Practice Lead - Water and Wastewater

BKF is seeking a Practice Area Lead in Water/Wastewater to join our team! With a strong understanding of Water and Wastewater needs, the Practice Lead of W/WW ensures excellence in project delivery, client service, talent development, revenue growth, and financial performance. Responsibilities Strategic Leadership & Direction: • Develop and execute a multi-year strategic plan for the W/WW vertical, aligning with BKF's long-term goals and vision. • Identify and pursue growth opportunities including geographic expansion, new service lines, and major pursuits. • Identify Merger and Acquisition opportunities that align with the overall service line, market, and corporate strategy. • Develop and execute strategies to successfully integrate W/WW acquisitions with the goal of unlocking synergies that drive growth. Team Building & Development: • Recruit, mentor, and develop a team of Regional Leads, fostering an environment of growth, collaboration, and integrity. • Lead succession planning and talent acquisition strategies for key roles within the markets. • Oversee the allocation of resources to ensure project success and operational efficiency. • Oversee teams that are responsible for planning and design of Water and Wastewater infrastructure. Financial Management: • Under the guidance of the Market Lead for Water, lead annual business plan/budget and long-range forecasting for your vertical. Develop and own the W/WW vertical revenue growth, profitability (P&L responsibility), backlog health, and margin in accordance with the annual operating plan. • Guide pricing strategies, fee development, and resource allocation in alignment with financial targets. • Monitor and drive the vertical's performance metrics, ensuring that the team consistently meets or exceeds • Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). • Regularly review and assess the performance of the W/WW vertical, identifying areas for improvement and implementing corrective actions as needed. • Identify and implement process improvements to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and improve service delivery. Market Engagement & Growth: • Identify and capitalize on new business opportunities, expand relationships with clients and partners, and contribute to the overall growth of the sector. • Collaborate with Business Development and Marketing teams to shape go-to-market strategies, major pursuit plans, and capture efforts. • Serve as executive sponsor on key pursuits and client accounts. • Represent the firm at industry events, conferences, and with public agencies to enhance market visibility and influence. • Cultivate and maintain strong, long-term relationships with key public and private sector clients. Project Oversight & Execution: • Provide leadership and oversight of all project delivery ensuring quality, efficiency, and client satisfaction from inception to completion. • Drive consistency in project delivery, leveraging best practices and standardized tools across teams. • Identify and mitigate risks associated with W/WW projects and operations, ensuring the safety and success of all initiatives. • Drive continuous improvement in project delivery processes and methodologies, enhancing overall efficiency and effectiveness. • Conduct technical reviews and provide guidance on civil engineering designs, ensuring compliance with industry standards and best practices. • Collaborate with regulatory agencies and stakeholders to obtain necessary permits and approvals for W/WW projects. • Offer technical expertise and support to project teams, helping them navigate complex engineering challenges. • Lead the development and implementation of innovative solutions to address W/WW challenges. Client Relations: • Build and maintain strong client relationships, ensuring a high level of satisfaction and trust in BKF's services. • Foster new client relationships in alignment with the strategic growth goals of W/WW and Infrastructure Services. Collaboration: • Work closely with other leaders across BKF to share best practices, optimize processes, and contribute to company-wide initiatives. Support other projects and teams as needed. • Maintain open and effective communication with stakeholders, including clients, team members, and senior leadership, to ensure alignment and transparency. Requirements • Minimum of 10 years of experience in water and wastewater design. • Proven success in P&L ownership, including driving scaled revenue growth, operational efficiency, and profitability management across multiple business lines or regions. • Excellent business acumen with a focus on KPIs, operational efficiency, and scalable growth. • Deep expertise in water and wastewater design. • Demonstrated track record of business development and client relationship management in public and/or private sector markets. • Strong understanding of project delivery methods, including traditional design-bid-build, progressive design-build, CM/GC, and other alternative delivery models. • Skilled in strategic planning, organizational leadership, and change management. • Deep understanding of project lifecycle management in the AEC industry, including planning, design, permitting, and construction phases. • Exceptional leadership and people management capabilities with the ability to inspire and develop high-performing teams. • Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills; able to represent the firm with clients, partners, and industry organizations. • Strong working knowledge of industry trends, funding mechanisms, and regulatory frameworks affecting infrastructure investment. • Client-focused mindset with a commitment to delivering excellence and value. • Highly organized, analytical, and results-oriented. • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven consulting environment. • Willingness to travel as needed to support regional offices, project sites, or client engagements • Able to work cooperatively with leadership and other key stakeholders within BKF. • Bachelor's degree in Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Construction or closely related field is required. • PE license in California preferred. Physical Demands: Must be able to regularly talk, hear and operate a computer, keyboard and mouse and occasionally lift, pull/push and carry up to 20 pounds with accommodations. Work Conditions: Exposure to constant or intermittent sounds at a low or moderate level consistent with an office setting. Exposure to high-stress, fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment. Travel to other BKF locations and client sites may be required. Benefits • The typical base salary range for this position is $200,000 - $270,000 annualized, depending upon skills, experience, education, and geographical location. This is a salary position paid biweekly. • Competitive salaries, end of year bonuses, profit sharing, and 401k. • Generous paid time off packages. • 9 Paid Holidays. • Education reimbursement, Paid annual dues for professional and societal organizations. • BKF offers competitive and award-winning benefits and perks. To learn more click here. #LI-Hybrid