Associate Project Director, Water Infrastructure, for COWI in North America

About the role

To further our growing presence in California, we are seeking an Associate Project Director, Water Infrastructure, to manage the delivery of major projects while contributing to business growth across key clients.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of complex water infrastructure projects, ensuring performance across scope, schedule, budget, quality, and risk management
• Build and maintain close relationships with California public water agencies (e.g., MWD, SFPUC, DWR), acting as a trusted client partner and positioning for repeat work
• Contribute to business development as a seller-doer by identifying opportunities, supporting proposals, and helping grow the pipeline across the Los Angeles / Long Beach market
• Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary teams, aligning technical resources and providing direction through guidance with indirect responsibility for team performance
• Mentor and support team capability while ensuring compliance with quality standards, project controls, and COWI’s delivery and governance frameworks
• Engage with and support COWI’s business development and technical teams across North America and globally to ensure the success of the company as a whole

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Structural Engineering (Master’s preferred)
• Professional Engineer (PE) license (or ability to obtain in California), with demonstrated technical credibility across water conveyance, hydraulic structures, flood control, dams, and related infrastructure
• Demonstrated experience leading complex infrastructure projects as a Project Manager or Project Director, with an established presence in the Los Angeles / Long Beach market
• Demonstrated ability to manage multidisciplinary water infrastructure projects with full accountability for scope, schedule, budget, and commercial performance within California public works frameworks
• Demonstrated experience working with California public water agencies (e.g., MWD, SFPUC, DWR), including client relationship management, contract negotiations, and delivering high levels of client satisfaction
• Demonstrated success in financial and commercial performance, including managing project margins, mitigating risk, and securing follow-on work and repeat business
• Experience operating in a seller-doer capacity, contributing to business development, supporting proposals, growing market presence on the West Coast, and mentoring and coordinating project teams

Qualifications

• Skills: Leadership, technical credibility, client relationship management, proposal support, project coordination, mentorship, compliance adherence

Skills

• Technical expertise in water conveyance, hydraulic structures, flood control, dams, and related infrastructure
• Project management and delivery experience
• Client relationship building and negotiation skills
• Business development and proposal writing experience
• Team leadership and mentorship abilities

Benefits

• Flexible working arrangement
• Top-up parental and childbirth recovery leave
• Fantastic close-knit team with a wealth of knowledge to share
• 5 weeks vacation to start
• Floating holiday to celebrate employee diversity
• Paid sick leave
• Annual fitness subsidy
• 401K contribution matching with generous company match
• Personal and professional development fund
• Parking or public transit allowance
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance 80% employer-paid premiums
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• STD, LTD, AD&D, and Life Insurance
• Referral incentive program
• Frequent social events

Pay

Base compensation: $160,800 to $240,000 for Long Beach, San Diego, and Oakland. Actual compensation is subject to variations due to education, experience, skill set, and location.

Schedule

Hybrid