Project Director- Water -Bay Area, CA

About the role

The Project Director-Water-Bay Area position is part of GHD’s municipal business in Water and Transportation, which is experiencing significant growth. This role acts as a “seller-doer,” building trust by connecting promises made during pursuits with successful delivery and client confidence.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted advisor to existing clients through direct project leadership and consistent delivery performance
• Maintain deep understanding of client priorities, funding realities, and community outcomes
• Represent client and community voices internally, shaping solutions and pursuits based on real delivery insight
• Build long-term client partnerships rooted in credibility, responsiveness, and results
• Lead or play a senior role in the delivery of key projects, ensuring outcomes align with client expectations and commitments made during pursuits
• Convert successful delivery into repeat work, expanded scope, and follow-on opportunities
• Identify growth opportunities emerging from active projects and ongoing client engagements
• Use delivery experience to inform strategy, pricing, risk assessment, and positioning
• Shape and lead pursuits where delivery experience, technical judgment, and client trust are critical differentiators
• Partner with Relationship Managers, Market Leads, and technical teams to pursue targeted opportunities
• Contribute to proposal strategy, messaging, and interviews with a focus on credibility and execution confidence
• Participate in contract negotiations with a clear understanding of delivery risk, resourcing, and outcomes
• Oversee and be accountable for project performance, including scope, schedule, budget, quality, and client satisfaction
• Track and manage key performance indicators such as backlog, margin, and client health for assigned accounts
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulations, procurement requirements, and internal governance
• Provide clear communication and reporting to internal leadership on client performance and growth outlook

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master’s Degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, or similar
• Professional Engineer license preferred
• Minimum 10 years of experience in municipal or public sector project delivery and client relationship management
• Strong Seller/Doer experience with strong business development, proposal preparation and marketing skills
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence at senior levels
• Proficiency in CRM tools (Salesforce in particular) and Microsoft Office Suite
• Strategic thinker with a client-centric mindset
• Strong understanding of municipal operations, governance, and procurement
• Experience in client engagement and business development, with a track record of building relationships across government, industry, and community stakeholders

Benefits

As a multicultural organization, GHD encourages individual achievement and recognizes the strength of a diverse workforce. GHD is an equal opportunity employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants without regard to race; color; religion; genetic information; national origin; sex (including same sex); sexual orientation; gender identity; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability or handicap; citizenship status; service member status; or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

Pay

$172,000-$253,000 based on location and experience

Schedule

This position can be located in San Francisco, Oakland, or Concord, CA. Join us in office, three days a week to contribute, connect and excel in our vibrant environment.