Northern California Construction Leader (Water/Wastewater)

Kennedy Jenks Consultants; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 185,000 - 245,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k)

Tuition reimbursement

Employee ownership potential

Bonuses

Job summary

Kennedy Jenks is seeking a dynamic Construction Management (CM) North Bay Area Team Lead with strong local client relationships, established resume and reputation, and leadership skills to grow our water and wastewater practice across the California Bay Area and Sacramento.

This senior role combines business development, client leadership, team development, and project oversight to grow a regional CM practice, with a hybrid work model and active involvement in securing new work and delivering

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience: 10+ years in Construction Management with business development, relationship building, negotiation, and client service management.
• Technical knowledge: Thorough understanding of your local market, established industry relationships, and strong CM knowledge in water, wastewater, pipeline, stormwater, environmental, and industrial consulting.
• Licensure: California Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
• Preferred experience: Familiarity with GCCM, PDB, or DB delivery methods.
• Travel: Ability to travel to clients and KJ offices as needed.

Responsibilities

• Drive market growth by pursuing and winning new work and expanding service offerings in the CA Bay Area and Sacramento.
• Build, lead, and mentor construction management teams to deliver outstanding client service.
• Lead pursuits, develop teaming strategies, oversee proposals, and manage client engagement to secure repeat business.
• Oversee project performance, including scope, schedule, staffing, fee development, negotiations, and delivery in a seller-doer capacity.

Skills

Client credibility

Collaborative influence

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or related

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.

Kennedy Jenks is seeking a dynamic Construction Management (CM) North Bay Area Team Lead with strong local client relationships, an established resume and reputation, team building and leadership capabilities, and business leadership skills to grow our thriving public and private sector water and wastewater practice throughout the California Bay Area and Sacramento.

This senior role is an essential part of our growth as we continue to provide quality solutions to our trusted clients. You will be part of a dynamic and successful construction management practice involved in exciting and meaningful project work throughout our local footprint.

As a Construction Management Team Lead, you'll combine business development, client leadership, team development, and project oversight to grow a regional practice.

What You'll Do

As a Construction Management Team Lead, you'll combine business development, client leadership, team development, and project oversight to grow a regional practice.

• Drive market growth: Cultivate new business opportunities by engaging the marketplace to identify prospective clients and projects. Leverage industry and municipal relationships to expand service offerings and strengthen market presence. Pursue and win new work through strategic planning, relationship management, and personal industry expertise. Coordinate pursuit strategies with local operations and marketing teams. Represent the firm in industry organizations and local associations to drive construction management growth.
• Build and lead teams: Build, lead, and motivate construction management teams to deliver exceptional client service. Partner with regional leadership on strategic recruiting, succession planning, and staff development initiatives. Foster a high-performance culture through mentorship, collaboration, and professional growth opportunities.
• Lead pursuits and delivery: Direct strategic project positioning across the region, including teaming partner development, proposal oversight, and interview preparation. Collaborate across leadership teams to identify, develop, and capture key opportunities. Lead client engagement efforts to build trusted relationships and secure repeat business.
• Guide project performance: Oversee project execution including scope, schedule, staffing, fee development, negotiations, and construction management coordination. Manage projects in a seller-doer capacity, balancing business development and project delivery responsibilities. Contribute to successful project outcomes as a Project Manager, Construction Manager, or key project team member.

What Makes This Role Different

• Market ownership: Shape client strategy, team expansion, and long-term growth in a priority market.
• Strong foundation: Build from existing relationships, trusted delivery teams, and active infrastructure opportunities.
• Broader influence: Help guide hiring, pursuit strategy, delivery approach, and practice direction.

What You Bring

• Client credibility: Relationship-building skills with the ability to earn trust, represent KJ externally, and guide strategic conversations.
• Collaborative influence: Enthusiasm for team building, staff development, and collaborative, inclusive leadership.
• Strong communication: Strong writing, editing, research, and verbal communication skills.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience: 10+ years of relevant Construction Management experience with proven experience in business development, relationship building, negotiation, and client service management.
• Technical knowledge: Thorough understanding of your local market, established industry relationships, and strong CM knowledge in water, wastewater, pipeline, stormwater, environmental, and industrial consulting business.
• Licensure: Professional Engineer (PE) license in California required.
• Preferred experience: Familiarity with alternative delivery methods such as GCCM, PDB, or DB.
• Travel: Ability to travel to clients and KJ offices as needed.

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 $185,000 to $245,000, and may vary based on 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.

#LI-Hybrid

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.