Director - Water/Wastewater

RK&K is seeking a Regional Water/Wastewater Leader to guide and grow our established practice across Virginia and North Carolina. This role leads an existing team of experienced professionals supporting a strong backlog of active and upcoming projects, along with established client relationships and ongoing work.

About the Role

• Provide leadership for RK&K’s established water/wastewater team in Virginia and North Carolina.
• Guide staff in delivering current backlog while shaping a regional business plan focused on sustainable growth, client service, and quality.
• Partner with firm leadership to align resources, staffing, and pursuit strategies, serving as a visible leader internally and externally.
• Support project managers with scope, budget, schedule, and quality control while reviewing key deliverables.
• Ensure successful, profitable delivery of projects and resolution of technical and delivery challenges.
• Lead and mentor an established regional team, supporting recruitment, development, and collaboration across offices.
• Support regional goals for revenue, backlog, profitability, and utilization.
• Aid in forecasting, staffing, and resource planning while monitoring project performance and ensuring delivery aligns with budget, schedule, and quality expectations.

Essential Functions

• Regional Practice Leadership: Provide leadership for RK&K’s established water/wastewater team in Virginia and North Carolina. Guide staff in delivering current backlog while shaping a regional business plan focused on sustainable growth, client service, and quality. Partner with firm leadership to align resources, staffing, and pursuit strategies, serving as a visible leader internally and externally.
• Client Development & Business Growth: Strengthen and expand relationships with municipal utilities and other water/wastewater clients. Identify and pursue strategic opportunities, lead client engagement and capture efforts, and support proposals, interviews, and pursuit strategies. Build on existing backlog to secure repeat and new work.
• Project & Technical Leadership: Provide senior oversight for planning, design, and construction-phase services for water/wastewater infrastructure. Support project managers with scope, budget, schedule, and quality control while reviewing key deliverables. Ensure successful, profitable delivery of projects and resolution of technical and delivery challenges.
• Staff Development & Team Building: Lead and mentor an established regional team, supporting recruitment, development, and collaboration across offices. Foster a culture of accountability, technical excellence, and client service while strengthening career growth for staff at all levels.

Required Skills And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related field.
• Professional Engineer license; licensure in Virginia and/or North Carolina preferred.
• 20+ years of progressive experience in water and wastewater consulting, design, project delivery, and client service.
• Demonstrated success developing business with municipal, county, utility authority, or public-sector clients.
• Strong understanding of water and wastewater infrastructure markets in Virginia and/or North Carolina.
• Proven ability to lead teams, win work, support proposals, and maintain long-term client relationships.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and complex infrastructure projects.
• Strong communication, leadership, organizational, and presentation skills.
• Ability to travel within Virginia and North Carolina for client meetings, project needs, staff coordination, and business development.

Preferred Skills And Experience

• Established relationships with municipal utilities, public works departments, water/sewer authorities, or state/local agencies in Virginia and North Carolina.
• Experience leading or growing a regional water/wastewater practice.
• Experience taking leadership of an existing team and helping organize staff around backlog, growth, and client priorities.
• Experience with water distribution systems, wastewater collection systems, pump stations, force mains, treatment facilities, utility master planning, asset management, and rehabilitation programs.
• Familiarity with regulatory, funding, and permitting considerations affecting water/wastewater projects in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.
• Experience leading on-call contracts, IDIQ contracts, utility capital improvement programs, and large multidisciplinary assignments.
• Prior responsibility for regional growth, revenue generation, team leadership, project delivery, or profit/loss performance.

What We Offer

• Excellent potential for career advancement and professional growth.
• Attractive compensation packages commensurate with experience.
• A comprehensive benefits package including:
  • Paid time off
  • Matching 401(k) plan
  • Student Loan Retirement Match Program
  • Paid holidays
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurances
  • Paid parental leave
  • Wellness programs and employee resource groups
  • Career Development

Why RK&K?

• As a full-service engineering and construction management firm, RK&K gives you the opportunity to directly impact the communities in which we live and work.
• RK&K has earned its reputation as a trusted partner, responsive employer, and community steward.
• Design your career at RK&K—Apply Today!