engineering studies, and operations optimization.
• Develop and maintain relationships with municipal and private-sector water clients; identify emerging client needs, strategic opportunities, and market trends; collaborate with client service managers and regional leaders, lead pursuit strategies, and secure new work that advances Kennedy Jenks’ national water treatment practice.
• Process design in feasibility studies, facility plans, and process pilot testing for complex water projects.
• Advise preliminary process design, including basis of design reports and preliminary engineering drawings and specifications for complex water projects.
• Guide development and provide quality control review of process flow diagrams, process design criteria, and process and instrumentation diagrams.
• Evaluate process performance and operations optimization of existing water treatment facilities.
• Actively participate in water-focused professional organizations; submit abstracts and present technical material at regional and national conferences.
• Collaborate with our Applied Research Group staff to support and/or participate in research projects related to water quality and water treatment processes.
• Team up with private sector water treatment staff to support and participate in industrial water quality and water treatment processes.

What Makes This Role Different

• Serve as a trusted technical expert supporting clients and project teams across the firm.
• Apply your expertise to advanced treatment, reuse, purification, and optimization projects with meaningful community impact.
• Help develop mid-level staff by sharing expertise in water quality, treatment processes, regulations, and practical project delivery.

What You Bring

• Demonstrated success developing client relationships, identifying and capturing project opportunities, leading pursuits, and contributing to revenue growth within the water sector.
• Proven ability to serve as a trusted client advisor, guide project teams in delivering exceptional client experiences, and translate technical expertise into long-term client relationships.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical information for clients, project teams, and stakeholders.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret professional journals, technical procedures, government regulations, reports, design drawings, specifications, and technical memos.
• Experience reviewing technical deliverables and providing constructive guidance to multidisciplinary project teams.
• Ability to collaborate with and mentor junior and senior staff in water quality and water treatment processes and regulations.
• Ability to work independently and/or as a valuable member of the team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related scientific discipline required.
• 15+ years of experience in drinking water treatment engineering.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required; license in one or multiple states preferred, including CA, CO, FL, HI, OR, TX, VA, and WA.

Kennedy Jenks supports a healthy work-life balance and utilizes a hybrid model of home and office work, with a minimum of two days per week in the office. This approach empowers our people to thrive, collaborate, and do their best work.

Salary range for this position is anticipated to be $213,000 to $266,000 and may vary based upon education, experience, qualifications, licensure/certifications and geographic location.

Benefits summary: Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance; a health savings account; a 401(k); bonus programs; tuition reimbursement; employee ownership opportunity; professional registration support; business travel assistance; competitive paid time off and holidays; an employee assistance program; and additional programs that support your wellbeing and professional growth.

Kennedy Jenks is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, disability, citizenship status, genetics, protected veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by applicable law.