Principal Water Resources Manager

Tetra Tech, Inc.; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Benefits

Performance-based incentives

Job summary

Tetra Tech is seeking a Principal Water Resources Manager to lead and expand our dams, reservoirs, and broader water resources services across Colorado, with the ability to grow regionally. The role is client‑facing and combines senior technical oversight with strategic business development.

Based in Denver on a hybrid schedule, you will direct planning, hydrologic and hydraulic analyses, and design reviews, mentor multidisciplinary teams, manage budgets, and advance resilient water

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Water Resources, Hydrology, or related field.
• 15+ years of water resources engineering with 5+ years in leadership/client development/program management.
• Active Colorado PE license or ability to obtain within 6 months.
• Proven success leading dams, reservoirs, watershed, stormwater, or water resources projects.
• Deep understanding of water resources modeling concepts and workflows.
• Strong business development track record leveraging client relationships.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office for documentation and communication.

Responsibilities

• Lead client engagements and manage key accounts to convert relationships into repeat work and new business.
• Drive proposal strategy and capture efforts with technical approach development and team assembly.
• Provide program-level leadership for water resources projects ensuring technical excellence and on-time delivery.
• Serve as senior technical reviewer for planning, hydrologic/hydraulic analyses, and dam/reservoir studies.
• Build and mentor multidisciplinary teams and support staff development and succession planning.
• Establish and monitor project budgets, schedules, and risk mitigation; resolve complex issues.

Skills

Client relationships

Proposal strategy

Technical leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil/Water Resources

Job description

The Opportunity:

Tetra Tech is adding a Principal Water Resources Manager to lead and expand our water resources, dams and reservoirs practice. This position offers hybrid work flexibility from our Denver, COoffice.

Why Tetra Tech:

At Tetra Tech, we are Leading with Science to solve the world's most complex challenges. Our industry-leading experts in engineering and consulting are committed to driving positive change in communities around the world. For over 60 years, we have been at the forefront of innovation and sustainability. Today we stand as a market leader, offering cutting‑edge solutions in water, environment, energy, and international development. Our work has improved more than 625 million lives around the world.

Your Impact:

Join Tetra Tech to make a real difference. Our work leverages cutting‑edge technologies, advanced analytics, and the expertise of world‑class scientists and engineers to create meaningful change around the world. Discover your full potential - join us to advance your career while leaving a lasting legacy.

Position Summary:

We're seeking a Principal Water Resources Manager to lead and grow dams, reservoirs, and broader water resources services across Colorado, with the ability to support growth regionally. This leader will be a client‑facing and senior technical manager who provides expert oversight of water resources planning, dam and reservoir‑related projects, hydrologic and hydraulic analysis, watershed studies, and resiliency‑focused infrastructure solutions. The position emphasizes market growth, client development, and technical leadership.

Essential Job Functions:

The following duties are considered essential to the role. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions:

• Lead client engagements and serve as the primary client relationship manager for key accounts, converting strategic relationships into repeat work and new business.

• Drive proposal strategy and capture efforts by identifying opportunities, leading technical approach development, assembling teams, and presenting technical credibility to prospects.

• Provide program‑level leadership and direction for medium‑to‑large water resources, dams, storm and flood projects, ensuring technical excellence, on‑time delivery, and profitability.

• Serve as senior technical reviewer/approver for technical deliverables, including planning documents, hydrologic and hydraulic analyses, dam and reservoir studies, feasibility studies, and related design documents.

• Build and mentor multidisciplinary teams of engineers, hydrologists, and scientists, delegate technical tasks, and support staff development and succession planning.

• Establish and monitor project budgets, schedules, and technical risk mitigation plans; escalated and resolve complex technical or client issues.

Required Qualifications:

• A Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering , Water Resources, Hydrology, or a related field.

• A minimum of 15 years of relevant water resources engineering experience, with at least 5 years in leadership, client development, and/or program management roles.

• Active Professional Engineer (PE) license in Colorado, or ability to obtain licensure within six months of hire.

• Proven success managing cross‑functional teams and delivering complex dams, reservoirs, watershed, stormwater, or water resources projects.

• Deep understanding of water resources modeling concepts and workflows, sufficient to evaluate and direct modeling strategies and conduct high‑level technical reviews.

• Demonstrated business development track record and ability to leverage client relationships to win projects.

• Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) for documentation and communication.

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail; excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Team‑oriented attitude with the ability to work collaboratively across departments.

Physical Requirements:

• Willingness to travel locally and regionally to support client development, site visits, and project delivery.

• Manual dexterity to use a computer mouse, keyboard, and peripheral equipment.

• The ability to sit at a workstation for prolonged periods of time.

• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and via electronic means.

Additional Information:

• This position is based in our Denver, CO office on a hybrid schedule, typically in the office 3 days/week.

• This is a full‑time position typically scheduled Monday through Friday; however, additional hours may be required to meet company and program needs.

Compensation:

• The salary range for this position is $150,000 - $200,000. Compensation may vary and is not limited to the stated range; offers will be determined based on a combination of an individual's experience, skill set, certifications, and educational background.

Life at Tetra Tech:

• Multi‑disciplinary environment where engineers work side by side with scientists to develop better solutions in a changing world.

• Competitive compensation, benefits, and performance‑based incentives are tied to practice growth and client retention.

• The opportunity to shape and grow a regional practice; mentorship and leadership role on high‑profile dams and reservoirs programs.

• Flexibility and company‑wide commitment to work/life balance.

• Collaborative team atmosphere that values the contributions of all employees.

• Learning and development opportunities for ongoing professional growth.

About Tetra Tech:

Tetra Tech is the leader in water, environment, and sustainable infrastructure, providing high‑end consulting and engineering services for projects worldwide. With 25,000 employees working together, Tetra Tech provides clear solutions to complex problems by Leading with Science to address the entire water cycle, protect and restore the environment, design sustainable and resilient infrastructure, and support the clean energy transition.

Tetra Tech is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, marital or familial status, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law. Tetra Tech is a VEVRAA federal contractor and we request priority referral of veterans.

Additional Information:

• Organization: 100 DIV