Water Quality Consultant

HDR, Inc.; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR, Inc. is seeking a Water Quality Consultant to join the Water Business Group in Raleigh, NC.

The role focuses on applying regulatory knowledge, sampling, data analysis, and technical documentation to help utilities maintain water quality and regulatory compliance. You will lead sampling programs, oversee laboratory testing, analyze data, and translate results into actionable recommendations for utility managers and engineers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, environmental science, civil or environmental engineering, water resources, or related technical discipline; an advanced degree is a plus
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in drinking water treatment, water quality, laboratory management, utility operations, environmental laboratory services, or a closely related field
• Experience supporting regulatory compliance, treatment optimization, distribution system water quality investigations, treatability studies, or related activities
• Familiarity with laboratory information management systems, water quality databases, statistical analysis, data visualization, or related analytical tools
• Demonstrated experience managing or providing senior oversight for a water treatment laboratory, water quality program, or comparable technical function
• Strong experience developing and implementing sampling plans and coordinating field and laboratory testing for water treatment plants and distribution systems
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex analytical and operational data, identify trends and data limitations, and develop defensible technical conclusions and recommendations
• Strong technical writing skills, including preparation and review of standard operating procedures, sampling and analysis plans, technical memoranda, reports, and presentations
• Demonstrated project planning, project management, communication, leadership, and mentoring skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; experience organizing, visualizing, and communicating analytical results is required
• Ability to work collaboratively with utility managers, operators, engineers, laboratory personnel, regulators, and multidisciplinary project teams
• Local candidates are preferred

Responsibilities

• Plan, lead, and review water quality sampling programs for source water, treatment processes, finished water, and distribution systems, including development of sampling locations, frequencies, methods, quality assurance requirements, and data management procedures
• Provide technical oversight for laboratory and field testing activities, including coordination with internal and contract laboratories, review of analytical methods, and evaluation of quality assurance and quality control results
• Analyze laboratory, field, operational, and regulatory data to identify trends, data gaps, treatment performance issues, distribution system concerns, and opportunities for process improvement
• Evaluate water treatment plant performance and distribution system water quality using knowledge of treatment chemistry, process control, residual maintenance, disinfection, corrosion control, taste and odor, and other operational water quality considerations
• Prepare and review sampling and analysis plans, standard operating procedures, quality assurance project plans, technical memoranda, reports, and presentations
• Translate complex sampling results and analytical findings into clear conclusions and practical recommendations for utility managers, operators, engineers, regulators, and other stakeholders
• Support water quality investigations, treatability studies, treatment process evaluations, distribution system studies, regulatory response efforts, and utility performance improvement initiatives
• Serve as a Project Manager responsible for scope, schedule, budget, quality, client communication, and coordination of multidisciplinary teams using HDR business systems and project management tools
• Provide quality control and senior technical review for deliverables
• Build trusted-advisor relationships with utility clients and support client development
• Lead and mentor staff
• Participate in industry organizations and functions, including presentations and publications
• Possibly serve in an expert role for projects throughout the eastern USA
• Some regional travel will be expected

Skills

Water quality

Regulatory compliance

Data analysis

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, environmental science, civil or environmental engineering, water resources, or related technical discipline

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Access

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Visio

Microsoft Project

LIMS

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 looking for a Water Quality Consultant to join our Water Business Group team in Raleigh, NC, with directly relevant skills as a water quality professional with a strong background in regulatory and operational sampling, laboratory testing, analytical evaluation, and technical documentation. This individual will apply practical knowledge of water treatment plant and water distribution system operations to help utilities understand water quality conditions, evaluate treatment performance, improve monitoring programs, and translate complex technical findings into clear, actionable recommendations. The Senior Consultant will build and maintain trusted-advisor relationships with clients and manage the delivery of water treatment, water quality, operations, and utility management assignments. Project work may include treatability studies; sampling and analysis plans; laboratory and field data review; water quality investigations; treatment process optimization; distribution system water quality evaluations; standard operating procedures; regulatory and operational documentation; and utility performance improvement initiatives. The candidate will also support HDR’s program management and owner’s advisor services, contribute specialized technical leadership, and participate in client development.

On a day-to-day basis, the Water Quality Consultant will be expected to:

• Plan, lead, and review water quality sampling programs for source water, treatment processes, finished water, and distribution systems, including development of sampling locations, frequencies, methods, quality assurance requirements, and data management procedures
• Provide technical oversight for laboratory and field testing activities, including coordination with internal and contract laboratories, review of analytical methods, and evaluation of quality assurance and quality control results
• Analyze laboratory, field, operational, and regulatory data to identify trends, data gaps, treatment performance issues, distribution system concerns, and opportunities for process improvement
• Evaluate water treatment plant performance and distribution system water quality using knowledge of treatment chemistry, process control, residual maintenance, disinfection, corrosion control, taste and odor, and other operational water quality considerations
• Prepare and review sampling and analysis plans, standard operating procedures, quality assurance project plans, technical memoranda, reports, and presentations
• Translate complex sampling results and analytical findings into clear conclusions and practical recommendations for utility managers, operators, engineers, regulators, and other stakeholders
• Support water quality investigations, treatability studies, treatment process evaluations, distribution system studies, regulatory response efforts, and utility performance improvement initiatives
• Serve as a Project Manager responsible for scope, schedule, budget, quality, client communication, and coordination of multidisciplinary teams using HDR business systems and project management tools
• Provide quality control and senior technical review for deliverables
• Build trusted-advisor relationships with utility clients and support client development
• Lead and mentor staff
• Participate in industry organizations and functions, including presentations and publications
• Possibly serve in an expert role for projects throughout the eastern USA
• Some regional travel will be expected

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, environmental science, civil or environmental engineering, water resources, or a related technical discipline; an advanced degree is a plus
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in drinking water treatment, water quality, laboratory management, utility operations, environmental laboratory services, or a closely related field
• Experience supporting regulatory compliance, treatment optimization, distribution system water quality investigations, treatability studies, or
• Familiarity with laboratory information management systems, water quality databases, statistical analysis, data visualization, or related analytical tools
• Demonstrated experience managing or providing senior oversight for a water treatment laboratory, water quality program, or comparable technical function
• Strong experience developing and implementing sampling plans and coordinating field and laboratory testing for water treatment plants and distribution systems
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex analytical and operational data, identify trends and data limitations, and develop defensible technical conclusions and recommendations
• Strong technical writing skills, including preparation and review of standard operating procedures, sampling and analysis plans, technical memoranda, reports, and presentations
• Demonstrated project planning, project management, communication, leadership, and mentoring skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; experience organizing, visualizing, and communicating analytical results is required
• Ability to work collaboratively with utility managers, operators, engineers, laboratory personnel, regulators, and multidisciplinary project teams
• Local candidates are preferred

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related field
• A minimum of 5 years related experience
• Efficient use of the internet and other electronic and hard copy media for research
• Strong Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, Project and Visio skills
• Expert Microsoft Access and Excel skills
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to compile and present summary level information
• Ability to obtain, cleanse, merge and analyze data from multiple sources
• Excellent interpersonal skills and strong relationship, organizational and follow-up skills
• Self-starter with proven track record of accomplishments
• 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.

BusinessClass : Water Treatment

Industry

Water

Schedule

Full-time

Employee Status

Regular

Job Posting

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

We are an Aff…

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