Associate Project Director, Water Infrastructure, COWI in North America Long , CA, Oakland, CA, San Diego, CA

Associate Project Director, Water Infrastructure, for COWI in North America

Associate Project Director - Water Infrastructure

Regular, Full-Time

Hybrid

Do you want to play a pivotal role in expanding a growing water infrastructure business on the West Coast? Are you an experienced project leader who can both secure and deliver work? And do you bring deep experience working with California water agencies on complex, heavy civil infrastructure projects?

Then join us to create the solutions the world needs today to enable a better tomorrow.

Lead with a team of experienced leaders

To further our growing presence in California, we are seeking an Associate Project Director, Water Infrastructure, to manage the delivery of major projects while contributing to business growth across key clients. You will work closely with senior leadership and technical experts on high-profile water resources projects, including tunnels, conveyance systems, dams, reservoirs, and hydraulic structures, while helping position COWI for future work across California and the U.S.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• Lead end-to-end delivery of complex water infrastructure projects, ensuring performance across scope, schedule, budget, quality, and risk management
• Build and maintain close relationships with California public water agencies (e.g., MWD, SFPUC, DWR), acting as a trusted client partner and positioning for repeat work
• Contribute to business development as a seller-doer by identifying opportunities, supporting proposals, and helping grow the pipeline across the Los Angeles / Long Beach market
• Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary teams, aligning technical resources and providing direction through guidance with indirect responsibility for team performance
• Provide technical oversight across water and heavy civil infrastructure projects, including conveyance systems, hydraulic structures, flood control, and dams (design or CM experience is considered an asset)
• Mentor and support team capability while ensuring compliance with quality standards, project controls, and COWI's delivery and governance frameworks
• Engage with and support COWI's business development and technical teams across North America and globally to ensure the success of the company as a whole

Your skills. Our team. Together we design the future

Like us, you believe that leadership growth comes from setting a clear and meaningful direction for your team and supporting them in taking ownership of their work. You always delegate responsibility and ensure an open and safe dialogue, and you coach your people to achieve their aspirations through constructive, fact-based feedback. Attracting and nurturing a diverse group of high-potential team members is at the top of your agenda, as is creating an inclusive, caring, and trusting culture in your team.

On top of that, you will have:

• A Bachelor's degree in Civil or Structural Engineering (Master's preferred) with 15+ years of experience delivering water infrastructure and heavy civil projects, particularly within California
• A Professional Engineer (PE) license (or ability to obtain in California), with demonstrated technical credibility across water conveyance, hydraulic structures, flood control, dams, and related infrastructure
• Demonstrated experience leading complex infrastructure projects as a Project Manager or Project Director, with an established presence in the Los Angeles / Long Beach market
• Demonstrated ability to manage multidisciplinary water infrastructure projects with full accountability for scope, schedule, budget, and commercial performance within California public works frameworks
• Demonstrated experience working with California public water agencies (e.g., MWD, SFPUC, DWR), including client relationship management, contract negotiations, and delivering high levels of client satisfaction
• Demonstrated success in financial and commercial performance, including managing project margins, mitigating risk, and securing follow-on work and repeat business
• Experience operating in a seller-doer capacity, contributing to business development, supporting proposals, growing market presence on the West Coast, and mentoring and…