Water Business Group Right of Way Cross Sector Director

HDR; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 179,000 - 336,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Disability coverage

Life insurance

Retirement plan with employer match

Tuition reimbursement

Employee ownership benefits

Job summary

HDR is seeking a Water Right of Way Director to refine and oversee the Water Business Group RW program. The role reports to the Planning Program Director and partners with HDR's RW leadership to drive growth and coordinate activities with clients and staff.

The Director will identify market priorities, integrate real estate solutions, and regularly discuss the program's value with clients. Travel is expected around 20%, with project leadership responsibilities as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, architecture or closely related field.
• Experience leading large, multi-disciplinary teams in water projects.
• License or registration in architecture/engineering preferred.

Responsibilities

• Refine and oversee the Water Business Group Right of Way program.
• Define market sector priorities and growth strategies for RW services.
• Coordinate with leadership, clients and staff; manage select projects.

Skills

Industry leadership

Relationship building

Team leadership

Communication

Quality focus

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering/architecture 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 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.

Summary Of Job Responsibilities

The primary duty of the Water Business Group (WBG) Right of Way Director will be refining, and overseeing the implementation of a WBG right of way program. This position reports to the Planning Program Director. The selected individual will work closely with HDR's Right of Way Director; and partner with other Right of Way leadership to coordinate activities that are tied to WBG Right of Way program goals.

The Water Right of Way Director will work to define a WBG program that identifies market sectors’ priorities regarding raising HDR’s technical excellence in Right of Way; addresses methods to raise the company’s market penetration in this area; fosters growth strategies through geographic and market sector expansion; and identifies key project opportunities. The Director will work with market sector leaders, technical staff and clients to integrate right of way acquisition and real estate solutions for our clients and projects. The Director will also be expected to regularly talk to clients and the value that HDR’s right of way program brings to projects. In turn, the Director will serve as the project or task manager on select projects and will maintain a utilization target to add to their resume and credibility as a right of way leader.

Position Responsibilities

• Project and Program Support Responsibilities. This position will serve as a technical focal point for the WBG to deliver Right of Way services to our clients and to create alliances within the WBG. This position will work closely with other leaders to fulfill long-term growth goals while maintaining high quality deliverables. Additionally, other duties include technical support, project related quality oversight, project leadership, and principal-level program / project management.


• Marketing and Business Development. The WBG Director will support Market Sector Directors in developing and implementing their strategic visions to develop and support right of way initiatives. Further, the WBG Director will develop its own strategic and tactical plans to address market opportunities and help to drive the business into geographies and service areas that are most appropriate to strengthen our overall program. Additional duties include supporting internal and external client relationships and supporting or leading key pursuits. This position also supports project capture planning efforts, pre-proposal discussions and/or meetings, and proposal preparation and coordination with technical and marketing staff, presentations and negotiations when appropriate.


• Technical Staff Development and Alignment – Serving as a the WBG subject-matter expert on Right of Way services, stays up-to-date on technical issues and current professional practice approaches and relays knowledge to technical staff (i.e., best practices, quality control processes). The WBG Director will be responsible for the recruitment of key staff; mentoring and staff development; and aligning right of way staff to ensure clients' needs are addressed.

Location and Travel

The geographic location of this position is non-specific; however, a location with significant HDR presence is preferred. The estimated, average travel requirement is a minimum of 20%.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated industry leadership and industry association engagement.


• Experienced in development and management of a wide range of client relationships and specific program and/or project pursuits.


• Experience working with water-related infrastructure and experience working with Federal and State Right of Way Acquisition laws and regulations such as FHWA and Uniform Relocation Act proceedings.


• Real Estate License(s) and/or professional designations related to real estate services.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a Professional, Architecture, Engineering or closely related field


• A minimum of 10 years of experience in related field


• For Business Class leadership roles for which the core service being overseen is technical design, the role must maintain a professional or Architecture/Engineering registration and has related technical experience


• Experienced in development and management of diverse teams


• Works cooperatively with other business class directors, operations managers, technical directors and marketing managers on business class efforts


• Committed to quality, improvement and 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.

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 $178,952 -$336,375 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-North Carolina-Charlotte, United States, United States-Minnesota, United States-Wyoming-Cheyenne, United States-California-Long Beach, United States-Minnesota-Saint Louis Park, United States-Wyoming, United States-Florida-Fort Lauderdale, United States-Pennsylvania-Bethlehem, United States-Oregon-Salem, United States-Maryland-Baltimore, United States-Texas-Fort Worth, United States-Montana-Missoula, United States-District of Columbia-Washington DC, United States-Texas-Houston, United States-Michigan, United States-California-Irvine, United States-Wisconsin-Madison, 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-Texas-El Paso, United States-Colorado-Durango, United States-Texas-Corpus Christi, United States-Washington-Seattle, United States-Nevada-Las Vegas, United States-Virginia, United States-Montana-Billings, United States-Texas-Dallas, United States-Montana-Helena, United States-Washington-Spokane, United States-Virginia-Arlington, United States-Washington-Pasco, 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-South Dakota, United States-Georgia-Savannah, United States-Arizona-Tucson, United States-Pennsylvania-Mechanicsburg, United States-Washington-Olympia, United States-Tennessee, United States-Hawaii-Honolulu, 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-Pennsylvania-Plymouth Meeting, United States-South Carolina, United States-California-Walnut Creek, United States-Tennessee-Memphis, United States-Louisiana-Baton Rouge, United States-Virginia-Richmond, United States-Pennsylvania, United States-Ohio-Cleveland, United States-South Carolina-Fort Mill, United States-Iowa, United States-Florida-Tampa, United States-Ohio-Columbus, United States-California-Ventura, United States-Kentucky-Lexington, United States-Oklahoma, United States-Ohio-Cincinnati, United States-Washington-Bellevue, United States-Missouri-Kansas City, United States-South Dakota-Sioux Falls, United States-Oregon, United States-Alabama-Mobile, United States-Tennessee-Nashville, United States-New Jersey-Newark, United States-Louisiana-New Orleans, 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-Nevada, 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-Pennsylvania-Pittsburgh, United States-California, United States-California-San Diego, United States-Michigan-Lansing, United States-Pennsylvania-Philadelphia, United States-Virginia-Glen Allen, United States-Nebraska, 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-New York-New York, United States-California-Pasadena, United States-Michigan-Ann Arbor, United States-Utah-Salt Lake City, United States-North Dakota, United States-North Carolina-Winston-Salem, United States-Virginia-Alexandria, 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-California-Los Angeles, United States-Idaho-Boise, United States-North Carolina-Raleigh, United States-Texas-San Antonio, United States-West Virginia-Charleston

Industry: Water

Schedule: Full-time

Employee Status: Regular

BusinessClass: Right of Way

Job Posting: Oct 7, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Affineous 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.