Principal Water Resources Project Manager

Mott MacDonald; Lexington (KY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonuses

401(k) plan

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid holidays, PTO, parental leave

Company paid life insurance

Job summary

At Mott MacDonald, we are seeking a Principal Water Resources Project Manager to lead high-impact water projects in the Cincinnati region. You will balance technical excellence with client development, serving as Project Manager on large efforts and expanding our presence with regional utilities and public-sector clients.

The role emphasizes sustainable growth, collaboration across disciplines, and a hybrid in-office work arrangement with at least three days on site.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in civil, environmental, or mechanical engineering.
• 15+ years of progressive water resources engineering experience.
• PE license in OH, PA, or KY with ability to obtain for another state.
• Proven seller-doer with project management and business development.
• Experience with asset management is a plus.
• Experience with watershed management or water quality modeling is beneficial.
• Strong analytical skills, engineering judgement, and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; engage with clients and teams.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating in a team.
• Familiarity with regional utilities and public-sector clients is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage complex water resources projects involving hydrology; open channel and river hydraulics; drainage and surface water management; erosion and sediment control; watershed planning; and flood risk and climate resilience.
• Serve as Project Manager on large, multidisciplinary assignments and Project Principal on smaller projects, ensuring quality, safety, and client satisfaction.
• Act as a Seller/Doer, identifying and pursuing project opportunities across the water market, particularly in the Ohio Valley and Kentucky region.
• Manage the preparation of engineering designs, plans, specifications, feasibility assessments, technical reports, and rehabilitation strategies for water infrastructure.
• Provide support during construction, including engineering services, design clarification, and site involvement.
• Lead or support proposal development, including win strategies, scope definition, scheduling, and fee development.
• Nurturing long-term client relationships and driving sustainable growth aligned with Mott MacDonald's goals.
• Expanding presence with regional municipalities, utilities, public-sector clients, and private owners in Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky.
• Work with multidisciplinary teams across engineering, environmental, and planning to promote teamwork and collaboration.

Skills

Project management

Business development

Communication skills

Analytical ability

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in civil, environmental, or mechanical engineering

Master's in water resources or related field preferred

Tools

Hydrology software

Project management tools

Job description

At Mott MacDonald, we trust our brilliant people to do brilliant things in engineering, management, and development services, supporting multisector project work in over 150 countries. As one of the largest employee-owned companies in the world, we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver exceptional outcomes through our network of 20,000+ talented consultants. With sustainability and innovation at the heart of all our sectors in North America, including, Buildings, Energy, Transportation, and Water.

We believe in empowering our people to excel, learn, and grow, offering diverse opportunities to contribute to career-defining work. Join us and be part of a collaborative environment where your ambitions are united with ours, and you can truly shape your story.

To support our continued growth in the Cincinnati region and build on our strong foundation of successful water projects, Mott MacDonald is seeking a Principal Water Resources Project Manager to join our Water team. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced seller-doer who thrives at the intersection of technical excellence, project leadership, and client development.

With Mott MacDonald's global legacy of delivering sustainable, resilient water solutions, you'll lead highimpact projects, strengthen client partnerships, and help shape the next generation of technical talent while making a meaningful difference in the communities we serve.

Role responsibilities:

• Lead and manage complex water resources projects involving hydrology; open channel and river hydraulics (1D/2D); drainage and surface water management; erosion and sediment control; watershed planning; and flood risk and climate resilience
• Serve as Project Manager on large, multidisciplinary assignments and Project Principal on smaller projects, ensuring quality, safety, and client satisfaction
• Act as a Seller/Doer, identifying and pursuing project opportunities across the water market, particularly in the Ohio Valley and Kentucky region
• Manage the preparation of engineering designs, plans, specifications, feasibility assessments, technical reports, and rehabilitation strategies for both new and existing infrastructure, typically working with water infrastructure/systems such as:
• Rainfall and precipitation patterns
• Reservoirs and water storage systems
• Stormwater runoff and drainage networks
• Groundwater systems including aquifers and wells
• River and stream flows
• Provide support during construction, including engineering services, design clarification, and site involvement
• Lead or support proposal development, including win strategies, scope definition, scheduling, and fee development
• Nurturing long-term client relationships and driving sustainable growth aligned with Mott MacDonald's strategic goals
• Expanding our presence with regional municipalities, utilities, publicsector clients, and private owners throughout the greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area
• Work closely with multidisciplinary teams across engineering and environmental, and planning to promote teamwork, continuous learning, and collaboration across local and regional offices

Candidate qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in civil, environmental, or mechanical engineering (Master's in water resources, hydrology, or related field preferred)
• 15+ years of progressive water resources engineering experience, leading planning, design, delivery, and construction management of water infrastructure projects
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in the state of Ohio, Pensylvania, or Kentucky required with ability to quickly obtain PE for either state not currently held
• Proven experience as a seller-doer, including project management and business development
• Experience with asset management processes is a plus but not required
• Experience with watershed management or water quality modeling is beneficial
• Strong analytical skills, sound engineering judgement, and outstanding attention to detail
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with clients and internal teams
• Ability to work independently while thriving in a collaborative, team-focused environment
• Familiarity with regional utilities and publicsector clients is a plus, but not required

Benefits & Reward

At Mott MacDonald, our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, providing them with a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses. We provide a comprehensive benefit package that includes 401k, medical, dental and vision insurance, short-term/long-term disability, paid holidays, PTO, parental leave, and company paid life insurance.

Individual pay is determined based on several factors such as work location, education, experience, and unique skills.

Collaboration at Our Core

At Mott MacDonald, we believe great ideas happen when we're together. Our hybrid approach centers on an in-office culture, with most of your time spent collaborating face-to-face and a minimum of three days per week in the office. We balance flexibility with connection, so you and your manager can choose how to meet client, team, and personal commitments.

Equal opportunity is the law.

We seek to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they have the opportunity to contribute.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, creed, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status or disability status.