DescriptionThe Director - Water serves as a strategic leader within Burns & McDonnell's Water Global Practice, responsible for advancing technical excellence, strengthening program delivery capabilities, and supporting growth initiatives across the business.
This position works across a matrix organization to connect people, processes, and expertise, enabling the Water Global Practice to scale while maintaining technical quality, delivery excellence, and client focus. The role partners closely with operations leaders to build organizational capability, support profitable growth, and strengthen Burns & McDonnell's position as an industry leader.
The successful candidate will influence and lead through collaboration, developing frameworks, communities, and approaches that enhance how the organization wins work, develops talent, and delivers complex water infrastructure programs.
Key Focus Areas Technical Excellence & Capability Development Establish and advance a sustainable framework for technical excellence across the Water Global Practice by connecting expertise, strengthening technical capabilities, and creating pathways for the development of future technical leaders.
Program Delivery & Major Programs Develop and scale practical program management approaches that improve consistency, predictability, and performance across major water infrastructure programs while supporting pursuits and delivery excellence.
Growth & Client Development Support strategic growth initiatives through client engagement, pursuit support, market development, and strengthen Burns & McDonnell's technical and delivery diƯerentiation, with an initial emphasis on Texas water clients.
Job Functions Technical Excellence & Capability Development - Partner with Water leadership to develop and implement a vision and roadmap for technical excellence
- Establish technical practice networks that connect subject matter experts, project teams, and emerging technical leaders across the organization
- Develop technical career pathways, development programs, and succession planning strategies for technical specialists and subject matter experts Foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation across regions, disciplines, and project teams
- Identify, capture, and scale technical best practices, lessons learned, and innovative solutions
- Support recruitment, retention, and development of industry-leading technical talent
- Promote consistency in technical standards and approaches where they create value while preserving flexibility and entrepreneurial culture
- Increase the visibility and accessibility of technical expertise across Water
- Serve as a champion for continuous improvement and technical innovation
Program Delivery & Major Programs - Establish and implement a scalable program management framework for major water infrastructure programs
- Develop repeatable tools, governance structures, planning processes, reporting approaches, and delivery methodologies that improve program performance
- Support and help build a community of program managers through mentoring, coaching, and professional development
- Identify and support pursuit, mobilization, planning, and execution of major programs and strategic projects
- Assist project teams in implementing best practices for governance, stakeholder management, risk management, and program controls
- Support development of program-specific systems and execution strategies that position projects for success
- Provide leadership and advisory support to major program teams throughout project lifecycle
- Identify opportunities to improve delivery performance, predictability, and client satisfaction across programs
Growth and Client Development - Support strategic business development efforts with an initial focus on Texas water clients and programs
- Partner with account managers, regional leaders, and business development teams to identify, position, and pursue strategic opportunities
- Assist in developing client-specific growth strategies and long-term account plans
- Participate in major pursuits, capture planning efforts, proposal development, and interview teams
- Integrate technical excellence and delivery credibility into client engagement strategies
- Support recruitment, retention, and development of industry-leading technical talent
- Mentor, train, and develop employee-owners Identify emerging market trends, client needs, and opportunities for strategic investment and growth
- Support major pursuits, re-competes, and transformational opportunities across Water
- Represent Burns & McDonnell at industry conferences, professional organizations, and client events
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with key clients, partners, and industry stakeholders
Strategic Leadership & Matrix Collaboration - Lead through influence across a matrix organization, building alignment, and driving initiatives
- Establish and maintain networks of technical leaders, program managers, and business leaders to advance strategic priorities
- Act as a connector across practices, regions, disciplines, and project teams to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing
- Create feedback loops between project delivery teams and strategic planning efforts to continuously improve organizational performance
- Identify opportunities to scale successful approaches, innovations, and lessons learned across Water
- Serve as a trusted advisor to Water leadership on organizational capability development, growth strategies, and delivery excellence
- Help identify and prioritize future investments in talent, technology, technical capability, and program delivery
Qualifications - Bachelor Degree in engineering, business, marketing or related degree from an accredited program and 13 years relevant experience, preferably in A/E industry required.
- Minimum 15-20 years of experience in planning, design, delivery, or management of major infrastructure projects and programs preferred.
- Demonstrated experience leading technical organizations, technical excellence initiatives, communities of practice, or enterprise capability development programs preferred.
- Proven experience supporting or leading major infrastructure programs and complex project delivery initiatives preferred.
- Demonstrated success influencing organizational change and driving improvement with a matrix organization preferred.
- Strong understanding of program management principles, governance frameworks, risk management, and project delivery methodologies
- Ability to travel as required to support client, project teams, and strategic initiatives preferred.
- Advance experience in client and business development. Proven track record supporting business development, client engagement, and strategic growth initiatives preferred.
- Advance experience in managing business development efforts, which includes proposal development, contract negotiations, project planning, budgeting, and client coordination.
- Advance facilitation, collaboration, organization, and problem solving skills.
- Demonstrated success as to budget, savings and/or profit margins in completed projects.
- Ability to thoughtfully and positively influence, lead and manage.
- Excellent planning and analytical skills.
- Must demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills; strong interpersonal skills; and the ability to clearly and effectively present complex information to all levels of employees, management, and clients.
- Professional Engineer (PE) License preferred.
- Recognized industry leader with an established professional network and industry presence preferred.
- Experience leading technical excellence, innovation, knowledge management, or organizational capability programs within a large engineering, consulting, or construction organization preferred.
- Experience working across multiple geographic regions and business lines preferred.
This job posting will remain open a minimum of 72 hours and on an ongoing basis until filled.
Job Engineering
Primary Location US-TX-Dallas
Schedule: Full-time
Travel: Yes, 25 % of the Time
Req ID: 262402
Job Hire Type Experienced #LI-DNI #WTR N/A
