Water Services Leader

We are seeking a Water Services Leader to join Arup’s San Francisco office as an Associate — a leadership level that shapes our business through technical expertise, client leadership, project delivery, people development, and market influence.

Arup is recruiting a leader to grow and deliver water engineering and advisory services in the Northern California market. The role spans our full water engineering portfolio—water resources, water/wastewater treatment, conveyance, pump stations, reservoirs, and stormwater—delivering sustainable, resilient, climate-adaptive solutions.

At Arup, leadership is measured by impact, not hierarchy. Working with our Western U.S. water business leader and our San Francisco Civil and Water team, you will draw upon Arup’s local, regional, and global expertise to pursue opportunities and deliver integrated solutions. Central to this role is serving as a trusted advisor to Northern California’s leading water agencies and sustaining the long-term relationships that drive our regional business.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical judgment, multidisciplinary project experience, and a drive to grow the business. You will foster technical excellence, accountability, and collaboration, mentor emerging leaders, and help shape our water business and the communities it serves across Northern California and beyond.

Notable Projects and Clients Arup’s Northern California water business serves a diverse portfolio across California and the Western U.S. Clients we focus on include:
· SFPUC·       EBMUD
· Santa Clara Valley Water
· Silicon Valley Clean Water
· City of San Jose
· City of Palo Alto
· Central Contra Costa Sanitary District
· Union Sanitary District
· City of San Mateo
· Zone 7 Water Agency The Water Services Leader will own and grow these relationships, maintaining an active presence with each agency between pursuits and projects.

The Opportunity Client Management & Business Development
· Serve as a trusted advisor to key regional water agencies, maintaining consistent engagement.
· Lead account strategy for priority clients, aligning Arup’s capabilities with their capital programs.
· Lead local business planning and service development for Water Infrastructure Services.
· Support marketing, lead generation, and pursuits to win new work and secure repeat business.
· Collaborate with clients, design partners, subconsultants, and stakeholders to deliver impactful projects.

Project Delivery & Quality Assurance
· Manage complex multidisciplinary projects, overseeing commercial, contractual, and technical performance.
· Provide technical leadership across water engineering disciplines, including water resources, treatment, conveyance, pump stations, reservoirs, stormwater, hydrology/hydraulics, and floodplain and/or watershed planning.
· Prepare reports and technical deliverables.
· Develop project plans covering staffing, commercial management, and quality assurance.
· Serve as senior technical reviewer and QA/QC lead, ensuring all deliverables meet Arup’s quality standards.

People Leadership & Team Development
· Lead, mentor, and develop mid-level and junior team members, supporting individual and team success.
· Support recruiting, onboarding, and integration of new team members as we grow in Northern California and across the region.
· Foster a collaborative culture where team members understand expectations and feel empowered to grow their careers.

The

Skills:

· Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil Engineering with water specialism
· Minimum 12 years of relevant experience
· Professionally qualified engineer (PE/P.Eng or equivalent) preferred
· Project Management Professional (PMP) and/or Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) certification preferred
· Alternative delivery…