California Water/Wastewater Practice Lead

Michael Baker’s water professionals provide innovative consulting, planning and engineering solutions for the entire spectrum of the water cycle. We have proven experience in providing a full range of professional services from scientific and technical analysis, development of concepts through to final design, and construction support services. Protection and management of water resources starts at the watershed level and follows the movement of water through urban and agricultural areas, streams, lakes and reservoirs, water distribution systems, wastewater collection systems, and water/wastewater treatment plants.

DESCRIPTION

Michael Baker is seeking a California Water/Wastewater Practice Lead. This position will work directly with the Water National Practice Lead and local Water leaders to drive the business, focusing largely on the California market. Come be part of our National Water team!

Working closely with our local water professionals, this individual will be charged with the development and implementation of an innovative business strategy, identifying and leading key regional pursuits, managing large multidiscipline water and wastewater projects, mentoring project managers, and establishing strategic relationships with clients and teaming partners.

The Regional Water Practice Lead will:

• Collaborate with our Water Practice leaders to grow Michael Baker’s water practice with a primary focus on Southern California water and wastewater clients (i.e. MWD, LADWP, LACDPW, LABOE, LACSD, OCPW, CA DWR, OCSD , etc.) in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego Counties while remaining engaged at a high level with the rest of the West Region.
• Connect / cross-market other discipline services and solutions. Support other disciplines that have existing client relationships and leverage those relationships for growth opportunities.
• Establish relationships with design-build partners including contractors and engineering firms; assist in design-build pursuits including strategic pursuit planning, stakeholder outreach, proposal development and project management execution.
• Develop and maintain client, stakeholder and teaming partner relationships. Work closely with the Michael Baker Southern California Water Leadership Team and the National Practice Lead for Water in pursuit identification and strategies, agency and public outreach, and allocation/management of technical resources.
• Identify and leverage partnership opportunities, build knowledge in government relations protocol and processes, and develop strategic relationships with key elected officials, industry leaders, agency management leaders and colleague firms through collaboration with Michael Baker’s Business Development Associates.
• Become an active participant in local professional organizations such as AWWA, APWA, ASCE or ACEC and work towards securing a leadership role on Board(s) or Committee(s).
• Utilize strong interpersonal, communication, presentation and negotiation skills, as well as problem-solving abilities, in this highly visible position.
• Lead project delivery on key pursuits through provision of technical direction and oversight to the design team; oversight of fiscal management relative to scope, schedule and budget; promote adherence to client management, implementation of quality control processes and appropriate level of delegation to, and oversight of, key supporting staff.
• Identify potential business development opportunities that address an industry challenge; brings recognition to Michael Baker on a local and regional basis; and helps to maintain and expand Michael Baker’s Water presence in Southern California.
• Lead proposal, interview, fee development and negotiations for various key project pursuits.
• Build relationships with other managers in the West Region and with other key managers companywide.
• Refresh past knowledge and stay apprised of current representative services and projects for Michael Baker in Environmental, GIS, Landscape Architecture, Planning, Structures, Surface Water, Surveying, and Transportation.
• Recruit and attract individuals to Michael Baker and help build team members’ careers.
• Collaborate with the Southern California, Northern California, Nevada, Arizona, the Pacific Northwest representatives and the Regional Leadership team regarding staff assignments, workshare, mentorship, business pursuits and feedback on quality of project deliverables.

PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering
• Professional Engineer license required for the state of California.
• 20+ years of water or wastewater experience with increasing levels of responsibility
• Strong track record of overseeing successful project delivery of water and wastewater projects. Focus area is Southern California; however, experience in Northern California, Washington, Arizona, and Nevada is a plus. Specific agencies of focus include MWD, LADWP, LACDPW, LABOE, LACSD, OCPW, CA DWR, OCSD, and local cities/counties.
• Entrepreneurial spirit and the drive to be a leader at Michael Baker to grow our water practice in the California marketplace
• Demonstrated supervisory and mentoring skills, strong engineering judgment, applicable technical skills, and strong proposal writing talents
• Strong presence in the water industry, with active participation on Boards, including thought leadership authorship and speaking roles at conferences/seminars
• Strong client relationships and the drive to use those relationships to win work and grow the Michael Baker West Region Water Practice

COMPENSATION
The salary range for this position is $250,000-$300,000. This will be dependent on the experience and expertise of the incoming candidate.

BENEFITS
We offer a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Medical, dental, vision insurance
• 401K Retirement Plan
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Life, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability
• Professional and personal development
• Generous paid time off
• Commuter and wellness benefits

Workplace Flexibility: Whether you want to work in the office, at home, or in a hybrid model, we accommodate a variety of preferences. We recognize our employees face many factors when it comes to selecting the best work location, and we are passionate about providing options and flexibility where possible.

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