Senior Water/Wastewater Project Manager

CHA Consulting, Inc.; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

CHA Consulting, Inc. is seeking a Senior Water/Wastewater Project Manager to lead complex municipal projects in Virginia.

You will manage scope, budget, schedule, and risk, while serving as the primary client contact and directing cross-functional teams through design, permitting, bidding, and construction. You will mentor junior staff, strengthen delivery capabilities, and contribute to business development efforts to grow client relationships in the water and wastewater sectors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related discipline is required.
• Minimum of 13 years of industry experience with 10 years in project management.
• Experience leading municipal water and wastewater infrastructure projects from planning to construction.
• PE license required; Virginia licensure preferred or reciprocity possible.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead full lifecycle project management for complex water/wastewater projects, including scope, budget, schedule, and risk.
• Serve as primary client contact for municipal clients and maintain strong relationships.
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams including engineers, designers, subconsultants, and contractors.
• Drive project delivery by managing scope, schedule, budget, quality, and fee development.
• Provide senior-level technical guidance throughout planning, design, permitting, bidding, and construction.
• Lead client meetings, progress updates, and regulatory agency interactions.
• Mentor and develop Project Managers and staff to strengthen delivery capabilities.
• Support market growth by contributing to business development and client expansion.

Skills

Project management

Client relationships

Team leadership

Communication

Budgeting & scheduling

Risk assessment

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or related field

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Tools

MS Office

MS Project

Primavera P6

Deltek Vision

Job description

Shape the Future of Water Resources as Senior Water/Wastewater Project Manager — Lead Complex Projects, Foster Growth, and Deliver Sustainable Solutions Are you passionate about leading complex water and wastewater projects that make a lasting impact on the communities they serve? Do you excel at building strong client partnerships, driving project success, and mentoring teams through every stage of delivery?

What You’ll Do

• Lead full lifecycle project management for complex water/wastewater projects, including scope development, budgeting, scheduling, and risk assessment
• Serve as a trusted advisor and primary point of contact for municipal clients, developing and maintaining strong, long-term client relationships
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams and coordinate engineers, designers, technical specialists, subconsultants, contractors, and other project stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle
• Drive successful project delivery by managing scope, schedule, budget, quality, fee development, work plans, and overall project performance
• Provide senior-level technical guidance and oversight throughout project planning, design, permitting, bidding, and construction while ensuring quality and compliance with applicable standards and requirements
• Lead client meetings, project presentations, progress meetings, stakeholder coordination, and regulatory agency interactions
• Mentor and support Project Managers and technical staff, helping guide team development, strengthen delivery capabilities, and elevate overall performance
• Contribute to business development efforts, supporting market growth strategies and expanding client relationships within target sectors

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Architecture, Science, Planning, Engineering Management, or a related discipline required
• Minimum of 13 years of industry experience required, including 10 years of project management experience
• Demonstrated success managing complex projects, budgets, and client relationships
• Demonstrated experience successfully leading municipal water and wastewater infrastructure projects from planning and design through construction, with expertise in one or more of the following areas: water and wastewater treatment, collection and distribution systems, pump stations, water and sewer pipelines, or municipal infrastructure planning and design
• Deep understanding of water/wastewater engineering practices and regulations, with proven ability to lead technical delivery and manage project scope, schedule, budget, quality, and client relationships
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required; Virginia licensure preferred or the ability to obtain Virginia licensure through reciprocity
• Experience interpreting and managing client contract requirements and coordinating subcontractors
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence teams and clients
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining quality and efficiency
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office required; familiarity with MS Project, Primavera P6, and Deltek Vision preferred
• Ability to travel as needed required

Why You’ll Love It Here

• Take ownership of complex, high-visibility initiatives while partnering directly with