Client Service Director - Water​/Wastewater

Kennedy Jenks is seeking a dynamic Client Service Director in California to grow and strengthen our public and private sector water and wastewater practice across our national footprint.

This senior leadership role is central to Kennedy Jenks’ growth strategy, combining client relationship leadership, market development, team building, strategic planning, and delivery oversight for meaningful water, wastewater, stormwater, environmental, pipeline, and industrial consulting work.

As a Client Service Director
, you'll operate at the intersection of client leadership, business development, strategic growth, and project delivery.

• Develop opportunities: Engage the marketplace to identify new clients, projects, partnerships, and service opportunities aligned with KJ’s water and wastewater growth strategy.

• Advance client relationships: Use established municipal, industry, and teaming relationships to expand service offerings and strengthen long-term client partnerships.
• Lead strategic pursuits: Guide positioning, teaming, proposal strategy, interview preparation, and pursuit planning for priority opportunities across your territory.
• Build high-performing teams: Collaborate with internal leaders on strategic hiring, staff development, team structure, and inclusive leadership that supports project and client success.
• Oversee project development: Support scope, schedule, fee development, negotiation, staffing, and coordination from planning through design and construction.
• Contribute to delivery: Serve as a project manager, project engineer, or project team member where your leadership and technical judgment add value.

• Direct growth impact: Your relationships, judgment, and market insight will help shape where KJ grows and how we bring value to clients.
• National platform, local relevance: You can connect local client needs with KJ’s broader technical depth, project resume, and collaborative resources across the firm.
• Visible leadership role: You’ll influence strategy, pursuits, team development, and client outcomes while contributing to work that supports resilient infrastructure and trusted public and private sector partnerships.

• Client-centered leadership: A reputation for building trust, listening well, and aligning solutions with client priorities.
• Business development mindset: Confidence identifying opportunities, shaping strategy, and converting relationships into meaningful work.
• Collaborative influence: The ability to bring internal teams, external partners, and client stakeholders together around shared goals.
• Team development approach: A commitment to mentoring, motivating, and supporting inclusive teams that deliver strong results.
• Clear communication: Strong writing, editing, research, presentation, and verbal communication skills.

• Education: BS or MS in Civil, Chemical, Environmental, or a similar engineering field.
• Experience: Minimum of 15 years of relevant experience in consulting, engineering, or infrastructure services.
• Market knowledge: Thorough understanding of the local consulting market, including municipal and industry client needs.
• Licensure: Professional Engineer (PE) license or ability to obtain licensure in California.
• Preferred: Design-Build experience and DBIA certification.
• T…