Water Resources/Modeling/Planning Group Leader - OH/MI/IN

Jacobs; Cleveland (OH); Hybrid; USD 94,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) plan

Stock purchase plan

PPTO and holidays

Caregiver leave

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking a Water Resources, Planning & Modeling Group Leader to direct leadership, growth, performance, and strategic direction of the group across Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. You will oversee staff development, project delivery, and client relationships while promoting collaboration, quality, safety, and inclusion.

The role requires PE licensure, deep expertise in hydraulics and hydrology, and proven experience managing large multidisciplinary teams and complex master plans.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil, Environmental, Water Resources Engineering, or related field.
• PE license required.
• Experience in water resources planning and modeling.
• Expertise with wastewater collection system and stormwater modeling platforms.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow water resources, planning, and modeling services across Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana.
• Support project managers in scope, schedule, budget, and quality management.
• Advance the group's reputation for technical excellence and innovative solutions.
• Lead workforce planning, staff development, and client relationships.
• Foster collaboration, safety, inclusion, and accountability.

Skills

Water resources engineering

Hydrology

Hydraulics

Stormwater management

Watershed planning

Python scripting

Machine learning

Digital twins

AI-enabled solutions

Client management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil, Environmental, Water Resources Engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Tools

EPA SWMM

PCSWMM

InfoWorks ICM

MIKE+

SewerGEMS

AquaTwin Sewer

WaterGEMS

InfoWater Pro

InfoWorks WS Pro

AquaTwin Water

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

The Water Resources, Planning & Modeling Group Leader is responsible for the leadership, growth, performance, and strategic direction of the group's practice across Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. This role combines people leadership, technical excellence, project delivery oversight, and business management to advance the firm's water resources, planning, and modeling capabilities. The Group Leader is accountable for developing staff, ensuring successful project delivery, growing client relationships, and achieving business objectives while fostering a culture of collaboration, quality, safety, and inclusion.

Key Responsibilities

Technical & Project Leadership

• Lead and grow water resources, planning, and modeling services, including utility master planning, watershed studies, stormwater management, flood resilience, hydraulic and hydrologic modeling, and water/wastewater system planning.
• Support project managers and other technical leaders in managing scope, schedule, budget, quality, and contractual requirements.
• Advance the group's reputation for technical excellence and innovative, data-driven solutions.
• Strong technical knowledge of water resources engineering, including hydrology, hydraulics, stormwater management, and watershed planning.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing utility master plans, infrastructure strategies, and capital improvement programs.
• Advanced understanding of water, wastewater, and stormwater modeling tools and their application to planning, design, and operational decision-making.

People Leadership & Team Development

• Promote a culture of caring, quality, safety, inclusion, and accountability.
• Lead workforce planning, resource management, and staff utilization efforts.
• Recruit, hire, onboard, and retain top talent while supporting company diversity and workforce development goals.
• Coach, mentor, and develop staff while building future leaders through succession planning.
• Foster team engagement through regular communication, one-on-one meetings, and team-building activities.

Business & Market Leadership

• Assist the Department leader in developing and executing growth strategies, business plans, and performance goals for the group.
• Partner with Operations, Market Solutions, Department Leaders, and Sales teams to grow and maintain sustainable work pipelines.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships and support business development, proposals, and strategic pursuits.
• Promote innovation, digital solutions, and emerging technologies within the practice.

Here's what you'll need

• Bachelor's degree in Civil, Environmental, Water Resources Engineering, or related field.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
• Experience in water resources, utility planning, and hydraulic/hydrologic modeling.
• Expertise in applying wastewater collection system and stormwater modeling platforms, including EPA SWMM, PCSWMM, InfoWorks ICM, MIKE+, SewerGEMS, AquaTwin Sewer and/or water distribution system modeling platforms such as WaterGEMS, InfoWater Pro, InfoWorks WS Pro, and AquaTwin Water, to successfully deliver client projects.
• Working knowledge of advanced modeling and analytics applications, including Python scripting, machine learning, optimization, smart sewer technologies, digital twins, and AI-enabled solutions, to enhance model development, calibration, system analysis, and decision-making.
• Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary teams and developing staff.
• Strong communication and organizational skills, with experience in client management and business development.
• Proven ability to balance people leadership, project delivery, and business growth objectives.

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well-being. Your security. Your future. Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan. Jacobs has an unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full-time salaried/exempt employees, seven paid holidays, and caregiver leave. And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.

The base salary range for this position is $93,700.00 to $155,000.00. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Job posted on October 06, 2026. This position will be open for at least 3 days.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we're keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.