Program Manager

About the role

ACCIONA is a global company leading in the development of regenerative infrastructure that creates a positive impact on society. Our workforce consists of more than 65,000 professionals across more than 40 countries. This role supports the Project Director in leading the planning, coordination, execution, and delivery of project components within the initiatives for the WIFA Long Term Water Augmentation Fund Program. The Program Manager plays a critical leadership function in overseeing and delivering the project’s design and construction activities, ensuring technical excellence, schedule performance, cost control, and contract/regulatory compliance.

The position requires close collaboration with stakeholders, off-takers, regulatory and permitting agencies, construction managers, design teams, technical experts, subcontractors, operations and maintenance leads, permitting and environmental specialists, and client representatives.

Responsibilities

• Identify, initiate contact, and work with relevant stakeholders, permitting agencies, and regulatory entities.
• Identify, initiate contact, and work with potential off-takers and water suppliers in Arizona, California, Baja California, Sonora, Utah, and other relevant locations.
• Identify, initiate contact, and manage individuals or companies experienced in Water Right Exchange processes, preferably related to the Colorado River.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with client representatives (WIFA), subcontractors, design partners, and internal stakeholders.
• Support client reporting requirements, presentations, and progress documentation.
• Represent the segment in governance meetings and program-level reviews.
• Provide technical guidance to design teams and construction consultants by reviewing drawings, specifications, work methods, and proposals.
• Support the resolution of technical issues through field engineering and coordination with design leads.
• Review and approve technical reports, RFIs, method statements, and engineering submittals.
• Oversee and manage construction activities for the WIFA project initiatives, ensuring excellence and compliance with project requirements.
• Monitor daily progress, field execution, and milestone delivery.
• Validate adherence to technical specifications, quality standards, design documents, and regulatory obligations.
• Conduct regular site visits to assess construction conditions and contractor performance.
• Develop feasibility, development, design, permitting, and construction execution plans, segment schedules, and associated budgets.
• Support forecasting, schedule integration, and progress reporting in alignment with overall program objectives.
• Identify cost deviations and implement corrective actions to maintain budget discipline.
• Coordinate with scheduling, document control, and project controls teams to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Coordinate segment activities with design teams, engineering subject-matter experts, operations managers, environmental/permitting teams, and subcontractors.
• Maintain alignment with design intent, viability, operability, maintainability, and environmental constraints.
• Facilitate weekly and monthly progress meetings, ensuring clear communication and documentation.
• Ensure proper quality control and quality assurance is maintained through all activities.
• Identify project risks related to schedule delays, constructability issues, regulatory constraints, environmental sensitivities, or contractor performance.
• Implement mitigation strategies in collaboration with the Project Director and project controls team.
• Develop, maintain, and update risk registers and ensure timely escalation of critical project risks.
• Ensure all activities comply with HSE requirements, corporate standards, and applicable Arizona/state regulations.
• Promote a strong safety culture, conduct site inspections, and participate in safety audits.
• Enforce environmental compliance and support documentation required for permits.
• Act as the Project Director’s delegate when required.
• Provide leadership to segment teams, fostering collaboration, accountability, and high performance.
• Support staffing decisions, team coordination, and mentoring of engineering/construction personnel.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or a related field.
• Significant experience (typically 10+ years) in managing large-scale infrastructure or water/wastewater construction projects, preferably with involvement in early development stages.
• Demonstrated leadership experience overseeing multidisciplinary teams and subcontractors.
• Strong knowledge of project development, design and construction management, technical review, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience with long-distance conveyance, water treatment, or major civil infrastructure programs.
• Familiarity with Arizona regulatory frameworks and WIFA program requirements.
• Familiarity with Water Rights Exchange mechanisms.
• Experience in DB, DBFOM, EPC, or complex multi-stakeholder delivery models.
• Professional certifications (PMP, CM, PE, CCM) strongly preferred.
• Bilingual English–Spanish strongly preferred due to cross-border interfaces.
• Ability to relocate to Phoenix, AZ once the project office has been established.

Skills

• Strong leadership and communication abilities.
• Advanced problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage complex interfaces and maintain alignment across technical and construction disciplines.
• High attention to detail and strong commitment to safety and quality.
• Ability to build positive relationships with clients, teams, and partners.
• Proven experience leading multi-disciplinary infrastructure projects through feasibility and pre-construction phases.
• Strong understanding of project controls, including budget development, cost tracking, schedule oversight, and forecasting.
• Demonstrated ability to manage project risk registers, mitigation strategies, and executive-level reporting.
• Experience coordinating environmental, permitting, and regulatory processes, ideally across U.S. and Mexico jurisdictions.
• Ability to establish and maintain project governance structures, reporting cadence, and decision-making frameworks.
• Skilled in managing external consultants, technical advisors, and contractor interfaces.

Benefits

• Competitive salary.
• Relocation assistance where relocation is required and approved.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Medical, dental, vision, life, short- and long-term disability benefits.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Paid time off.

ACCIONA has been awarded the Top Employer 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 certification in the U.S., as well as the Top Employers North America 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 seal, recognizing the company’s commitment to excellence in human resources management.