Senior Project Manager (Water / Wastewater Treatment)

GHD; Columbia (SC); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

GHD is seeking a Senior Project Manager for Water & Wastewater to lead major projects across South Carolina and Georgia. You will provide technical leadership, manage budgets and schedules, and serve as the primary client contact.

The role emphasizes business development, mentoring, and cross-disciplinary collaboration within a hybrid work model with office locations in Columbia, Bluffton, SC and Savannah, GA.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's and/or Master's degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license (in South Carolina a plus).
• Minimum 15 years of experience in planning, design and construction of water and wastewater infrastructure and/or treatment facilities (with at least 5 years serving clients in South Carolina and surrounding area a plus).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with proven ability to develop, mentor and lead professional technical staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee project team to ensure effective professional supervision and development.
• Manage a portfolio of water and wastewater projects while reporting to senior colleagues.
• Develop and implement strategies for business development and client relationship management in SC and neighboring states.

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering

Job description

Job Description

The importance of water to the health of our world can’t be overstated. As the frequency and intensity of floods, droughts and storms increases, the water industry must continue to build resiliency and lead from the front.

Senior Project Manager – Water & Wastewater

Our US East Water team is seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager to help accelerate the growth of our Water Business across South Carolina and Georgia. This is a high-impact role where you’ll provide technical leadership and oversee the delivery of major water and wastewater treatment initiatives, including master plans, sewer system evaluations, pump station and pipeline design, and treatment plant upgrades. You’ll be the primary client contact, guiding project strategy, managing budgets and schedules, and ensuring top-tier quality and compliance throughout every phase.

Beyond project delivery, you’ll play a pivotal role in business development—crafting winning strategies, pricing scopes, and building lasting relationships with large clients in South Carolina and neighboring states. You’ll mentor and grow your team, contribute to recruiting efforts, and collaborate across service lines to share work and expand our regional footprint.

This position can be based in one of the following office locations: Columbia, SC | Bluffton, SC | Savannah, GA.

Hybrid Work Model

Be part of the dynamic culture! Our workplace thrives on a hybrid model, combining in-office collaboration and flexibility. Join us in the office three days a week to contribute, connect and excel in our vibrant environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Needs Assessment: Uncover emerging issues or needs, identifying potential causes, barriers, and key stakeholders, as well as related issues.
• Improvement/Innovation: Identify shortcomings in existing business practices, then suggest and implement improvements while developing and delivering projects or a work stream within the organization’s change management program. Involves working with guidance from senior colleagues.
• Engineering Solutions Design: Design engineering solutions and the associated validation process to enable the realization of a design brief (for example, in terms of functionality, performance, aesthetics, and cost).
• Engineering Standards Specification: Analyze information, draft engineering standards and specifications, and evaluate the effectiveness of those standards within own engineering discipline to ensure work of the required quality is delivered and to inform engineering work in the organization and/or of its suppliers, contractors, and consultants.
• Technical Developments Recommendation: Discuss and recommend more complex or innovative technical developments to improve the quality of the website/portal/application software and supporting infrastructure to better meet users’ needs.
• Professional Supervision: Lead and oversee project team to ensure that there is effective professional supervision that supports team members’ professional development.
• Feasibility Studies: Conduct complex feasibility studies from a technological and organizational perspective and document findings to complete cost-benefit analysis on implementing changes to business processes, products, or business unit structure.
• Project Management: Manage a portfolio of projects while reporting to senior colleagues.
• Client & Customer Management (External): Manage important client relationships with guidance from senior colleagues, or oversee relationship management with a group of more transactional clients and customers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's and/or Master’s degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license (in South Carolina a plus).
• Minimum 15 years of experience in planning, design and construction of water and wastewater infrastructure and/or treatment facilities (with at least 5 years serving clients in South Carolina and surrounding area a plus).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with proven ability to develop, mentor and lead professional technical staff.

EEO Statement

As a multicultural organization, we encourage individual achievement and recognize the strength of a diverse workforce. GHD is an equal opportunity employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, genetic information, national origin, sex (including same sex), sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, age, disability or handicap, citizenship status, service member status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.