Executive Advisor - Water Asset Management (Southern California)

About the role

We are seeking an Executive Advisor - Water Asset Management (Southern California) to lead and grow our presence in Southern California. This role is suited to a highly experienced professional (20+ years) with deep expertise in water and wastewater systems, who can combine strategic advisory, client leadership, and business growth with strong technical credibility in asset management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver complex water asset management and advisory engagements for utilities and public sector clients (e.g., condition assessment, asset planning, risk and lifecycle optimization, capital planning)
• Shape and grow the SoCal water AM market, developing trusted relationships with utilities, municipalities, and agencies
• Drive business development, including client engagement, positioning, and winning work across water/wastewater asset management and related advisory services
• Provide strategic leadership in defining service offerings aligned with client needs (e.g., asset management programs, digital asset strategies, risk-based investment planning)
• Serve as Project Director/Executive Sponsor on key projects, ensuring quality delivery, client satisfaction, and commercial performance
• Mentor and develop senior and emerging leaders within the Asset Management group
• Lead multidisciplinary teams, integrating engineering, data, and advisory capabilities to deliver practical, implementable solutions
• Contribute to business planning, including growth strategy, market positioning, and team development in Southern California

Requirements

• Professional Engineer (PE) required
• Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Environmental, or related engineering discipline (Master’s preferred)
• 20+ years of experience in water/wastewater infrastructure, with a strong focus on asset management and advisory services
• Proven experience working with water utilities and agencies in asset management planning, capital programs, or infrastructure advisory
• Strong understanding of asset lifecycle management, risk-based decision-making, and capital investment planning
• Demonstrated success in business development and client relationship management in the Southern California market
• Experience leading large, multidisciplinary projects and teams
• Ability to translate technical and data-driven insights into clear, actionable strategies for clients
• Strong commercial acumen, including scoping, pricing, and contract management
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to influence at executive and operational levels
• A collaborative leader with a strong client focus and track record of building high-performing teams

Qualifications

• Opportunity to lead and shape GHD’s Water Asset Management presence in Southern California
• Work with leading utilities on high-impact infrastructure and investment decisions
• Leverage GHD’s global AM, digital, and engineering capabilities to deliver integrated, forward-looking solutions

Skills

• Strategic advisory and client leadership
• Technical credibility in asset management
• Business development and client relationship management
• Project management and team leadership
• Client engagement and positioning
• Service offering definition and implementation
• Business planning and growth strategy

Benefits

• Salary Range: $165,514 to $275,856 based on location and experience

Pay

• $165,514 to $275,856 based on location and experience

Schedule

• Full-time

Location

• Irvine and Los Angeles