Water Program Manager - Data Centers

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At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world? Watch Our Story: Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world. We believe that the way we work can add meaning and value to the world. That ideas inspire positive change. That coloring outside the lines can illuminate fresh perspectives. And that small details yield important realizations. Above all, we believe that collaboration is the best way forward.

We believe water is more than a resource, it's a shared responsibility. As part of our Water Business Group, you’ll help shape how communities manage water for generations to come. From delivering safe drinking water and treating wastewater responsibly to developing sustainable water supplies and protecting lives and property through flood control, your work will directly support public health, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure resilience. We bring together experts across disciplines to solve complex challenges with bold thinking and technical excellence. Whether you're modernizing aging systems or pioneering innovative approaches, your contributions will make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. This isn’t just a job, it's a chance to lead change, drive progress, and leave a lasting legacy.

Overview

We have an exceptional opportunity for a Water Infrastructure Program Manager (PgmM), focused on developing, coordinating, and delivering water infrastructure consulting, design projects and tasks for data center clients. The role will coordinate and collaborate with teams inside HDR to support water infrastructure oriented tasks including environmental, permitting, industrial water/wastewater treatment, building architecture, and other expertise from all HDR’s service areas relating to data center water infrastructure. The role will also work with vendors and subconsultants as needed.

Responsibilities

• Program development, planning, and project delivery supporting water infrastructure relating to designing and constructing data centers for a specific client or set of clients.
• Manage teams working to complete tasks from front‑end site due‑diligence evaluation, consulting, planning, and detailed design support through the construction administration and commissioning phases of data center projects.
• Provide planning/consulting (due diligence/campus planning phase), design (including construction administration and commissioning phases), and O&M/retrofit scopes. Support water sustainability initiatives aligned with client goals.
• Collaborate with practices and professional disciplines across HDR for staff assignments, technical services, activities to continually improve standards and best practices, and implementation of effective quality assurance and quality control procedures.
• Participate in and oversee the execution of consulting, planning, and design scope delivery, including overall performance, financial metrics for water infrastructure tasks, schedule, quality, contractual compliance, HDR task order safety planning, risk mitigation, and overall excellent client experience and satisfaction.
• Coordinate new potential task orders with the client and HDR’s Tech/Media/Telecom (TMT) business development teams; work with TMT leadership and business development to grow HDR’s water‑related work for data center clients.
• Identify and develop opportunities and pursuits; interface with clients to formulate project approaches and develop detailed project scopes that meet client expectations.
• Travel up to 20‑30% across diverse geographic locations.
• TMT Market Sector – Data Center Objectives
  • Incorporate HDR Corporate 2027 Goals and specific strategic vision within the data center / mission critical market to become the industry leader.
  • Communicate strategic and growth business plans to meet key financial objectives of our TMT sector specifically focused on Data Centers.
  • Serve as the Client Manager for water infrastructure scope with selected data center clients in North America and be active and visible in the industry.
• Business Development Responsibilities
  • Support business development and pursuit activities through identification of project opportunities, proposal development, presentation to clients and scope development/contract negotiations after selection. Opportunities may include both new and existing sites.
  • Cultivate long‑term, sustainable, value‑based client relationships with clients. The role may expand to include partners such as subconsultants, water treatment vendors, and water treatment equipment manufacturers.
• Support to Key Project/Program Delivery
  • Take on Project Management (PM) and Principal in Charge (PIC) assignments, driving client satisfaction, staff development, technical excellence, and mentoring opportunities.
  • Manage the day‑to‑day activities of project‑based team members and ensure they meet deadlines and deliver high‑quality work. Assign tasks, provide feedback, and facilitate collaboration.
  • Identify key staff to support new opportunities, monitor staff workload, and facilitate work sharing among HDR groups; expand scope to recruit new staff based on client project needs.
  • Provide mentorship and coaching to staff working on data center projects.
  • Facilitate development and dissemination of lessons learned, Standards & Practices, and other key delivery guidance/tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Mechanical, Chemical, Environmental, Civil or other similar engineering disciplines.
• Experienced in development and management of a wide range of client relationships and specific program and/or project pursuits.
• Ability to work cooperatively with multiple HDR positions such as Market Sector Leadership, Business Class Directors, Regional Business Group Directors, Area Business Group Managers, and Area Managers.
• Demonstrated commitment to HDR values. An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee‑owned culture is a must.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Works well in a team and matrix environment.
• Highly motivated, articulate, and self‑starting.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Platforms.
• Demonstrated project management experience with winning and delivering projects in the Data Center and other industrial sectors, with responsibility for budget, schedule, contractual obligations, and quality standards.

Preferred Qualifications

• Registration as a Professional Engineer.
• Project Management training and experience, including PMP certification.
• 10+ years of directly relevant experience in industrial water and wastewater engineering.
• 5+ years (within the total experience timeframe) specifically serving the Data Center industry.
• Experience designing industrial water and wastewater treatment plants, including development of conceptual/preliminary designs and detailed design document preparation.
• Knowledge of Google Workspace platforms (formerly G Suite or Google Apps).

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering.
• 7 years related experience.
• A minimum 2 years project management experience.
• Requires professional engineering license recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position offered. Example: Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng) license.
• MS Office and MS Project experience is required (Access experience would be plus).
• Demonstrated leadership skills.
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee‑owned culture is a must.

What We Believe

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment

As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

• Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

Benefits

We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, including medical, dental, vision, short and long‑term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus, and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position depends upon skills, experience, education and geographical location. (Stated benefits are for full‑time regular positions. Temporary and part‑time roles eligible for limited benefits.)

• Minneapolis: $120,761 - $172,515
• Columbus: $115,010 - $164,300
• Denver: $126,511 - $180,730

Primary Location

United States‑Missouri‑Kansas City

Other Locations

• United States‑Pennsylvania‑Philadelphia
• United States‑North Carolina‑Charlotte
• United States‑Texas‑Austin
• United States‑Nebraska‑Omaha
• United States‑Colorado‑Denver
• United States‑Virginia‑Vienna
• United States‑Illinois‑Chicago
• United States‑Minnesota‑Minneapolis
• United States‑Michigan‑Ann Arbor
• United States‑Pennsylvania‑Pittsburgh
• United States‑Texas‑San Antonio
• United State‑Texas‑Dallas
• United States‑Ohio‑Columbus
• United States‑Maryland‑Fulton

Industry

Water

Schedule

Full‑time

Employee Status

Regular

Business Class

WW Treatment and Effluent Mgmt

Job Posting

Dec 2, 2025

Seniority Level

• Mid‑Senior level

Employment Type

• Full‑time

Job Function

• Management, Consulting, and Engineering

Industries

• Architecture and Planning, Civil Engineering, and Design Services

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.