Senior Project Manager - Water/Wastewater Treatment

Dewberry; Fairfax (VA); Hybrid; USD 152,000 - 196,000; Full time

Job summary

Dewberry is seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager in Fairfax, VA to lead water and wastewater treatment projects for public utilities. The role involves directing a multidisciplinary team, managing scope, schedule, and budget, and pursuing new opportunities within a national water market segment.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in water/wastewater, strong leadership, and communication skills. Hybrid or in-person work options are available in the Fairfax office.

Qualifications

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven track record in managing complex water/wastewater projects.
• Ability to lead engineers and technicians across disciplines.
• P.E. license in region or ability to obtain via reciprocity within one year.

Responsibilities

• Lead wastewater treatment design projects for public utility clients.
• Coordinate with multiple engineering disciplines, technicians, inspectors, and permitting specialists.
• Contribute to business development and client management, including proposals.
• Manage project scopes, schedules, budgets, and team performance.
• Provide mentorship to junior staff and implement earned value management.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Leadership

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Mechanical, Chemical, or Environmental Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Programming / Scripting

Job description

Job Description

Dewberry is seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager - Water/Wastewater Treatm ent to manage and execute wastewater treatment projects for public utility clients. This is an opportunity for a highly motivated individual to join a team of energetic, highly engaged professionals in Dewberry’s Mid-Atlantic Water Market Seg m en t. This position will be located in our Fairfax, VA office and may offer hybrid or in person work opportunities. The ideal candidate will have strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills to lead engineers and other professionals on a variety of projects, which may include but are not limited to:

• Process troubleshooting and optimization
• Process modeling
• Biological nutrient removal
• Solids handling including aerobic and anaerobic digestion, dewatering, and biosolids disposal
• Reclaimed water
• PFAS treatme nt

With support from the enterprise, the successful candidate will be responsible for leading a team to execute highly technical projects . The ideal candidate will have strong technical skills and be capable of pursuing new opportunities , assisting with te chnical proposals , and preparing project work plans and fee estimate s .

Our water practice delivers high-quality, complex projects for top-tier water clients across the country. By combining strong local relationships with national expertise, strategic market focus, and innovative delivery approaches, our people perform meaningful work while shaping the future of water infrastructure. We’re looking for professionals who want to grow with us and help improve the water infrastructure for their communities.

Dewberry is a leading, market-facing professional services firm with more than 60 locations and 2,500 professionals nationwide. What sets us apart from our competitors is our people. At Dewberry, we seek out exceptional talent and strive to deliver the highest quality of services to our clients. Whether you’re an experienced professional or a new graduate, you’ll have the chance to collaborate with the best and brightest and work on innovative and complex projects at the forefront of the industry. Our commitment to excellence stems from our personal integrity and from other defining attributes, which we call "Dewberry at Work," that haveinspired our employees to be successful for more than a half-century.

Responsibilities

• Lead wastewater treatment design projects for public utility clients.
• Lead the planning phase of projects while interfacin g and coordinating with other engineering disciplines, technicians, inspectors, and permittin g specialists.
• Contribute to the continued growth of our National Water Market Segment through performing business development and client management activities, including proposal preparation and client interaction through active participation in professional associations.
• Effectively understand and communicate project expectations to the project team and client.
• Conduct QA and QC reviews of other projects.
• Provide technical assistance and mentoring of junior staff.
• Employ earned value management principles to prepare and monitor project work plans, schedules, and budgets .
• Expand technical knowledge and professional network by attending seminars, workshops, and conferences, reviewing professional publications, and actively participating in State and/or National professional associations through committee involvement and technical presentations.

Required Skills & Required Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil , Mechanical, Chemical, or Environmental Engineering. Master’s degree preferred.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in the water/wastewater field.
• Thorough knowledge and ability to apply theories, principles, concepts , and practices of civil and environmental engineering to the planning of water, wastewater, and reclaimed water conveyance and treatment systems .
• A successful track record of managing projects, including scope, schedule, and budget.
• A successful track record in managing clients and developing new business.
• P.E. in Virginia, Maryland, DC, North Carolina or the ability to obtain them through reciprocity within one year of the start date.
• Must have proven and strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Programing and/ or scripting experience is preferred .

The projected range for this position is $152,000 - $196,000 annually. Depending upon other factors, i.e., skills, experience, location, market conditions, the range may vary slightly.

• At this time, Dewberry will not sponsor a new applicant for work authorization.
• Dewberry is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or sexual orientation.
• Prior to a final offer of employment, the selected candidate will be required to submit to a background screening which may include, but is not limited to, employment verification, educational and other credential verification, driving record check, criminal background check, and an investigative consumer report. These screenings will be conducted by Dewberry’s background vendor of choice and will be conducted in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local law.