North Central Hydropower Practice Leader

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world? Watch Our Story. Each role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better.

We believe electricity powers modern life. As part of our Power sector, you’ll help shape how electricity is generated, transmitted and delivered as global energy demands grow. From massive data centers to modernizing transmission systems, our industry-recognized engineers and scientists have been at the forefront of grid transformation for more than a century. You’ll work side-by-side with these experts and contribute to reliable, resilient and sustainable power systems, helping communities thrive and industries expand. This isn’t just a job, it’s a chance to drive infrastructure forward, power innovation and leave your mark on our energy future.

Responsibilities

• Drive areas of growth and execute new work by leveraging industry relationships and technical expertise in conjunction with HDR’s business development and execution teams.
• Lead or partner with HDR staff in the planning and execution of existing work or new work resulting from business development activities, with a focus on hydropower projects including pumped storage hydropower.
• Provide technical leadership in hydropower-related areas such as FERC regulatory, dam safety, civil, spillways, fish passage, hydraulics, H&H, structural, mechanical, electrical engineering, hydropower development studies and design, CFD modeling, hydro operations optimization, feasibility and conceptual design, economic studies, and water/energy nexus planning.
• Support hydropower client management, marketing, and strategic planning activities in collaboration with local, regional, and national hydropower practice leadership.
• Engage with industry groups such as the Midwest Hydro Users Group and National Hydropower Association to increase HDR’s brand recognition in the North Central region.
• Manage the technical and operational activities of the North-Central hydropower section, serving as a project manager and/or task/discipline lead on key projects.
• Prepare and review project budgets for the hydropower section and track budget status.
• Schedule and coordinate work performed by and for the hydropower section, establishing work priorities and project assignments.
• Monitor scope of work and scope changes, facilitating coordination with other discipline groups.
• Conduct interviews for new staff, provide mentoring, establish employee goals, and conduct performance reviews.
• Schedule and conduct hydropower section meetings to discuss productivity, workload, and quality control issues.
• Advance the skill level of personnel through training, education, and experience.
• Coordinate with hydropower section managers in other locations to review workload, project status, and staffing requirements.
• Prepare and/or review hydropower scopes of work, budgets, and estimates for proposals.
• Monitor changes in codes, regulations, and client standards.
• Perform or arrange for quality control reviews of hydropower deliverables.
• Maintain and establish client relations, and be involved with marketing and client development activities.
• Maintain industry engagement through events and conferences.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in hydropower, dam, hydraulic structures, or related engineering.
• Professional or Engineering registration with related technical experience.
• Experience in development and management of diverse teams.
• Ability to work cooperatively with other business class regional directors, operations managers, technical directors, and marketing managers.
• Commitment to quality, improvement, and HDR values.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with conventional and pumped storage hydropower and associated features and hydraulic structures.
• Ability to travel and become licensed as a PE in other U.S. states’ jurisdictions through NCEES or similar.
• Recognized leadership within the hydropower industry, including engineering and regulatory disciplines, with an understanding of how hydropower integrates into the changing energy generation landscape.
• Established relationships with existing and potential North Central clients and other hydropower clients/owners nationally.
• Solid business development skills and demonstrated ability to relate well to internal and external clients.
• Professional services operations experience, including team leadership and ability to sell programs and services.
• Strong understanding of successful project execution, including quality management and client satisfaction.
• Business acumen and ability to collaborate internally and navigate within a matrix organization.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Minimum 15 years of hydropower, dam, hydraulic structures, or related engineering experience.
• Experience with design calculations, studies, specifications, and preparation of construction drawings related to hydropower or similar projects.
• Strong communication, listening, and mentoring skills.
• Ability to handle multiple assignments and strong leadership and organizational skills.

What We Believe

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust, and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package promoting employee ownership, health, performance, and success, including medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, and an employee assistance program.
• Paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, and a retirement savings plan with employer match.
• Employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement.
• Eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) to foster inclusion and support.

Pay

The expected compensation range for this position depends on skills, experience, education, and geographical location:

• Minnesota: $168,095 - $240,135
• Illinois: $176,099 - $251,570
• Colorado: $176,099 - $251,570

Schedule

• Full-time
• Regular employee status

Primary locations: United States-Minnesota-Saint Louis Park. Other locations: United States-Iowa-Des Moines, United States-Nebraska-Omaha, United States-Colorado-Denver, United States-Wisconsin-Madison, United States-Michigan-Ann Arbor, United States-Illinois-Chicago.