Utility Management Services Business Class Leader

About the role

This role provides strategic, operational, and people leadership for a diverse, multidisciplinary technical team delivering advisory, planning, and operational services to water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of the Northern California UMS Business Class strategy, aligned with Water Business Group and national UMS objectives.
• Partner with the Water Business Group Manager, Client Development, Market Sector, and Professional Services leaders to identify growth opportunities and set priorities.
• Drive intentional growth through service expansion, innovation, and alignment with evolving utility needs and regulatory environments.
• Contribute to and support national UMS initiatives, knowledge sharing, and best practice development.
• Serve as the Client Manager for selected key clients.
• Act as a trusted advisor to water, wastewater, and stormwater utility clients, engaging with executive leadership, management, operations, engineering, finance, and regulatory staff.
• Build and lead high-performing, multidisciplinary teams that can adapt to changing client and project needs.
• Represent HDR in professional organizations and industry forums to strengthen market presence and thought leadership.
• Provide technical leadership and oversight across a wide range of UMS services, including: Utility and asset management, Business process and organizational assessments, Strategic and master planning, Operations optimization, Treatment process optimization, Regulatory support, Infrastructure condition assessment and rehabilitation, Capital planning including sequencing, prioritizing, and financing, Construction sequencing, outage support, and commissioning, Integration with streetscape and urban design, Technology evaluation, implementation, and data-driven decision support.
• Promote and uphold HDR quality standards through effective QA/QC processes and knowledge sharing.
• Encourage innovation, technology adoption, and best management practices to improve client outcomes.
• Oversee Business Class operations, including staffing, utilization, forecasting, delivery performance, and financial discipline.
• Support coordination across offices and with national resources to enable work-sharing and efficient delivery.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, and risk management practices.
• Balance business, technical, and people priorities to support sustainable growth.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a Professional, Architecture, Engineering or closely related field.
• 10 years of experience.
• Committed to quality, improvement and HDR values.
• Maintains a professional or engineering registration and has related technical experience.
• Experienced in development and management of diverse teams.
• Works cooperatively with other area business class leaders, operations managers, technical directors and marketing managers on business class efforts.
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must.

Qualifications

• Actively engaged in professional or industry associations to enhance HDR technical expertise and brand.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams and fostering collaboration across diverse skill sets and perspectives.
• Strong ability to engage utility organizations at multiple levels, from executive leadership to operations and technical staff.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to clearly convey complex technical concepts.
• Proven client relationship skills and interest in business and client development.
• Active involvement in professional or industry organizations.
• Commitment to quality, continuous improvement, HDR values, and participation in an employee-owned culture.
• Master’s degree or greater in civil, environmental, or related technical discipline.
• Direct experience working within or closely with water utilities on organizational development, asset management, or business process improvement.

Skills

• Technical leadership and oversight.
• Strategic planning and execution.
• Client relationship building.
• Team management and development.
• Quality assurance and improvement.
• Collaboration and communication.
• Innovation and technology adoption.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement.

Pay

The expected compensation range for this position is $162,855.00 - $264,375.00 annually depending upon skills, experience, education and geographical location.

Schedule

Full-time

Business Class

Utility Management Services