Project Manager (Water)

HDR; Roanoke (VA); On-site; USD 103,000 - 205,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR’s Water Business Group is seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead large, multi-disciplinary engineering projects nationwide. You’ll oversee planning, design, and client relationships, delivering on time and within scope.

The role emphasizes strong leadership, 7+ years of related experience, and a PE license, with opportunities across the United States in HDR’s 100% employee‑owned firm.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering is required.
• At least 7 years related experience.
• Minimum 2 years project management experience.
• Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng.) license is required.
• MS Office and MS Project proficiency required; Access is a plus.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities and active participation in employee-owned culture.

Responsibilities

• Plan, direct, and manage small to large, multi-disciplinary engineering projects.
• Coordinate and balance work across planning and design teams to ensure seamless execution.
• Build and maintain lasting client relationships and participate in marketing, negotiations, and meetings.
• Lead internal and external meetings, workshops, and technical discussions with stakeholders.
• Interface with governing agencies during reviews and permitting processes.
• Track budgets and resources to keep deliverables on time and within scope.
• Provide regular status updates with project controllers and accounting teams.
• Mentor junior engineers to develop technical skills in water/wastewater engineering.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Client relationships

Engineering knowledge

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

MS Office

MS Project

MS Access

Job description

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?

Watch Our Story: https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story

HDR’s Water Business Group is growing, and we are looking for experienced Project Managers to help lead our program forward. This is an exciting opportunity to join our industry‑leading 100% employee‑owned firm in an influential leadership role. We have opportunities across the US for talented people like yourself to join HDR and become our next employee‑owner!

We believe water is more than a resource, it's a shared responsibility. As part of our Water Business Group, you’ll help shape how communities manage water for generations to come. From delivering safe drinking water and treating wastewater responsibly to developing sustainable water supplies and protecting lives and property through flood control, your work will directly support public health, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure resilience. We bring together experts across disciplines to solve complex challenges with bold thinking and technical excellence. Whether you're modernizing aging systems or pioneering innovative approaches, your contributions will make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. This isn’t just a job, it's a chance to lead change, drive progress, and leave a lasting legacy.

What You’ll Do

As a Project Manager in our Water Business Group, you’ll be the cornerstone of our project delivery. You’ll oversee both small‑scale single‑discipline planning efforts and large, multi-disciplinary design projects. This role is perfect for someone who thrives on managing details, building strong client relationships, and leading talented technical teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, direct, and manage small to medium‑sized single‑discipline projects and large‑scale, complex, multi‑disciplinary engineering projects.
• Coordinate and balance work across planning and design teams to ensure seamless project execution throughout the project lifecycle.
• Build and maintain lasting client relationships, taking part in marketing, contract negotiations, and design and production meetings.
• Lead internal and external meetings, workshops, and technical discussions to align stakeholders and drive progress.
• Interface with governing agencies during project reviews and permitting processes.
• Conduct and facilitate work sessions focused on design development and contract documentation.
• Track project budgets, monitor financial performance, and align resources to keep deliverables on time and within scope.
• Partner with project controllers, business group leaders, and accounting teams to provide regular project status updates and financial reviews.
• Perform technical analyses and prepare clear, concise engineering reports.
• Mentor and provide leadership to junior engineers, with a focus on developing strong technical skills in water/wastewater engineering.
• Support firm-wide initiatives and perform additional responsibilities as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering.
• 7 years related experience.
• A minimum of 2 years project management experience.
• Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng.) license.
• MS Office and MS Project experience is required (Access experience would be plus).
• Demonstrated leadership skills.
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee‑owned culture is a must.

Benefits

We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short‑ and long‑term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus, and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position is $103,000 – $205,000 depending on skills, experience, education and geographical location.

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.