Wastewater Project Planning and Delivery Section Manager

Water Otter Job Board; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Water Otter Job Board is seeking a Section Manager for Project Planning & Delivery (PPD) to guide the full lifecycle of capital projects in the Seattle area. You’ll connect long-range system strategies to design, construction, and handover, leading eight units and partnering with Operations, Finance, and regulatory teams.

This hybrid role emphasizes strategic, risk-informed delivery, regulatory compliance, and strong stakeholder coordination to deliver safe, reliable infrastructure for the

Job description

Job Description

About the Role:

The Section Manager for Project Planning & Delivery (PPD) holds a uniquely pivotal leadership role within WTD, one that spans the entire lifecycle of capital delivery and connects long-term system strategies to day-to-day implementation. This role stewards how WTD plans, designs, builds, and hands over major infrastructure investments, guiding work that begins with long-range system planning and continues through design, portfolio, program and project management, asset management, construction, and ultimately handover to Operations. Because WTD’s capital program is both multi-billion-dollar and essential to regional public health and environmental protection, the PPD Section Manager serves as the integrator who ensures that capital delivery is strategic, risk-informed, technically sound, and aligned with regulatory and financial commitments. The role’s reach across eight specialized units, along with its close partnership with Operations and Maintenance, Finance, Environmental and Community Services, and countywide agencies, makes it central to how WTD delivers reliable and sustainable infrastructure for the region.

This position follows a hybrid work model, blending remote and in-person work.

About the Team:

Our Project Planning & Delivery team brings together a diverse group of specialized units that work collaboratively to plan, design, manage, and deliver critical infrastructure for our region. Together, we ensure that capital investments are strategic, technically sound, regulatory-compliant, and executed with consistency, transparency, and long-term stewardship in mind. The following units make up this integrated team:

• Portfolio Planning & Analysis (PPA) - Provides long-range capital planning, portfolio governance, and project prioritization to align capital needs with WTD’s strategic, regulatory, and financial goals. The unit develops the six-year CIP and provides decision-ready analysis that guides capital investment choices across the division.
• Planning, Inspection, Modeling, Mapping & Monitoring (PIM3) - Provides comprehensive, long-term system planning needed for capacity planning, regulatory compliance, and risk-based capital decisions, supported by condition assessment, hydraulic modeling, mapping, and monitoring.
• Engineering & Technical Resources (ETR) - Provides design and wastewater systems engineering, technical standards, and design oversight to ensure quality and constructability. The unit delivers emergency-response engineering, leads structured Local Public Agency coordination, and provides facility record-drawing support.
• Program/Project Management Unit (PMU) - Manages project delivery from initiation through closeout, ensuring scope, schedule, budget, and risk expectations are met. The unit coordinates stakeholders and project teams to deliver predictable, high-quality capital outcomes. PMU’s Asset Management group guides lifecycle planning, risk-based prioritization, and long-term stewardship of WTD infrastructure.
• Project Controls (PC) - Oversees cost estimating, scheduling, reporting, and risk analysis in partnership with project delivery teams to support consistent and transparent project delivery. The unit provides scope, schedule, and budget performance information into WTD’s Project Information (PRISM) data-management system of record to strengthen accountability and inform leadership decisions.
• CSO Regulatory Unit (CSO) - Delivers CSO projects and coordinates with Ecology and regional partners to ensure capital investments, including complex regulatory mega projects, meet consent decree and permit requirements. CSO facilities treat stormwater and wastewater that exceed pipe capacity in older parts of Seattle during heavy rain. This unit focuses on projects driven by regulatory obligations not addressed in other portfolios, evaluating compliance along with timing, sequencing, and the cost and risk of non-compliance.
• Construction Management (CM) - Provides field oversight, inspection, and contractor coordination to ensure safe, high-quality construction. Confirms adherence to contract requirements and resolves field issues to keep projects on track.
• Capital Strategy, Quality & Standards (CSQS) - Leads capital delivery governance, quality management, and standards development across PPD. Drives continuous improvement to strengthen consistency, efficiency, and readiness across all units.

Join our team dedicated to ensuring clean water for generations to come! With over 1000 employees engaged in planning, designing, building, and operating treatment facilities, our agency is at the forefront of environmental stewardship. Success for us means upholding our legacy while promising future generations a pristine environment.

We partner with regulatory agencies to reduce harmful waste discharge and actively educate the public and businesses on water quality protection. We prioritize accountability to our ratepayers and operate a well-managed agency that services over 2.3 million King County residents. Our regional wastewater treatment system not only sustains a healthy environment but also fuels economic development, fostering prosperity in our region. If you're passionate about making a difference and thrive in a collaborative environment, join us in our mission to safeguard our precious