Wastewater Market Sector Lead

HDR; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR is seeking an experienced Marketing and Strategy leader in its Water Business Group to drive annual area sales goals and shape market strategy. You will promote HDR services, manage key client relationships, and pursue opportunities to grow the business across Missouri and neighboring regions.

The role requires coordinating with market sectors and leadership to deliver projects with technical excellence while fostering HDR’s employee-owned culture and values.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, planning or related field.
• Experience developing and managing strategic marketing programs for planning/engineering services.
• Experience building and managing client relationships and pursuits.
• Experience in staff development including recruiting and career growth.
• Active involvement with industry associations and a visible market-sector profile.
• Ability to collaborate with Regional Market Sector Directors, Market Sector Directors, and other leaders.
• Commitment to HDR values and employee-owned culture.

Responsibilities

• Achieve annual area sales goals for the market sector.
• Assess area marketplace and determine the best business approach to winning work and securing contracts.
• Develop and implement area/department market sector initiatives.
• Promote HDR services to clients and manage key client relationships.
• Serve as client and project manager for future pursuits with key clients.
• Identify investments and opportunities to sustain HDR industry leadership.
• Coordinate with other market sectors and leadership to drive pursuit processes.
• Build relationships with senior leadership and industry counterparts.

Skills

Strategic marketing programs

Client relationship management

Staff development and recruiting

Industry association involvement

Cross-functional collaboration

Ability to work with senior leaders

Commitment to HDR values

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in engineering, planning or related field

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 work to weave diversity, equity, and inclusion into our work and foster a sense of belonging throughout the company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?

We believe water is more than a resource, it’s a shared responsibility. As part of our Water Business Group, you’ll help shape how communities manage water for generations to come. From delivering safe drinking water and treating wastewater responsibly to developing sustainable water supplies and protecting lives and property through flood control, your work will directly support public health, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure resilience. We bring together experts across disciplines to solve complex challenges with bold thinking and technical excellence. Whether you’re modernizing aging systems or pioneering innovative approaches, your contributions will make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. This isn’t just a job, it’s a chance to lead change, drive progress, and leave a lasting legacy.

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

Marketing and Strategy

• Achieve annual area sales goals for the market sector
• Assess area marketplace and determine the best business approach to winning work and securing contracts
• Work with Business Group and Business Development Managers to create and implement area and department market sector initiatives
• Promote the marketing and delivery of all HDR services to clients
• Have a focus on client management and development, serving as a client manager and project manager for future assignments and pursuits with key clients in the area
• Identify key investments (acquisitions and technology) that will maintain or drive HDR into industry leadership position
• Identify and develop project opportunities, serve as a pursuit champion, and act as a resource for HDR pursuits
• Coordinate with other market sectors and business groups
• Work with client managers and regional business development leaders to drive client development and pursuit processes based on proven capture techniques
• Develop and maintain relationships with senior leadership in key client organization and industry counterparts in other consulting organizations
• Participate in industry associations and serve as a company role model in business and community organizations

Operations Leadership / Project Management

• Promote Quality Assurance/Quality Control by working with business class and area leadership to assist the local programs with key technical expertise to support marketing and project activities
• Drive client management, monitoring, and corrective actions regarding market sector profit and loss, consistent with HDR’s project delivery and QA/QC programs
• Monitor market sector performance indicators related to earnings, bookings, profits, losses, etc.
• Work with area business group leadership to implement process improvements and leverage work sharing to meet or exceed planned goals
• Assist with contract review on key projects to help address risk management, proper staffing, quality reviews and resolution of claims
• Lead or support planning, directing, and monitoring of all aspects of large multi-disciplinary projects or medium-sized projects with a high degree of technical complexity

Technical Excellence

• Work with the business class directors and practice groups to drive technical excellence and coordinate technical staff to support the program and marketing efforts
• Lead the area in identifying needs and opportunities for new and improved technical services and products to maximize the depth, effectiveness, and efficiency of the practice

Staffing and Development

• Work with the Market Sector Directors to coordinate staffing/recruiting plans for key hires and assist local leadership as necessary with local hires
• Identify resource gaps and support talent management and recruiting
• 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

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in an engineering, planning or a related field
• A minimum of 10 years of industry experience
• Experienced in development and management of strategic marketing programs 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 and professional growth
• Experienced with industry associations and maintains a visible profile in the market sector
• Ability to work cooperatively with Regional Market Sector Directors, Market Sector Directors, Business Class Directors, Regional Business Group Directors, 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-Missouri-Kansas City
Other Locations: United States-Missouri-Columbia, United States-Missouri-St Louis, United States-Missouri-Springfield
Industry: Water
Schedule: Full-time
Employee Status: Regular
BusinessClass: WW Treatment and Effluent Mgmt
Job Posting: Jul 17, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.