Water Business Development Manager

Role Overview

As a Water Business Development Manager, you will be part of the Nebraska/Iowa Water Business Group, helping shape how communities manage water for generations to come. Your work will directly support public health, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure resilience. You will be responsible for identifying, developing, and directing clients’ business opportunities across four market sectors.

What You Will Do

Your primary responsibilities will include maintaining and expanding existing client relationships, identifying and establishing new relationships, developing market networks, forecasting and positioning the firm for project pursuits, and leading project pursuits. You will also be responsible for market analysis and strategic plan development.

Why It Might Be a Fit

To be successful in this role, you will need excellent writing, presentation, and speaking skills. You will also need to maintain a strong understanding of market trends and drivers impacting our clients and develop annual and long-term strategic plans within established company direction and goals.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering (preferred), professional, or related field.
• Maintain a professional or engineering registration or certificate or have related technical experience
• 15 years of experience with program development, pursuit management, and client relationship development in the water consulting industry.
• Proven business development success in the water consulting industry.
• Existing network of clients in the Nebraska and Iowa areas is beneficial.
• Experienced in the development and management of diverse teams.
• Willingness to travel including overnight trips.
• Commitment to HDR’s core values of quality work and continuous improvement.
• Commitment to being an active participant in HDR’s employee-owned culture.

Benefits

• Maintaining a strong understanding of market trends and drivers impacting our clients
• Developing annual and long-term strategic plans within established company direction and goals
• Implementing key growth initiatives and investments as defined in annual and long-term strategic plans
• Serving as a Client Manager (for assigned accounts)
• Developing and implementing client plans, including long-term strategies to capture market share
• Developing business relationships with teaming partners
• Implementing go/no-go decision process in accordance with HDR’s Matrix of Authority
• Leading pursuit teams in creating and implementing effective win strategies (capture planning)
• Participating in pursuit teams to develop persuasive proposals and interview materials
• Participating in quality reviews of the proposal and interview materials
• Coaching interview teams to be effective at delivering key messages during interview presentations
• Facilitating debriefs to identify improvement opportunities and to measure overall competitiveness
• Directing content marketing campaigns to strengthen our brand, increase our visibility, and showcase our thought leaders.
• Retaining, developing, and supervising business development and marketing employees, as assigned
• Identifying candidates to fill management, technical, business development and marketing positions
• Training and mentoring employees on business development and marketing best practices
• Soliciting and acting on formal and informal client feedback
• Understanding and applying HDR’s risk management approach when pursuing new business opportunities
• Actively participating in professional associations to elevate HDR’s brand in target markets
• Articulating HDR’s capabilities and competitive advantages