Department Leader - Water Services

About the role

Verdantas is seeking a dynamic, growth-minded Leader of the Mid-Atlantic Water Services Department to guide and expand our water practice across the Northeast area. While the primary geographic focus will be Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware, this role will also provide technical leadership and strategic support to teams serving the New England market. This senior leadership role is responsible for overseeing multiple multidisciplinary design teams delivering clean water, wastewater, flood control, and stormwater management solutions to public and private sector clients.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker and proven people leader with strong business acumen, a passion for client service, and a track record of achieving sustainable growth and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Practice Leadership & Strategy
  • Provide vision, direction, and leadership for the regional Water Services practice, aligning technical delivery with business and growth objectives
  • Develop and execute regional growth strategies, including market positioning, client targeting, and service line expansion
  • Partner with regional leadership to establish and achieve annual revenue, backlog, utilization, and profitability goals
• Client Management & Business Development
  • Serve as a trusted advisor and senior point of contact for key clients across municipal, utility, industrial, and private sectors
  • Lead and support business development efforts, including pursuit strategy, teaming, proposal development, and interviews
  • Strengthen long-term client relationships and expand existing accounts through exceptional service and value-driven solutions
• Technical & Project Oversight
  • Provide technical leadership and quality oversight for water, wastewater, flood control, and stormwater management projects
  • Support project managers and design teams with complex technical challenges, risk management, and QA/QC processes
  • Promote innovation, best practices, and consistent design standards across regional teams
• People & Team Leadership
  • Lead, mentor, and develop multiple design and project delivery teams across offices and geographic areas
  • Foster a high-performance culture focused on collaboration, accountability, professional development, and work-life balance
  • Support hiring, succession planning, and talent development to meet current and future workload demands
• Operational & Performance Management
  • Monitor and drive performance against key metrics, including financial results, project delivery, client satisfaction, and staff utilization
  • Identify opportunities for operational efficiencies and continuous improvement across the practice
  • Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, licensing standards, and company policies

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related discipline (Master’s degree preferred)
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required
• 15 or more years of progressive experience in water-related planning, design, and project delivery
• 15 or more years of experience in the engineering/professional services industry
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing teams, projects, and client portfolios
• Proven success in business development, client management, and achieving growth and performance goals
• Experience supporting or leading water programs across multiple states and offices
• Strong understanding of public-sector procurement, utility operations, and water market infrastructure funding mechanisms
• Excellent communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
• Established client relationships within Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and/or New England
• Experience integrating multidisciplinary teams (water, environmental, resilience, civil/site)

Pay

The compensation range for this position is $135,000 - $195,000, with final compensation determined based on years of experience, qualifications, and licensing status.

Benefits

• Flexible Work Environment
• Paid Parental Leave
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Paid Time Off + Holidays