Water Business Group Project Controls Business Class Lead

HDR; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 116,000 - 231,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Employee ownership program

Job summary

HDR is seeking a Project Controls Business Class Lead to join their Water Business Group in Cleveland, Ohio. This role involves developing and implementing project controls practices to meet performance standards for various water projects, such as wastewater and drinking water systems.

The ideal candidate will have significant experience in project controls, including strong leadership skills and a proven track record in managing project control processes, recruiting and mentoring staff, and liaising with clients and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 10 years' experience in project controls work on engineering and construction projects.
• Ability to manage proposal preparation, contract review, and negotiation.
• Strong decision-making skills.

Responsibilities

• Implement continuous improvement in project controls.
• Coordinating project controls staffing and performance monitoring.
• Support career development for project controls personnel.

Skills

Leadership skills

Project management

Communication skills

Analytical abilities

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Projects

Primavera P6

PMIS software

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.

HDR is seeking a Project Controls Business Class Lead to join our Water Business Group team. The objective of this role is to develop and implement project controls practices on projects and programs to meet scope, schedule, and budget performance. As part of the Water Business Group, this role will engage in projects ranging from wastewater, dams and levees, drinking water and other water based projects. This role is expected to play a central role in project and program delivery and be a valuable asset to HDR’s Program Manager(s) in assessing program performance. The role will also assist in the management of Water’s project controls specialists when executing program work.

In addition, as Business Class Lead, this role will establish and improve upon project controls processes within the WBG using best practices and rigor consistent with industry standards. These responsibilities include working with other leaders within WBG to create template project control plans, cost management plans, schedule management plans, progress management plans, etc., as well as outreach and training to staff.

Primary Responsibilities

• Implementation of continuous improvement and quality into the project controls practice in alignment with the Quality Management System
• Assume leadership responsibilities to introduce effective and efficient project controls approach and technologies in projects across market sectors in the Water Business Group.
• Work closely with other Business Group Directors of Project Controls and Program Management to align best practices, provide directions to program teams related to project controls and prioritize project controls initiatives.
• Coordination and assistance in identification and assignment of appropriate project controls staffing for projects, during both pursuit and execution phases of projects.
• Monitoring performance of staff and projects, assistance in implementing measures to drive successful project performance and support in maintaining positive client relations.
• Supporting career development for project controls personnel through mentoring and identification of training opportunities.
• Strengthening the project controls practice across all business groups through knowledge sharing and fostering a community of practice across teams.
• Coordinating with other Regional Project Controls Leads and the broader project controls practice for purposes of workshare, knowledge sharing and fostering a community of practice.
• Supporting the recruitment and onboarding process for new project controls personnel.
• Network with corporate Project Delivery Services to leverage best practices, skillsets, or resources from other business groups.
• Work with other project team members including technical staff, cross sector staff, field services and commissioning services to take into accounts to identify where project controls services are required.
• Develop and maintain a project controls practice group within WBG. Consult with corporate project controls director to disseminate relevant lessons learned and best practices.
• Serve as a knowledge central for project controls trend and tools that are being used to make project controls more versatile and efficient.
• Grow Water Business Group project controls practice bench strength by recruiting or identifying strategic partner.
• Identify and mentor young professionals with an interest in project controls.
• Provide webinar and outreach to internal staff to elevate WBG’s project controls acumen.
• Support Pursuit teams for Program Management and Construction Management
• Perform other duties as needed.

For Project Work

• Serve as a Senior Project Controls Business Class Lead for program management projects to set up a framework to manage scope, budget, and schedule. The workstreams under project controls include schedule management, cost management, change management, risk management, and document management.
• Manage and direct a team of project controls specialists and document controls specialists to implement project controls plan for the program.
• Collaborate with program manager and client to provide a project control plan that is right sized for the execution and size of the program.
• Work closely with the PMIS team to recommend technology solutions to manage data and information that the program will receive, generate, analyze, consume, and communicate to stakeholders.
• Counsel Program Manager and the rest of the team on trends of the program, deficiencies, and recommendations on how to mitigate.
• Provide a comprehensive summary of project performance and present to both HDR’s internal team and clients.
• Establish process and procedures, such as project controls template, WBS structure and library, progress management KPIs, etc. to improve both quality and efficiency of our programs.
• Facilitates multi-company interactive planning sessions such as schedule workshops.
• Coordinate with teams regarding the interface with construction and engineering schedules
• Interact with engineering discipline leads & construction managers to understand issues and conflicts impacting schedule.

Preferred Qualifications

• Preferred years of experience to be 15+ years supporting large and small Project Controls Teams.
• Considerable experience for all aspects of Water Projects and Programs.
• Certifications (One or more) PE, PMP, PSP, CM, EVP, PMI-SP, CST
• Experience implementing and supporting PMIS Solutions for small and large projects.
• Experience in at least one (and preferably multiple) of the following disciplines; Scheduling, Document Control, Cost Management, Cost Estimating, Claims and Forensic Analysis, and PMIS Implementation/Dashboarding
• Familiar with estimating using various delivery methods including traditional design bid build (DBB), design-build (DB), EPCm, progressive design build (PDB), Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), and/or construction management at-risk (CMAR).
• Strong leadership skills with experience building a cohesive team culture and managing team members located in various locations.
• Comfortable presenting in front of clients and other project stakeholders.
• Proficient with scheduling software such as Microsoft Projects, Primavera P6, Deltek Acumen Fuse, etc.; and familiar with Linear Scheduling software such as TiLos and 4D/5D including Synchro
• Experience and familiarity with SharePoint, PMIS software such as eBuilder, ProCore, Prism, Unifier, QuickBase, InEight, PMWeb, etc.
• Experience in the understanding of AACEi, PMI, and PMBOK Industry Best Practices

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree
• A minimum of 10 years' experience in project controls work on engineering and construction projects, including planning, estimating, forecasting, scheduling, cost control, schedule control, and project reports
• Ability to manage proposal preparation, contract review and negotiation, client relationship and win strategy for medium to large EPC Projects
• Strong decision-making skills
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills
• Ability to coordinate and prioritize multiple long- and short-term tasks simultaneously
• Strong organizational, analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must
• Sponsorship (visa) for US employment authorization is not available now or in the future for this position

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 is $116,000 - $231,000 depending upon skills, experience, education and geographical location. (Stated benefits are for full-time regular positions. Temporary and part-time roles eligible for limited benefits.)

Primary Location: United States-Nebraska-Omaha
Other Locations: United States-Texas-Round Rock, United States-North Carolina-Charlotte, United States-Florida-Doral, United States-Minnesota, United States-Wyoming-Cheyenne, United States-Minnesota-Saint Louis Park, United States-Florida-Fort Lauderdale, United States-Pennsylvania-Bethlehem, United States-Oregon-Salem, United States-Texas-Fort Worth, United States-Montana-Missoula, United States-District of Columbia-Washington DC, United States-Maryland-Lusby, United States-Texas-Houston, United States-Michigan, United States-California-Irvine, United States-Wisconsin-Madison, United States-Mississippi-Jackson area, United States-Washington-Tacoma, United States-Nevada-Reno, United States-Colorado-Fort Collins, United States-Iowa-Des Moines, United States-New York-Albany, United States-California-Folsom, United States-Oregon-Portland, United States-Washington, United States-Montana-Bozeman, United States-Maryland-Bethesda, United States-Texas-El Paso, United States-Colorado-Durango, United States-Texas-Corpus Christi, United States-Washington-Seattle, United States-Mississippi-Vicksburg, United States-Nevada-Las Vegas, United States-Virginia, United States-Montana-Billings, United States-Texas-Dallas, United States-Washington-Spokane, United States-Virginia-Arlington, United States-Texas-Austin, United States-Texas, United States-Virginia-Virginia Beach, United States-Massachusetts-Boston, United States-Kentucky, United States-Colorado-Denver, United States-Oregon-Bend, United States-Missouri-St Louis, United States-Georgia-Savannah, United States-Arizona-Tucson, United State‑Arkansas-Little Rock, United States-Pennsylvania-Mechanicsburg, United States-Washington-Olympia, United States-Wisconsin-Milwaukee, United States-Tennessee, United States-Hawaii-Honolulu, United States‑Oklahoma-Tulsa, United States-Maryland-Fulton, United States-Arizona-Phoenix, United States‑Kentucky-Louisville, United States‑North Carolina‑Greensboro, United States‑Georgia‑Atlanta, United States‑South Carolina‑Greenville, United States‑Illinois‑Rosemont, United States‑Pennsylvania‑Plymouth Meeting, United States‑South Carolina, United States‑California‑Walnut Creek, United States‑Oklahoma‑Oklahoma City, United States‑Tennessee‑Memphis, United States‑Louisiana‑Baton Rouge, United States‑Virginia‑Richmond, United States‑Pennsylvania, United States‑Ohio‑Cleveland, United States‑Iowa, United States‑Florida‑Tampa, United States‑Florida‑West Palm Beach, United States‑Ohio‑Columbus, United States‑California‑Ventura, United States‑Kentucky‑Lexington, United States‑Ohio‑Cincinnati, United States‑South Dakota‑Rapid City, United States‑Washington‑Bellevue, United States‑Missouri‑Kansas City, United States‑South Dakota‑Sioux Falls, United States‑Oregon, United States‑Alabama‑Mobile, United States‑North Carolina‑Wilmington, United States‑Tennessee‑Nashville, United States‑New Jersey‑Newark, United States‑Louisiana‑New Orleans, United States‑Kentucky‑Paducah, United States‑Ohio, United States‑Florida, United States‑Florida‑Pensacola, United States‑New Mexico‑Albuquerque, United States‑New York‑White Plains, United States‑Missouri‑Columbia, United States‑South Carolina‑Charleston, United States‑Virginia‑Roanoke, United States‑Colorado, United States‑South Carolina‑Columbia, United States‑Virginia‑Vienna, United States‑New York, United States‑Florida‑Orlando, United States‑Alaska‑Anchorage, United States‑Minnesota‑Minneapolis, United States‑Indiana‑Indianapolis, United States‑Pennsylvania‑Pittsburgh, United States‑New York‑Syracuse, United States‑California, United States‑California‑San Diego, United States‑Michigan‑Lansing, United States‑Pennsylvania‑Philadelphia, United States‑Virginia‑Glen Allen, United States‑California‑Riverside, United States‑Florida‑Miami, United States‑New Jersey‑Pennington, United States‑Illinois‑Springfield, United States‑New Jersey, United States‑California‑Sacramento, United States‑Connecticut‑Rocky Hill, United States‑Texas‑Brownsville, United States‑New York‑New York, United States‑California‑Pasadena, United State‑Michigan‑Ann Arbor, United States‑Utah‑Salt Lake City, United States‑North Dakota, United States‑North Arizona‑Winston S‑alem, United States‑Michigan‑Detroit, United States‑North Dakota‑Bismarck, United States‑Washington‑Everett, United States‑Maine‑Portland, United States‑Montana, United States‑Idaho‑Coeur d’Alene, United States‑New Jersey‑Woodcliff Lake, United States‑North Carolina, United States‑Florida‑Jacksonville, United States‑Illinois‑Chicago, United States‑California‑Los Angeles, United States‑Missouri, United States‑Idaho‑Boise, United States‑North Carolina‑Raleigh, United States‑Texas‑San Antonio, United States‑West Virginia‑Charleston

Industry: Construction, Project Controls & Design/Build
Schedule: Full-time
Employee Status: Regular
BusinessClass: Project Controls
Job Posting: Mar 5, 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.