Water Quality Consultant

HDR is looking for a Water Quality Consultant to join our Water Business Group team in Raleigh, NC, with directly relevant skills as a water quality professional with a strong background in regulatory and operational sampling, laboratory testing, analytical evaluation, and technical documentation. This individual will apply practical knowledge of water treatment plant and water distribution system operations to help utilities understand water quality conditions, evaluate treatment performance, improve monitoring programs, and translate complex technical findings into clear, actionable recommendations. The Senior Consultant will build and maintain trusted-advisor relationships with clients and manage the delivery of water treatment, water quality, operations, and utility management assignments. Project work may include treatability studies; sampling and analysis plans; laboratory and field data review; water quality investigations; treatment process optimization; distribution system water quality evaluations; standard operating procedures; regulatory and operational documentation; and utility performance improvement initiatives. The candidate will also support HDR's program management and owner's advisor services, contribute specialized technical leadership, and participate in client development. On a day-to-day basis, the Water Quality Consultant will be expected to: • Plan, lead, and review water quality sampling programs for source water, treatment processes, finished water, and distribution systems, including development of sampling locations, frequencies, methods, quality assurance requirements, and data management procedure • Provide technical oversight for laboratory and field testing activities, including coordination with internal and contract laboratories, review of analytical methods, and evaluation of quality assurance and quality control result • Analyze laboratory, field, operational, and regulatory data to identify trends, data gaps, treatment performance issues, distribution system concerns, and opportunities for process improvement • Evaluate water treatment plant performance and distribution system water quality using knowledge of treatment chemistry, process control, residual maintenance, disinfection, corrosion control, taste and odor, and other operational water quality consideration • Prepare and review sampling and analysis plans, standard operating procedures, quality assurance project plans, technical memoranda, reports, and presentation • Translate complex sampling results and analytical findings into clear conclusions and practical recommendations for utility managers, operators, engineers, regulators, and other stakeholder • Support water quality investigations, treatability studies, treatment process evaluations, distribution system studies, regulatory response efforts, and utility performance improvement initiative • Serve as a Project Manager responsible for scope, schedule, budget, quality, client communication, and coordination of multidisciplinary teams using HDR business systems and project management tool • Provide quality control and senior technical review for deliverable • Build trusted-advisor relationships with utility clients and support client development • Lead and mentor staff • Participate in industry organizations and functions, including presentations and publication • Possibly serve in an expert role for projects throughout the eastern USA • Some regional travel will be expected Preferred Qualifications • Bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, environmental science, civil or environmental engineering, water resources, or a related technical discipline; an advanced degree is a plu • 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in drinking water treatment, water quality, laboratory management, utility operations, environmental laboratory services, or a closely related field • Experience supporting regulatory compliance, treatment optimization, distribution system water quality investigations, treatability studies, or • Familiarity with laboratory information management systems, water quality databases, statistical analysis, data visualization, or related analytical tool • Demonstrated experience managing or providing senior oversight for a water treatment laboratory, water quality program, or comparable technical function • Strong experience developing and implementing sampling plans and coordinating field and laboratory testing for water treatment plants and distribution system • Demonstrated ability to analyze complex analytical and operational data, identify trends and data limitations, and develop defensible technical conclusions and recommendation • Strong technical writing skills, including preparation and review of standard operating procedures, sampling and analysis plans, technical memoranda, reports, and presentation • Demonstrated project planning, project management, communication, leadership, and mentoring skill • Proficiency with Microsoft Office; experience organizing, visualizing, and communicating analytical results is required • Ability to work collaboratively with utility managers, operators, engineers, laboratory personnel, regulators, and multidisciplinary project team • Local candidates are preferred Qualifications Required Qualifications • Bachelor's degree in related field • A minimum of 5 years related experience • Efficient use of the internet and other electronic and hard copy media for research • Strong Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, Project and Visio skills • Expert Microsoft Access and Excel skills • Strong analytical skills with the ability to compile and present summary level information • Ability to obtain, cleanse, merge and analyze data from multiple sources • Excellent interpersonal skills and strong relationship, organizational and follow-up skills • Self-starter with proven track record of accomplishments • An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must