Senior Project Manager - Water/Wastewater

Kennedy Jenks is seeking a Senior Project Manager in Washington to lead complex water and wastewater infrastructure projects, strengthen client relationships, and support the delivery of high-quality engineering solutions that improve the well-being of our communities.

This is an opportunity to lead project delivery, deepen client relationships, support business development, and mentor engineering staff while navigating evolving priorities and cross-functional project complexity.

You’ll help advance Kennedy Jenks’ commitment to exceptional client service, technical excellence, and community impact through thoughtful leadership on water/wastewater infrastructure projects.

What You’ll Do

As a Senior Project Manager, you’ll lead technical delivery, client engagement, business development, project performance, and team development.

• Manage project delivery: Coordinate technical work from planning through construction for small to large water/wastewater infrastructure projects.
• Apply technical expertise: Support projects involving pipelines, sanitary sewer collection systems, treatment systems, pump stations, and related infrastructure.
• Guide engineering services: Lead studies, design phases, bidding, and construction support services.
• Support growth opportunities: Build client relationships, coordinate with marketing staff, and prepare proposals.
• Manage project performance: Prepare and negotiate contracts, manage quality and financial performance, coordinate subconsultants, and resolve budget or schedule issues.
• Mentor and collaborate: Partner with teams across the company while supervising, mentoring, and training junior technical staff.

What Makes This Role Different

• Community-focused impact: You help deliver infrastructure solutions that support the health, resilience, and well-being of communities.
• Integrated leadership role: You combine technical expertise, project management, client service, and growth-focused leadership in one highly visible role.
• Team development: You help develop junior technical staff and strengthen project teams across the company.

What You Bring

• Relevant experience: Experience managing and executing water/wastewater infrastructure projects from planning through construction.
• Functional expertise: Strong technical knowledge of water/wastewater civil infrastructure, including pipelines, collection systems, treatment systems, and pump stations.
• Communication and collaboration: Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to respond to client and team needs.
• Industry background: Understanding of the water/wastewater industry and the technical, operational, and client service needs that shape successful project outcomes.
• Problem-solving or execution: Ability to manage quality, budgets, schedules, contracts, subconsultants, and competing project priorities while identifying and resolving issues.
• Business development mindset: Experience developing proposals and building positive client relationships through direct client interaction.
• Leadership approach: A collaborative, communicative, and responsive style with a passion for mentoring staff.

Qualifications

• Education: BS or MS in Civil, Mechanical, Chemical, Environmental Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience: 15+ years of relevant water/wastewater infrastructure project experience, including leadership of large projects.
• Areas of knowledge: Strong knowledge of water/wastewater infrastructure delivery.
• Certifications or licenses: Professional Engineer (PE) license in Washington required.
• Client and business development skills: Ability to provide excellent client service, support sales efforts, and communicate clearly in writing and verbally.
• Travel: Ability to travel to KJ offices and client sites as needed.

Kennedy Jenks supports a healthy work-life balance and utilizes a hybrid model of home and office work, with a minimum of two days per week in the office. This approach empowers our people to thrive, collaborate, and do their best work.

Salary range for this position is expected to be between $135,000 and $226,000, depending on education, experience, qualifications, licensure/certifications, and geographic location.

Benefits summary: Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance; a health savings account; a 401(k); bonus programs; tuition reimbursement; employee ownership opportunity; professional registration support; business travel assistance; competitive paid time off and holidays; an employee assistance program; and additional programs that support your wellbeing and professional growth.

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