Position Description

Utility Planning Practice Leader

Reports to: Practices Director - Horizontal Infrastructure & Advisory Services
Location Options: Lone Tree, CO; Boise, ID; Maple Grove, MN; Billings, MT; Bozeman, MT; Great Falls, MT; Bismarck, ND; Fargo, ND; Grand Forks, ND; Rapid City, SD; Sioux Falls, SD; or Lehi, UT
Apply By: Monday, July 6, 2026, at 5:00 PM CST

The AE2S Utility Planning Practice Leader will serve as the strategic technical leader responsible for defining the firm's approach to utility planning, shaping how we help clients make infrastructure decisions, differentiating the practice in the market, and anticipating evolving client needs. Practice Leaders at AE2S focus on the technologies, trends, and training for their respective practices.

In this role, you will champion technical excellence, guide the evolution of our service offerings, and drive innovation across our utility planning portfolio. You will develop and execute a forward-thinking practice strategy that strengthens technical quality, enhances market position, and ensures we pursue and win the right work.

As our Utility Planning Practice Leader, your primary focus will be advancing how we help clients make infrastructure decisions and how we deliver planning services at a national level. You will leverage market and trend intelligence to position the practice for sustained success, lead pursuit strategy with a focus on technical differentiation, and serve as a technical leader who inspires teams and clients alike.

You will lead the growth of the Utility Planning Practice by collaborating with Operations Managers across multiple geographies to develop technical talent and by partnering with Client Program Leaders to build trusted client relationships and expand planning services into new markets.

The AE2S Utility Planning Practice includes engineers, planners, GIS specialists, and technical professionals who help communities make informed infrastructure decisions. Our team continuously works to improve utility decision-making through services including:

• Water distribution system modeling
• Wastewater collection system modeling
• Utility master planning
• Capital improvement planning
• Asset management
• GIS strategy and implementation
• Infrastructure risk assessment
• Level-of-service evaluations
• Growth and capacity planning
• Utility system optimization

This role is ideal for a leader who is motivated to build, shape, and expand a high-impact practice with meaningful influence on firm strategy and market position.

Responsibilities

Leadership

• Leads and inspires the Utility Planning team while actively supporting and advocating for Company mission, vision, and initiatives
• Promotes the desired AE2S culture by leading through example
• Mentors technical leaders and emerging talent across the practice
• Balances project execution priorities with long-term practice development
• Sets and drives high performance expectations aligned with strategic goals

Strategic Planning

• Defines and executes the Utility Planning Practice strategy, including growth priorities, technology investments, and service innovation
• Evaluates evolving planning methodologies, modeling technologies, and data-driven decision tools
• Creates planning frameworks that help utilities prioritize investments, manage risk, and improve long-term system performance
• Partners with Operations Managers, Client Program Leaders, and other Practice Leaders to align staffing, market focus, and geographic expansion strategies
• Ensures practice strategies align with firm-wide strategic priorities

Technical Innovation & Resources

• Leads initiatives that drive knowledge creation and dissemination
• Evaluates the firm's competitive technical position relative to other firms and identifies opportunities to strengthen market differentiation
• Defines and launches new service offerings aligned with client needs and industry trends
• Advances AE2S capabilities in:
  • Hydraulic modeling
  • Asset management
  • GIS
  • Infrastructure prioritization
  • Capital planning
• Works with Operations Managers to identify technical resources needed to augment, mentor, and train staff on the pursuit and delivery of technical solutions
• Represents the firm externally through presentations, publications, and professional engagement

Trends

• Identifies and translates key technical, regulatory, demographic, and infrastructure trends for business development and operations teams
• Evaluates emerging technologies and planning methodologies that improve infrastructure decision-making
• Leads implementation strategies that translate trends into actionable services
• Shapes practical strategies that help clients respond to growth, aging infrastructure, affordability challenges, and workforce constraints

Business Development

• Leads technical strategy for major pursuits and key client opportunities
• Actively participates in and leads strategic pursuits, including positioning, proposal development, and client engagement
• Leads or contributes to market positioning and growth strategies across geographies
• Oversees the Utility Planning opportunity pipeline and supports prioritization of key pursuits

Indicators of Success

• Successful implementation of the Practice's strategic initiatives
• Expanded technical thought leadership and external market visibility
• Ongoing improvement and growth of the Practice's Employee-Owners
• Achievement of practice growth targets, including sales and revenue goals
• Measurable growth of Utility Planning services into new geographies and for new clients
• Strong pipeline of strategic planning pursuits and key client relationships
• Advancement of AE2S's reputation as a leader in utility planning, asset management, hydraulic modeling, and infrastructure decision support

Qualifications

Basic Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or directly related field
• Professional Engineer licensure or an equivalent certification such as Certified Asset Management Professional (AMP), GIS Professional (GISP), or the ability to obtain applicable credentials within six months8 or more years of experience supporting utility infrastructure planning, system analysis, asset management, hydraulic modeling, or related consulting services
• Experience leading teams, initiatives, or practice areas
• Proven track record of developing and winning work with municipal or utility clients
• Expertise in one or more of the following:
  • Hydraulic modeling
  • Utility master planning
  • Asset management
  • GIS applications
  • Infrastructure prioritization
  • Utility system analysis
• Proven ability to communicate effectively with clients, the public, and other employees
• Ability to translate technical information into actionable recommendations for utility leaders and decision makers
• Ability to facilitate planning discussions, build consensus, and guide client decision-making processes
• Proven ability to manage clients, win new clients, and retain clients
• Ability to travel periodically to support conferences, project pursuits, client meetings, and other business development activities

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading complex internal initiatives and external projects
• Ability to manage multiple strategic initiatives simultaneously
• Reputation for integrity, sound judgment, and leadership within the organization and industry
• Ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines and geographies
• Demonstrated leadership and decision-making capability
• Experience developing utility master plans
• Experience with hydraulic modeling software (WaterGEMS, InfoWater Pro, InfoWorks, AquaTwin)
• Experience with utility asset management programs
• Experience with GIS strategy and implementation
• Experience supporting capital improvement planning and infrastructure prioritization
• Experience presenting planning recommendations to utility boards, councils, or executive leadership teams

Physical Requirements

• Ability to walk up to 3 miles on uneven terrain
• Ability to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time
• Occasionally climb, stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist
• Occasionally lift, carry, push, and pull light to moderate amounts of weight
• May require lifting and carrying up to 20 pounds, with rare lifting of up to 50 pounds
• Ability to inspect equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects
• May be required to wear Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) including but not limited to, flame resistant clothing, hard hat, and protective footwear
• May require occasional evenings and weekends with overtime expectations varying with workload
• May be required to travel to off-site locations including occasional overnight stays out of town

Why AE2S

AE2S is an employee-owned engineering consulting firm focused on solving complex water challenges. You will have the opportunity to lead on a national scale while making a meaningful impact on communities across the country.

AE2S offers more than just competitive compensation. We offer a best-in-class insurance package to our employees and families; our benefit plan is one of the richest plans currently in the marketplace today!

• 100-percent paid Family Health Insurance
• 100-percent paid Employee Dental, Short- & Long-Term Disability, and Vision Insurance
• Discretionary Bonus Plan
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Matching 401(k) Contributions
• Paid Time Off (PTO) Credits for Past Experience
• Paid Parental Leave
• Wellness Program
• Anticipated Starting Salary: $120,000 - $185,000+ per year DOE (Compensation is subject to variation due to factors such as education, experience, skillset, etc.) Position will remain posted until filled

Location

Billings, MT - Billings, MT 59101 US (Primary)
Bismarck, ND - Bismarck, ND 58501 US
Boise, ID - Boise, ID US
Bozeman, MT - Bozeman, MT 59715 US
Fargo, ND - Fargo, ND 58104 US
Grand Forks, ND - Grand Forks, ND 58201 US
Lehi, UT - Lehi, UT 84043 US
Lone Tree, CO - Lone Tree, CO 80124 US
Maple Grove, MN - Maple Grove, MN 55369 US
Rapid City, SD - Rapid City, SD 57703 US
Sioux Falls, SD - Sioux Falls, SD 57108 US

Education

Bachelor Degree

Position Type

Full-time