Senior Project Manager - Drinking Water

About the role

The Michigan Water Business Group at HDR is expanding and seeks experienced Senior Project Managers to lead and shape the future of water infrastructure. HDR is a 100% employee-owned firm that ranks highly in the Engineering News-Record's national Water category.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, design, and delivery of large, multi-disciplinary engineering projects and programs.
• Strategically oversee project execution, balancing scope, schedule, and budget to ensure exceptional outcomes.
• Cultivate and expand key client relationships, actively participating in business development, proposal strategy, and contract negotiations.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to clients and a mentor to internal teams, shaping HDR’s technical and business approach across the water sector.
• Navigate complex regulatory environments, representing HDR in discussions with permitting and oversight agencies.
• Guide the development of project documentation, technical analyses, and engineering reports with a focus on quality and clarity.
• Manage project financials—monitor budgets, forecast performance, and proactively allocate resources.
• Collaborate closely with project controllers, business group leadership, and finance teams to ensure transparency and alignment on financial goals.
• Provide mentorship and technical leadership to staff, fostering a culture of growth and excellence within the team.
• Support firmwide initiatives and contribute to strategic planning and operational improvements across the business group.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering
• Minimum 10 years related experience
• A minimum of 5 years project management experience
• Requires professional engineering license recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position offered (e.g., Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng) license)
• MS Office and MS Project experience (Access experience would be plus)
• Demonstrated leadership, business development, and strategic planning skills

Qualifications

• Professional engineering license recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position offered (e.g., Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng) license)

Skills

• Strong leadership and mentoring skills
• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities
• Experience in complex project management
• Ability to navigate regulatory environments
• Proficiency in MS Office and MS Project

Benefits

As an employee-owner at HDR, you will enjoy a unique ownership structure, competitive compensation, and a supportive, inclusive workplace culture. HDR offers a range of benefits including health insurance, retirement plans, and opportunities for professional development.

Pay

Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. Salary details are confidential and determined based on qualifications and experience.

Schedule

This is a full-time position with a flexible schedule designed to support a healthy work-life balance.

Business Class

The Michigan Water Business Group offers a variety of services including utility master planning, wastewater and drinking water treatment, water reuse, flood protection, resource management, applied research, transmission and distribution, asset management, program and construction management, funding strategy, stakeholder engagement, and more.