South Central Region Drinking Water Market Sector Leader

HDR; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 160,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR in Dallas is seeking a South Central Region Drinking Water Market Sector Leader to drive strategy, client development, and cross-functional project delivery within the Water Business Group.

You will coordinate with regional leadership to implement sector initiatives, pursue opportunities, and guide Pursuits, while mentoring staff to strengthen HDR's capabilities in drinking water services for municipalities, utilities, and government clients.

Qualifications

• Minimum 20+ years of experience in drinking water planning and engineering design, client development, and project management.
• Bachelor's degree in civil/environmental engineering or related field and PE registration.
• Ability to work cooperatively with HDR leadership and client teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and implementation of drinking water market sector strategies across the South Central Region.
• Coordinate with Regional Business Group leadership, client managers and Market Sector Directors.
• Grow HDR's market share by pursuing opportunities, managing client relationships and delivering technical excellence.
• Mentor staff, drive staff development, and participate in industry associations.

Skills

Cooperative work style

Leadership ability

Education

Bachelor's degree in civil or environmental engineering

Bachelor's Degree in architecture, engineering, planning or related field

Professional engineering registration

Job description

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?

Watch Our Story: https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story

Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

Primary Responsibilities

The South Central Region Drinking Water Market Sector ("MS") Leader will lead the development and implementation of business strategies across the South Central Region in coordination with Regional Business Group leadership, operational leadership, client managers and Business Class Directors. Responsible to the Drinking Water Market Sector Director, and in full coordination with the Water Business Group Client Development leadership, the South Central Regional Drinking Water Market Sector Leader creates and monitors frequent and regular communication across the region to implement the strategic and key project delivery plans and marketing opportunities for the market sector. This market leader will support and collaborate across various areas and business lines to advance a variety of strategies intended to grow services across the market sector.

Within the Water Business Group, the Drinking Water Market Sector is a highly technical and diversified sector. This reflects that this service offering routinely works for local municipalities, private entities, distinct water utilities, Federal, regional and local governments, and similar clients in each of the 50 US states and in Canada and the middle east region. In 2022 Engineering News Record ranked HDR sixth in size of business in the important water supply and treatment category. We have nearly 335 employees in this Market Sector spanning the range of services from utility master planning; strategic advisory services, transmission and distribution, water supply management, water treatment and reuse, construction management and inspection, and asset management and operations assistance.

The Drinking Water Market Sector is comprised of a multi-layer organization to drive business and client development, while at the same time defining and implementing strategic drinking water initiatives for growth, coordinating best practices and quality professional services, and projecting the HDR brand in the marketplace. Specific attention is required to capture the potential of the wide spectrum of employees throughout the Region, while at the same time developing and reinforcing the image of HDR with our clients across the various drinking water markets.

Business Development Responsibilities

The South Central Region Drinking Water Market Sector Leader will provide substantial support to assessing the Region’s marketplace and determining optimal technical strategies needed to win and secure contracts and expand business. Business development efforts will extend cross-sector with other Transportation, Resources, Water, and Federal Business Group market sectors and, at times, into other geographic regions. This position will implement Sector strategies that are effective in gaining market share, and that will successfully interface with Regional/Area client development programs, our Strategic Pursuits program, and Regional/Area marketing managers/pursuit leaders. Specific business development activities include:

• Incorporate our corporate and Water business vision within the market sector to become the industry leader.
• Serve as the Client Manager for selected key clients within the South Central Region and be active and visible in the industry.
• Work with client managers to promote the marketing and delivery of all HDR services to Drinking Water clients within the South Central Region.
• Participate as a member of the South Central Region Water Business Group Management Team.
• Work with Regional Business Group Managers in the development and delivery of market sector initiatives that align with area and regional drivers.
• Work with the client development leaders to support client development, deploy pursuit strategies, and guide pursuit processes, based on proven capture techniques.
• Provide direct support to selected pursuits through client relationship development and/or through development of strategy, technical differentiation, and participation in related pursuit activities.
• Actively participate in industry associations in leadership roles and serve as a company role-model in business and community organizations.
• Identify key investments (acquisitions and technology) that will maintain or drive HDR into an industry leadership position.
• Maintain awareness of Area marketing capabilities and provide market sector support to Areas toward achieving Drinking Water MS booking goals.
• Develop relationships with industry counterparts in other consulting and construction organizations.
• Develop relationships with senior leadership in key client organizations.

Staff Development Responsibilities

The South Central Region Drinking Water Market Sector Leader will seek opportunities to enhance our performance to win new work within the marketplace and provide opportunities for staff growth and development. Through project delivery leadership, strategically align Drinking Water staff and projects to develop and deepen skills, while mentoring and growing their capabilities and talent. Lead and/or assist with the identification and recruitment of prospective future market sector employees.

• Provide Drinking Water MS input and support for Area work-sharing efforts among Areas within the region and the broader Water Business Group.
• Work with the Drinking Water Market Sector leader, Business Class Directors, and practice groups to drive technical excellence and coordinate technical staff to promote quality delivery and our Drive to Zero initiative.
• Lead the Region in identifying needs and opportunities for new and improved technical services and products to maximize the breadth, depth, and effectiveness of the practice.
• Coordinate staffing/recruiting plans for key hires and to assist local leadership as necessary with local hires. Identify resource gaps and support talent management and recruiting.

Support to Operations

The South Central Region Drinking Water MS Lead will assist Region and Area Business Group leadership in key project delivery within the market sector. Key responsibilities consist of helping to drive client management, acting as Principal in Charge on key project delivery, and supporting the QA/QC program to provide for successful project delivery. Facilitate cooperation and eliminate hurdles and barriers to success. Work with a business group leadership to implement process improvements and leverage work sharing to meet or exceed planned goals.

• Be aware of staff workload and facilitate work sharing within the market sector; promote effective use of company resources and assist in applying key staff/expertise to projects.
• Assist with contract review on key projects to help ensure risk management, proper staffing, quality reviews and resolution of claims.
• Actively engage in the PARR process and promote Quality Assurance/Quality Control; work with business class and regional leadership to assist the local programs with key technical expertise to support marketing and project activities.
• Facilitate development and dissemination of “lessons learned”, Best Practices, and other key delivery guidance/tools.
• Take on Project Management and Principal in Charge assignments that leverage this leadership role by driving client satisfaction, staff development, technical excellence and mentoring opportunities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum 20 + years of experience in drinking water planning and engineering design, client development, and project management; a majority of that experience must reside within servicing of drinking water public and private clients and utilities.
• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in an accredited civil or environmental engineering program.
• Maintain a professional engineering registration in one or more of the States within the Central region.
• Experienced in development and management of strategic positioning and technical differentiation for planning and/or engineering services.
• Experienced in development and management of a wide range of client relationships and specific program and/or project pursuits.
• Experienced in overall staff development to include recruiting, career path development, and professional growth.
• Experienced with industry associations and maintains an active and visible profile in the market sector.
• Ability to work cooperatively with Market Sector Directors, Business Class Directors, Regional Business Group Director, Area Business Group Managers, Area Marketing Managers and Area Manager.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in an architecture, engineering, planning or a related field
• A minimum of 10 years of industry experience
• Experienced in development and management of strategic marketing programs for architecture, engineering and or planning services
• Experienced in development and management of a wide range of client relationships and specific program and/or project pursuitsExperienced in overall staff development to include recruiting, career path and professional growth
• Experienced with industry associations and maintains a visible profile in the market sector
• Ability to work cooperatively with Area Market Sector Directors, Market Sector Directors, Business Class Directors, Regional Business Group Director, Area Business Group Managers, Area Marketing Managers and Area Managers
• Demonstrated commitment to HDR values. An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must

What We Believe

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment

As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

Primary Location

United States-Texas-Dallas

Other Locations

United States-Texas-Round Rock, United States-Texas-Corpus Christi, United States-Texas-Houston, United States-Texas-Austin, United States-Texas, United States-Texas-San Antonio

Industry

Water

Schedule

Full-time

Employee Status

Regular

BusinessClass

Water Treatment

Job Posting

Oct 21, 2025

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Aff… (https://www.hdrinc.com/equal-employment-opportunity-employer). We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.