Job description

BUILD AND LEAD A WATER UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE PRACTICE — DALLAS, TX We’re partnering with a highly respected engineering firm to identify a senior leader who’s ready to build, lead, and grow a water utility infrastructure office in Dallas. This is a rare opportunity to step into a true ownership-minded role—shaping strategy, developing talent, and expanding a high-impact practice serving municipal and utility clients across North Texas. As the office leader and team leader, you’ll oversee operations, mentor and grow a multidisciplinary team, serve as a technical authority, and act as a trusted advisor to clients. If you’re energized by building teams, elevating people, and delivering complex infrastructure projects, this role offers both influence and long-term growth. WHAT YOU’LL OWN PRACTICE & TEAM LEADERSHIP - Lead day-to-day operations for the Dallas water utility infrastructure practice - Oversee workflow, staffing plans, utilization, and profitability - Prepare monthly staffing and financial forecasts with a forward-looking outlook - Maintain visibility into project performance, billings, and margins - Partner with senior leadership to align resources and drive growth - Identify hiring needs and play a key role in recruiting top engineering talent - Foster a high-performance, collaborative, and engaged team culture - Lead performance reviews and support employee development and retention STAFF DEVELOPMENT & MENTORSHIP - Actively mentor Engineers and Project Managers at all career stages - Build technical depth and leadership capability across the team - Develop Project Managers into well-rounded leaders of scope, schedule, budget, and client relationships - Coach PMs on proposals, fee development, billing, and financial performance - Create and track individualized development plans and progression timelines TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP - Provide technical leadership across drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater projects - Lead and oversee studies, designs, and complex utility infrastructure solutions - Anticipate and resolve technical challenges to keep projects moving efficiently - Serve as a go-to technical resource for both staff and clients PROJECT & FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT - Lead proposal development, fee negotiations, and contract execution - Monitor project financial performance and guide PMs toward consistent delivery - Ensure schedules, budgets, and quality standards are met across all projects - Contribute to overall group and cross-discipline profitability QUALITY & CLIENT ENGAGEMENT - Ensure rigorous technical review and quality control at all project stages - Leverage firmwide expertise to deliver best-in-class solutions - Build long-term, trusted relationships with municipal and utility clients - Identify expansion opportunities with existing clients and support new pursuits - Partner with business development and sales teams to grow the practice WHAT OUR CLIENT IS LOOKING FOR EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS - Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering - REQUIRED: Professional Engineer (PE) license in Texas EXPERIENCE - 10+ years of utility infrastructure engineering experience - Strong background in water and wastewater treatment facilities, distribution and collection systems, and lift stations - Proven history of high client satisfaction and repeat work LEADERSHIP & BUSINESS ACUMEN - Confident, positive communicator at all organizational levels - Demonstrated success leading, mentoring, and developing teams - Experience supporting proposals, presentations, and winning new work - Ability to contribute to business planning, growth strategy, and practice expansion TECHNICAL & MARKET PRESENCE - Strong track record of profitable project delivery - Established relationships with local municipalities and utility clients WHY THIS OPPORTUNITY STANDS OUT - Build your own team and shape the Dallas office’s future - Visible leadership role with real influence and autonomy - Strong, people-first culture with excellent benefits - Long-term growth potential within a respected engineering firm

Requirements

Must-haves

BUILD AND LEAD A WATER UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE PRACTICE — DALLAS, TX
Lead day-to-day operations for the Dallas water utility infrastructure practice
Oversee workflow, staffing plans, utilization, and profitability
Prepare monthly staffing and financial forecasts with a forward-looking outlook
Maintain visibility into project performance, billings, and margins
Partner with senior leadership to align resources and drive growth
Identify hiring needs and play a key role in recruiting top engineering talent
Foster a high-performance, collaborative, and engaged team culture
Lead performance reviews and support employee development and retention
Actively mentor Engineers and Project Managers at all career stages
Build technical depth and leadership capability across the team
Develop Project Managers into well-rounded leaders of scope, schedule, budget, and client relationships
Coach PMs on proposals, fee development, billing, and financial performance
Create and track individualized development plans and progression timelines
Provide technical leadership across drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater projects
Lead and oversee studies, designs, and complex utility infrastructure solutions
Anticipate and resolve technical challenges to keep projects moving efficiently
Serve as a go-to technical resource for both staff and clients
Lead proposal development, fee negotiations, and contract execution
Monitor project financial performance and guide PMs toward consistent delivery
Ensure schedules, budgets, and quality standards are met across all projects
Contribute to overall group and cross-discipline profitability
Ensure rigorous technical review and quality control at all project stages
Leverage firmwide expertise to deliver best-in-class solutions

Nice-to-haves

None flagged.

Application prep

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Keywords to mirror

Platform: ashby
Effort: quick