Wastewater Project Manager

HDR; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 122,304 - 174,720; Full time

Job summary

HDR is seeking a Wastewater Project Manager in Wisconsin to lead municipal and industrial wastewater projects from planning through startup, coordinating diverse engineering teams and client relations. This role emphasizes delivering high-quality outcomes and advancing HDR’s water initiatives.

Ideal candidates will hold a PE license, have 7+ years of relevant experience (including PM), and show a track record in business development within the Midwest.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering.
• 7 years related experience including a minimum 2 years in project management.
• Professional Engineer license (PE or P.Eng) recognized by the licensing board for the location.
• MS Office and MS Project experience required.
• Demonstrated leadership skills.
• Commitment to employee-owned culture and active participation.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage municipal and industrial wastewater projects from planning and design through construction and startup.
• Serve as Project Manager for wastewater treatment plant improvements and related projects.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with public- and private-sector clients.
• Coordinate and direct multidisciplinary teams across engineering disciplines.
• Manage project scope, schedule, budget, quality, and risk throughout the lifecycle.
• Lead project meetings, workshops, and client/stakeholder presentations.
• Support business development activities and client engagement.
• Identify and pursue opportunities with utilities and industrial clients.
• Mentor and develop junior engineers and project managers.
• Implement HDR quality management and QA/QC procedures.
• Coordinate staffing and workload planning for multiple concurrent projects.
• Track project finances and coordinate with leadership on reviews.
• Perform other duties as needed.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Client management

Business development

PMP certification

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's degree in Civil, Environmental, or Chemical Engineering

Tools

MS Office

MS Project

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.

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.

Our Madison team is actively growing its client base and expanding its presence across Wisconsin and the Midwest, creating exciting opportunities to help shape our practice's future. You'll work with a diverse range of municipal and private-sector clients, including local governments, utilities, food and beverage manufacturers, industrial facilities, and emerging industries facing complex wastewater treatment and water quality challenges. As our team continues to build strong client relationships, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to business growth, develop lasting partnerships, and support projects both locally and nationwide. We bring together experts across disciplines to solve difficult problems with technical excellence, innovation, and commitment to client success. This isn't just a job—it's an opportunity to help grow a thriving practice while delivering impactful solutions that enable communities and industries nationwide to achieve lasting environmental and operational outcomes.

In the role of Wastewater Project Manager, we'll count on you to:

• Lead and manage municipal and industrial wastewater projects from planning and design through construction and startup
• Serve as Project Manager for wastewater treatment plant improvements, process optimization projects, industrial pretreatment systems, nutrient removal facilities, pump stations, collection systems, and water reuse projects
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with both public-sector and private-sector clients
• Coordinate and direct multidisciplinary teams including process, civil, mechanical, structural, electrical, and instrumentation engineers
• Manage project scope, schedule, budget, quality, and risk throughout the project lifecycle
• Lead project meetings, workshops, and presentations with clients, regulatory agencies, and stakeholders
• Support business development activities, including client engagement, proposal preparation, project interviews, and strategic planning
• Identify and pursue opportunities with municipal utilities, industrial manufacturers, food and beverage producers, and other wastewater clients
• Mentor and support the development of junior engineers and project managers
• Implement HDR quality management and QA/QC procedures
• Coordinate staffing and workload planning to successfully deliver multiple projects concurrently
• Track project financial performance and coordinate with operational and business leadership on project reviews
• Perform other duties as needed

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Civil, Environmental, Chemical, or related Engineering field
• 10+ years of experience with municipal or industrial wastewater treatment and treatment process design
• Experience with municipal or industrial wastewater treatment and treatment process design
• Experience working with food and beverage, manufacturing, life sciences, semiconductor, data center, or other industrial clients
• Existing relationships with municipal utilities and/or private-sector clients in Wisconsin or the Midwest
• PMP certification
• Experience managing large multidisciplinary wastewater projects
• Business development and client management experience

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering
• 7 years related experience inclusive of a minimum 2 years experience in project management
• Requires professional engineering license recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position offered. Example: Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng) license.
• MS Office and MS Project experience is required
• Demonstrated leadership skills
• 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.

We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position depends upon skills, experience, education and geographical location. (Stated benefits are for full-time regular positions. Temporary and part-time roles eligible for limited benefits.) Minnesota: $122,304 - $174,720 Primary Location: United States-Wisconsin-Madison Other Locations: United States-Wisconsin-Milwaukee, United States-Minnesota-Saint Louis Park Industry: Water Schedule: Full-time Employee Status: Regular BusinessClass: WW Treatment and Effluent Mgmt Job Posting: Jul 29, 2026

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