Senior Operations Specialist (Water)

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Overview

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where everyone is valued, respected, and empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. We foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and in our communities, constantly asking ourselves: "What is our impact on the world?"

About HDR

HDR has specialized in engineering, architecture, environmental, and construction services for over 100 years, providing solutions to thousands of partners—from small local utilities to the largest global companies. Our Water Business Group has over 2,000 employee owners, including more than 500 in the Eastern Region.

Primary Responsibilities

• Support HDR project leaders at the local, state, and regional level on water treatment projects requiring input from Operations Specialists.
• Review drawings for operability review and HazOps analysis to ensure successful operation of a variety of treatment processes.
• Manage operations and maintenance projects with municipal and industrial clients, involving client interfacing, regulatory reporting, and personnel, subcontractor, and maintenance management.
• Develop startup and commissioning plans and host workshops to share those ideas with client contractors and operators.
• Perform startup and commissioning of new water treatment facilities, ensuring new equipment functions correctly before handover.
• Provide formal and informal training to help clients’ treatment plants operate at optimal performance.
• Participate in testing of facilities to ensure readiness for startup and compliance with design capacity after startup.
• Perform condition assessment and asset management tasks on water and wastewater facilities using state‑of‑the‑art evaluation tools.
• Execute operational or maintenance troubleshooting and evaluations on municipal and industrial water facilities.

Travel

Approximately 30–40% travel, primarily during the day; weekend travel is normally not required.

Strongly Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of field experience troubleshooting mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation equipment at water treatment facilities and/or resolving water treatment process problems; additional construction experience is a plus.
• High‑level water treatment operator license or professional engineering license.
• Ability to interpret engineering plans and specifications.
• Experience with Microsoft Office products and computerized maintenance management systems.
• Commitment to active participation in our employee‑owned culture.
• Valid driver’s license.

Required Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Experience with Microsoft Office products.
• General background‑related experience.
• Commitment to active participation in our employee‑owned culture.

Location

United States—Virginia—Vienna (primary), with potential assignments across the United States.

Employment Details

Full‑time, regular employee; schedule: full-time.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, paid time off, parental leave, paid holidays, retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus, and tuition reimbursement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

HDR is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest, and conviction records.