Practice Lead - Water and Wastewater

Bkfengineers; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary range 200k-270k USD

Bonus

Profit sharing

401k

Paid time off

9 Holidays

Education reimbursement

Professional dues

Job summary

BKF Engineers seeks a Practice Area Lead in Water/Wastewater to guide strategic direction, client engagement, and project delivery across markets. The role emphasizes growth, profitability, and scale, with leadership across regional leads and integration of acquisitions.

The candidate will drive revenue, manage KPIs, and collaborate with market leaders to optimize governance and service delivery for water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in water and wastewater design.
• Proven P&L ownership with revenue growth and profitability across multiple lines.
• Excellent business acumen with KPI focus and efficiency.
• Strong leadership, client relationship management in public and/or private markets.
• Knowledge of project delivery methods (DBB, progressive design-build, CM/GC).
• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Sciences or Engineering required.
• PE license in California preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a multi-year strategic plan for the W/WW vertical.
• Identify growth opportunities including geographic expansion and major pursuits.
• Recruit and develop Regional Leads and manage talent.
• Oversee resource allocation for project success.
• Provide leadership for delivery of Water and Wastewater projects.
• Represent BKF at industry events and with public agencies.
• Ensure client satisfaction and foster long-term relationships.

Skills

Water/wastewater design

P&L ownership

Strategic leadership

Business development

Client relationship

Regulatory knowledge

Budget forecasting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Sciences/Engineering/Construction

PE license in California preferred

Job description

BKF is a multi-service infrastructure consulting firm providing civil engineering and surveying services across California, the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. With offices throughout California and the Portland area, BKF has served transportation, water resources, land development, government, and federal clients for over 110 years.

At BKF, you’ll find a unique opportunity to grow your career with intention. Our culture values professional autonomy, innovation, and meaningful collaboration across offices. We are proud to have received the Great Place to Work certification for the second year in a row.

BKF is seeking a Practice Area Lead in Water/Wastewater to join our team! With a strong understanding of Water and Wastewater needs, the Practice Lead of W/WW ensures excellence in project delivery, client service, talent development, revenue growth, and financial performance.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Direction:

• Develop and execute a multi-year strategic plan for the W/WW vertical, aligning with BKF’s long-term goals and vision.
• Identify and pursue growth opportunities including geographic expansion, new service lines, and major pursuits.
• Identify Merger and Acquisition opportunities that align with the overall service line, market, and corporate strategy.
• Develop and execute strategies to successfully integrate W/WW acquisitions with the goal of unlocking synergies that drive growth.

Team Building & Development:

• Recruit, mentor, and develop a team of Regional Leads, fostering an environment of growth, collaboration, and integrity.
• Lead succession planning and talent acquisition strategies for key roles within the markets.
• Oversee the allocation of resources to ensure project success and operational efficiency.
• Oversee teams that are responsible for planning and design of Water and Wastewater infrastructure.

Financial Management:

• Under the guidance of the Market Lead for Water, lead annual business plan/budget and long-range forecasting for your vertical. Develop and own the W/WW vertical revenue growth, profitability (P&L responsibility), backlog health, and margin in accordance with the annual operating plan.
• Guide pricing strategies, fee development, and resource allocation in alignment with financial targets.
• Monitor and drive the vertical’s performance metrics, ensuring that the team consistently meets or exceeds
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Regularly review and assess the performance of the W/WW vertical, identifying areas for improvement and implementing corrective actions as needed.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and improve service delivery.

Market Engagement & Growth:

• Identify and capitalize on new business opportunities, expand relationships with clients and partners, and contribute to the overall growth of the sector.
• Collaborate with Business Development and Marketing teams to shape go-to-market strategies, major pursuit plans, and capture efforts.
• Serve as executive sponsor on key pursuits and client accounts.
• Represent the firm at industry events, conferences, and with public agencies to enhance market visibility and influence.
• Cultivate and maintain strong, long-term relationships with key public and private sector clients.

Project Oversight & Execution:

• Provide leadership and oversight of all project delivery ensuring quality, efficiency, and client satisfaction from inception to completion.
• Drive consistency in project delivery, leveraging best practices and standardized tools across teams.
• Identify and mitigate risks associated with W/WW projects and operations, ensuring the safety and success of all initiatives.
• Drive continuous improvement in project delivery processes and methodologies, enhancing overall efficiency and effectiveness.
• Conduct technical reviews and provide guidance on civil engineering designs, ensuring compliance with industry standards and best practices.
• Collaborate with regulatory agencies and stakeholders to obtain necessary permits and approvals for W/WW projects.
• Offer technical expertise and support to project teams, helping them navigate complex engineering challenges.
• Lead the development and implementation of innovative solutions to address W/WW challenges.

Client Relations:

• Build and maintain strong client relationships, ensuring a high level of satisfaction and trust in BKF's services.
• Foster new client relationships in alignment with the strategic growth goals of W/WW and Infrastructure Services.

Collaboration:

• Work closely with other leaders across BKF to share best practices, optimize processes, and contribute to company-wide initiatives. Support other projects and teams as needed.
• Maintain open and effective communication with stakeholders, including clients, team members, and senior leadership, to ensure alignment and transparency.

Requirements

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in water and wastewater design.
• Proven success in P&L ownership, including driving scaled revenue growth, operational efficiency, and profitability management across multiple business lines or regions.
• Excellent business acumen with a focus on KPIs, operational efficiency, and scalable growth.
• Deep expertise in water and wastewater design.
• Demonstrated track record of business development and client relationship management in public and/or private sector markets.
• Strong understanding of project delivery methods, including traditional design-bid-build, progressive design-build, CM/GC, and other alternative delivery models.
• Skilled in strategic planning, organizational leadership, and change management.
• Deep understanding of project lifecycle management in the AEC industry, including planning, design, permitting, and construction phases.
• Exceptional leadership and people management capabilities with the ability to inspire and develop high-performing teams.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills; able to represent the firm with clients, partners, and industry organizations.
• Strong working knowledge of industry trends, funding mechanisms, and regulatory frameworks affecting infrastructure investment.
• Client-focused mindset with a commitment to delivering excellence and value.
• Highly organized, analytical, and results-oriented.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven consulting environment.
• Willingness to travel as needed to support regional offices, project sites, or client engagements
• Able to work cooperatively with leadership and other key stakeholders within BKF.
• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Construction or closely related field is required.
• PE license in California preferred.

Physical Demands: Must be able to regularly talk, hear and operate a computer, keyboard and mouse and occasionally lift, pull/push and carry up to 20 pounds with accommodations.

Work Conditions: Exposure to constant or intermittent sounds at a low or moderate level consistent with an office setting. Exposure to high-stress, fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment. Travel to other BKF locations and client sites may be required.

Benefits

• The typical base salary range for this position is $200,000 - $270,000 annualized, depending upon skills, experience, education, and geographical location. This is a salary position paid biweekly.
• Competitive salaries, end of year bonuses, profit sharing, and 401k.
• Generous paid time off packages.
• 9 Paid Holidays.
• Education reimbursement, Paid annual dues for professional and societal organizations.
• BKF offers competitive and award-winning benefits and perks. To learn more click here.

BKF Engineers provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

BKF Engineers does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement and a specific solicitation for the position or other approved engagement request for the position with BKF Engineers, BKF Engineers reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited submittals are done at the risk of the recruiter.

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