Dams, Levees and Civil Works Construction Business Class Lead

HDR is committed to an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day. We build a culture of inclusion across our company and communities, and we consider our impact on the world through our work in water resources and civil infrastructure.

We believe water is more than a resource — it is a shared responsibility. As part of HDR’s 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. Our work supports public health, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure resilience.

This role focuses on technical and programmatic leadership for planning, design integration, and construction delivery of HDR’s Dam and Levee projects, and for third-party construction management projects where HDR is not the designer. The position reports to the DLCW BC Director.

This role requires leadership in strategic planning and risk management, directing all aspects of HDR’s DLCW projects during the construction phase, and coordinating with design teams to consider constructability and cost during design. The selected candidate will oversee HDR’s DLCW construction support activities, ensure the design intent is met, provide engineering support during construction, develop scopes for and provide construction administration services, evaluate QC/QA data and observations, and address or support the management of claims.

The candidate may also serve as lead engineer, technical lead, or project manager on DLCW design projects, and will contribute to HDR’s industry presence through professional involvement to raise the profile of HDR’s DLCW program.

The position also emphasizes alignment of design decisions with construction realities (staging, access, materials, foundation treatment, design changes, and risk management) and supports corporate portfolio risk management, project development and delivery, and client relationships with owners, contractors, and oversight boards. Mentoring mid- and junior-level engineers with a focus on constructability, field engineering, and collaboration between design and construction teams is included.

The role involves reviews and actions under HDR’s Matrix of Authority (MOA) and risk management framework. The selected individual will collaborate with the DLCW BC Director and other DLCW leaders, Hydropower BC leaders, Field Services Group leadership, project managers, and operations leaders in reviewing go/no-go decisions, SOWs, contracts, and project pricing, with emphasis on identifying construction risks early and ensuring they are addressed in design and contracting strategy and construction execution plans.

Coordination with HDR’s regional and corporate technical leads and advisors is required.

• Lead strategic planning, risk management, and direct and oversee all aspects of HDR’s DLCW projects during the construction phase, and collaborate with design teams on constructability and costs during the design phase.
• Direct and oversee HDR’s DLCW construction support activities to meet design intent, provide engineering support during construction, develop scopes and provide construction administration services, evaluate QC/QA test data and observations, and support claims management.
• Serve as lead engineer, technical lead, or project manager on DLCW design projects as needed.
• Build HDR’s presence in the industry through professional involvement to maintain and raise the profile of HDR’s DLCW program.
• Align design decisions with construction realities (staging, access, materials, foundation treatment, design changes, risk management) and support portfolio risk management, project development, and client relationships.
• Mentor mid- and junior-level engineers with emphasis on constructability, field engineering, and collaboration between design and construction teams.
• Support reviews and actions under HDR’s MOA and risk management framework; review SOWs, contracts, and project pricing…