Project Manager, Operations Management, Project & Program Management

Project Managers are critical to delivering clean water and wastewater services in Hawaiʻi. They oversee the planning, coordination, budgeting, and execution of infrastructure projects from upgrading aging water mains to building new decentralized wastewater systems in rural communities. They ensure projects are completed on time, within scope, and in alignment with environmental regulations, funding requirements, and community needs.

In Hawaiʻi, Project Managers work with government agencies (like the Department of Health or county Departments of Environmental Management), engineering firms, utilities, and nonprofits. With increasing climate threats and federal infrastructure investments, the need for water savvy project managers is growing rapidly especially those with experience in permitting, cultural engagement, and sustainable design.

This position typically requires:

A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Environmental Science, Public Administration, or a related field.

Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is often preferred or required, especially for large-scale projects.

Experience with state and federal grants (e.g., SRF, USDA, FEMA) and permitting in Hawaiʻi is highly valued.

Knowledge of procurement, contracting, budgeting, and reporting processes is essential.

Strong background in community engagement and multi-agency coordination is a plus.

In Hawai’i, you can study at:

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

BS in Civil or Environmental Engineering

BA/MPA in Public Administration

Certificate in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance

Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a concentration in General Management or Public Administration

Offer pre-engineering coursework and certificates in management, procurement, and business technology

Bachelor’s or MBA in Environmental + Business focus

Offers PMP certification prep and continuing education

Project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall, PMBOK),

Local procurement and contracting practices,

Water/wastewater infrastructure systems and terminology,

Hawaiʻi-specific permitting (e.g., CZM, SMA, DOH/EIS),

Environmental and cultural impact assessment processes,

Grant funding cycles and requirements (e.g., SRF, EPA, FEMA, USDA).

Skill in:

Budgeting, scheduling, and resource allocation,

Coordinating with contractors, engineers, agencies, and the public,

Writing scopes of work and managing procurement processes,

Overseeing construction or system installation phases,

Using project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Asana, Smartsheet),

Reporting progress and maintaining documentation for funders and regulators.

Ability to:

Lead multidisciplinary teams across islands and rural areas,

Navigate complex timelines and balance competing priorities,

Build strong relationships with Native Hawaiian communities and landowners,

Integrate climate adaptation and equity into infrastructure design,

Communicate clearly with technical and non-technical audiences.

Hawaiʻi Water Environment Association (HWEA) – Scholarships for students in water-related disciplines.
Website: https://hwea.org

PMI Hawaiʻi Chapter – PMP exam support, professional development, and local networking.
Website: https://pmihnl.org

DOH Wastewater Branch & SRF Program – Grant/loan management training and project support.
Website: https://health.hawaii.gov/wastewater/

Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) – Free training for small system managers and project leaders.
Website: https://www.rcac.org