Senior Water Project Leader - Employee-Owned

HDR; Sioux Falls (SD); On-site; USD 116,000 - 231,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR’s Water Business Group seeks a Senior Project Manager to lead complex water infrastructure projects and serve as a trusted advisor to clients and mentors to internal teams.

We are a 100% employee-owned firm focused on delivering safe drinking water, wastewater treatment, and sustainable water solutions. The role emphasizes leadership, client relations, and strategic planning across multiple U.S. locations with a strong compensation range of $116,000–$231,000 annual.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering.
• 10 years related experience.
• A minimum 5 years project management experience.
• Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng) license.
• MS Office and MS Project experience (Access experience would be plus).
• Demonstrated leadership, business development and strategic planning skills.
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, design, and delivery of large, multi-disciplinary engineering projects and programs.
• Strategically oversee project execution, balancing scope, schedule, and budget to ensure exceptional outcomes.
• Cultivate and expand key client relationships, actively participating in business development, proposal strategy, and contract negotiations.
• Direct and facilitate internal and external project meetings, ensuring alignment among project teams, clients, and stakeholders.
• Navigate complex regulatory environments, representing HDR in discussions with permitting and oversight agencies.
• Guide the development of project documentation, technical analyses, and engineering reports with a focus on quality and clarity.
• Manage project financials—monitor budgets, forecast performance, and proactively allocate resources.
• Collaborate closely with project controllers, business group leadership, and finance teams to ensure transparency and alignment on financial goals.
• Provide mentorship and technical leadership to staff, fostering a culture of growth and excellence within the team.
• Support firmwide initiatives and contribute to strategic planning and operational improvements across the business group.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Business development

Client relationships

Regulatory navigation

Mentorship

Financial management

MS Office

MS Project

MS Access

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

MS Office

MS Project

MS Access

Job description

HDR’s Water Business Group seeks a Senior Project Manager to lead complex water infrastructure projects and serve as a trusted advisor to clients and mentors to internal teams.

We are a 100% employee-owned firm focused on delivering safe drinking water, wastewater treatment, and sustainable water solutions. The role emphasizes leadership, client relations, and strategic planning across multiple U.S. locations with a strong compensation range of $116,000–$231,000 annual.