Senior Project Manager - Growth Specialist

Ayres Associates; Fort Collins (CO); On-site; USD 135,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Short- and long-term disability and life insurance

Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP)

401(k) with company match

Flexible work schedule

Job summary

Ayres Associates in Fort Collins, Colorado, is looking for a dynamic engineering leader to grow our national dam safety practice. This role includes mentoring a team, overseeing project management, and delivering solutions with a focus on safety. Ideal candidates should have over 8 years of dam engineering experience and possess a PE license.

Responsibilities include managing projects, ensuring quality, and building relationships with clients. Benefits include health insurance, an employee stock ownership plan, and professional development opportunities.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in dam engineering with proven project management.
• PE license with ability to become licensed in Colorado or neighboring states.
• Competency using U.S. design standards for engineering of dams.

Responsibilities

• Mentor engineering staff to enhance design capabilities.
• Manage projects within budgets of 500 to 5,000 hours.
• Ensure quality deliverables meet agency standards.

Skills

Dam engineering experience

Project management

Communication skills

Mentoring

Regulatory agency engagement

Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Master's degree in engineering (preferred)

Job description

Ayres is seeking a dynamic engineering leader to grow our national dam safety practice out of our Fort Collins, Colorado office. This role combines staff supervision, project management, and technical delivery across a multidisciplinary team of engineering and geological experts. The ideal candidate will bring 8+ years of dam engineering experience, a PE license, and a passion for mentoring, client engagement, and business development. You’ll work with public and private clients, regulatory agencies, and internal Ayres service lines to deliver innovative, safety‑focused solutions. This position will require up to 20% travel to other Ayres offices, project site visits, and client meetings.

On Any Given Day, You’ll

• Mentor a team of engineers and staff professionals to help grow internal design capabilities, market services to safety‑focused clients, and oversee construction of impactful solutions.
• Demonstrate excellent written and oral communication.
• Confirm your team’s deliverables meet contract requirements, conform with Ayres’ quality standards, and meet the current industry standard of practice.
• Build respectful working relationships with other discipline leads and company leadership.
• Actively engage in professional organizations dedicated to improving dam safety.

Required Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in civil, geotechnical, geological, structural, hydraulic, or related engineering field from an accredited university is the minimum requirement. A master’s degree is preferred.
• Registered professional engineer (PE) in a U.S. state with the ability to become licensed by comity in Colorado, Wyoming, and other western states.
• A minimum of eight years of experience in dam engineering. Previous experience in submitting approved analyses and designs to regulatory agencies for review is required.
• Proven ability to independently manage projects with engineering budgets of 500 to 5,000 hours.
• Competency in standard U.S. design standards for engineering of dams and dam structures.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).
• A valid driver’s license and good driving record.

Desired Skills And Experiences

• Demonstrated passion for continued lifelong learning and mentoring, excitement for expanding Ayres’ market presence, and commitment to improving your local community.
• Experience establishing mutually respectful, collaborative relationships with dam owners, contractors, and regulatory agency personnel.
• Ability to commute to Ayres’ Ft. Collins office ten to twenty days per month (when not traveling or on personal leave).

We understand that no candidate is likely to match every qualification listed. If you are passionate about contributing meaningful and innovative solutions, leading impactful projects, and helping clients address complex challenges related to rivers and riverine structures, we encourage you to apply—even if your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every detail in the posting.

Benefits of being part of the Ayres team

• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Short‑ and long‑term disability and life insurance.
• Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) and 401(k) with company match.
• PTO, paid holidays including two floating holidays, and a flexible work schedule.
• Professional development opportunities.

Please note, benefits may vary depending on job status.

The company’s good‑faith compensation approach is fair and equitable, based on permissible factors including market data, education, training, skills, experience, and geographic location. The salary range for this posting is $135,000 – $165,000.

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer