Water/Wastewater Technical Services Director

About the role

Jacobs is seeking a Water/Wastewater Technical Services Director to join our team with the Operations Management & Facilities Services (OMFS) business to provide strategic leadership for the Delivery Solution Group (DSG) organization, ensuring operational excellence, regulatory compliance, asset reliability, and continuous process optimization across a diverse portfolio of municipal and industrial water and wastewater facilities. This senior leadership role is responsible for driving technical performance, supporting operational teams, developing talent, and serves as a trusted advisor to our clients, project teams, and business leaders.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and mentor a geographically dispersed team of technical specialists, ensuring high standards of technical performance, safety, accountability, and client service.
• Provide strategic technical leadership and operational support for water and wastewater treatment facilities under Full Contract Operations agreements.
• Evaluate facility operations, treatment performance, maintenance programs, compliance status, and asset management practices; identify improvement opportunities and develop actionable recommendations.
• Partner with operations, maintenance, engineering, and corporate leadership teams to drive operational efficiency, reliability, and regulatory compliance.
• Oversee process control reviews, operational assessments, performance benchmarking, and optimization initiatives to improve treatment outcomes and reduce operational risk.
• Support facility startups, transitions, and commissioning activities, including development of operational readiness plans, standard operating procedures, and operator training programs.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to review treatment plant designs and capital improvement projects to ensure long-term operability, maintainability, reliability, and lifecycle value.
• Guide implementation and utilization of operational databases, performance reporting systems, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Review and monitor monthly utilization reports, work forecasts, technical support activities, and project deliverables for the RTS team.
• Conduct operational audits and client satisfaction reviews to evaluate service effectiveness and identify opportunities for expanded support and continuous improvement.
• Provide technical expertise and leadership during regulatory inspections, compliance reviews, and corrective action initiatives.
• Support proposal development, contract pursuits, client presentations, and strategic business development activities across the OMFS portfolio.
• Serve as a senior technical advisor to clients, operations managers, and executive leadership regarding treatment processes, compliance challenges, asset investment priorities, and operational best practices.
• Prepare and/or oversee scope, schedule and budgets for project support as requested.
• Partner with Jacobs digital teams to support project delivery by identifying, coordinating, and implementing applicable digital tools across the OMFS portfolio ensuring alignment with portfolio needs and supporting competitive positioning for new work opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Associates degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry, or a related technical discipline or relevant military experience.
• Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible experience in water and wastewater treatment operations, utility management, or environmental services.
• Significant leadership experience managing large, multidisciplinary teams across multiple facilities and geographic regions.
• Demonstrated expertise in water and wastewater treatment processes, process control, regulatory compliance, maintenance and reliability programs, asset management, and operational performance improvement.
• Strong understanding of federal, state, and local regulatory requirements governing water and wastewater utilities.
• Experience supporting facility startups, transitions, commissioning, operator training, and operational readiness programs.
• Proven ability to collaborate with engineering, operations, maintenance, and executive leadership teams to achieve business and operational objectives.
• Experience supporting client relationships, contract management, proposals, and business development initiatives.
• Excellent communication, leadership, organizational, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to evaluate complex operational challenges and implement practical, sustainable solutions.

Preferred qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) license and/or advanced water or wastewater operator certifications.
• Experience overseeing multiple municipal or industrial treatment facilities.
• Knowledge of computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS), asset management frameworks, and utility performance management systems.
• Experience leading organizational change, workforce development, and continuous improvement programs.

Work location and travel

This is a hybrid position, offering flexibility on location. Candidates must reside within a reasonable proximity to a major airport for approximately 50% travel to support operating facilities, client engagements, business development activities, technical assessments, and project initiatives.

Pay and benefits

• Base salary range: $182,200.00 to $225,000.00. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.
• Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount.
• Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan.
• Unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full-time salaried/exempt employees, seven paid holidays, and caregiver leave.
• Certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.