National Practice Leader – Water/Wastewater Industrial Services

What You Will Do:

GFT is seeking an accomplished and entrepreneurial National Practice Leader – Industrial Water & Wastewater Services to lead the strategic growth, technical excellence, and market expansion of our industrial water and wastewater practice across the United States.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a recognized industry leader to shape GFT's national strategy for one of the most dynamic areas of the water market. As industrial clients navigate increasing water demands, evolving regulations, water scarcity, sustainability commitments, and increasingly complex treatment requirements, you'll bring together GFT's multidisciplinary expertise to help clients solve their most critical water and wastewater challenges.

As National Practice Leader, you will combine market leadership, client development, technical expertise, and people leadership to expand our capabilities in industrial water and wastewater treatment, water reuse, process water, regulatory compliance, resiliency, and sustainable water management.

You'll work across GFT's businesses and geographies to deepen strategic client relationships, develop new markets and services, lead major pursuits, and build high-performing teams positioned for sustained national growth.

What You'll Be Challenged to Do

As National Practice Leader – Water/Wastewater Industrial Services, you will set the strategic direction for the practice while serving as a senior market leader, trusted client advisor, and technical resource.

Your responsibilities will include:

- Develop and execute GFT's national strategy for Industrial Water/Wastewater Services, establishing priorities, investment strategies, growth objectives, and key performance indicators.
- Identify evolving client needs, market trends, regulatory developments, and emerging technologies that create opportunities for new services and sustainable growth.
- Establish and drive annual revenue, backlog, profitability, and market growth objectives in partnership with business and executive leadership.
- Lead national business development efforts with industrial clients across sectors including manufacturing, food and beverage, energy, mining, chemical processing, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and advanced technologies.
- Develop, expand, and maintain executive-level relationships with strategic clients, positioning GFT as a trusted advisor for their most complex water and wastewater challenges.
- Identify, position for, pursue, and secure significant programs and projects while providing strategic leadership for major capture and proposal efforts.
- Expand GFT's capabilities in industrial water treatment, wastewater treatment, process water, water reuse, sustainability, resiliency, permitting, and regulatory compliance.
- Evaluate new industries, geographies, strategic partnerships, and service offerings that strengthen GFT's market position and create sustainable, profitable growth.
- Collaborate across GFT's technical disciplines, businesses, and geographies to bring integrated solutions to industrial clients.
- Serve as a senior technical advisor for complex industrial water and wastewater projects, providing strategic guidance to clients and project teams.
- Champion technical excellence, innovation, quality, and consistent application of industry best practices throughout the practice.
- Advance the application of innovative treatment technologies, digital solutions, data analytics, automation, and sustainable water management strategies.
- Provide executive oversight for major projects and programs, monitoring financial performance, quality, risk, schedule, resource requirements, and client satisfaction.
- Partner with project leadership to address complex technical, commercial, resource, and delivery challenges while ensuring projects are executed safely, efficiently, and profitably.
- Recruit, mentor, and develop technical leaders, project managers, and emerging professionals to build the capabilities necessary to support continued national growth.
- Develop succession strategies and create meaningful opportunities for professional development and leadership growth throughout the practice.
- Foster a collaborative, high-performing culture centered on technical excellence, innovation, accountability, client service, and employee growth.
- Represent GFT at conferences, professional organizations, industry forums, and client events, strengthening our visibility and reputation within the industrial water market.
- Partner with Marketing and business leadership to advance thought leadership, strengthen GFT's market positioning, and increase awareness of our industrial water and wastewater capabilities.
- Support strategic growth initiatives, partnerships, acquisitions, and other opportunities that complement GFT's long-term industrial water strategy.

Education | Experience:

What You Will Bring to Our Firm

- Bachelor's degree in Civil, Environmental, Chemical, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
- Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in water and wastewater engineering, including significant experience supporting industrial facilities, processes, and clients.
- Demonstrated success leading and growing an industrial water/wastewater practice, market, service line, or significant portfolio of business.
- Proven track record of business development, strategic account growth, and revenue generation within industrial water and wastewater markets.
- Deep technical understanding of industrial water treatment, wastewater treatment, water reuse, industrial processes, permitting, and regulatory compliance.
- Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams and successfully delivering large, technically complex industrial water and wastewater projects and programs.
- Established relationships with industrial clients and experience managing strategic accounts and executive-level client relationships.
- Strong commercial acumen with an understanding of revenue growth, backlog development, project profitability, resource management, and business performance.
- Demonstrated ability to identify market opportunities and translate client challenges into new services, projects, and long-term relationships.
- Exceptional leadership, communication, presentation, relationship-building, and negotiation skills.
- Executive presence and the ability to communicate effectively with senior client leaders, technical professionals, business executives, and industry stakeholders.
- Demonstrated commitment to developing talent, mentoring future leaders, and building collaborative, high-performing teams.
- Ability and willingness to travel nationally as needed to support clients, teams, pursuits, and strategic initiatives.

What We Prefer You Bring

- Master's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
- Established national reputation and professional network within the industrial water and wastewater market.
- Experience leading a regional or national engineering practice, business unit, or significant industrial water/wastewater portfolio.
- Experience serving clients across multiple industrial markets, including manufacturing, food and beverage, energy, mining, chemical processing, semiconductor, pharmaceutical, or advanced technology sectors.
- Expertise with advanced water and wastewater treatment technologies, including PFAS treatment, nutrient removal, water reuse, and sustainable water management solutions.
- Experience developing or implementing digital water, automation, data analytics, or other emerging technologies within industrial environments.
- Active participation or leadership in industry organizations such as WEF, AWWA, AIChE, ISA , or similar professional organizations.
- Experience evaluating or supporting strategic partnerships, acquisitions, or other inorganic growth initiatives.
Compensation: The salary range for this role is $240,000 - $285,000. Salary is dependent upon experience and geographic location. Featured Benefits: Hybrid (in-person and remote) work environment. Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, in addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance. Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan. Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual. Tuition reimbursement for continued education. Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations Incentive compensation for eligible positions.

Company Overview:

At GFT, a privately held AEC firm, we innovate where transportation, water, power, and buildings converge. We call this the Infrastructure of Life. We measure our success by the strength of our relationships – thats why were the employer of choice for 5,000+ of the industrys brightest engineers, planners, architects, inspectors, designers, and more.

Our clients choose us for our expertise and prefer us for our nimble approach, creativity, and personal touch. Backed by over a centurys experience, together were building a lasting legacy for future generations: stronger communities, a healthier planet, and better lives.

GFT: Ingenuity That Shapes Lives is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans status or other characteristics protected by law.

Unsolicited resumes from third party agencies will be considered the property GFT.

GFT does require the successful completion of a criminal background check for all advertised positions.

Location: Raleigh NC
Core Business Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Employment Status: Full-Time

Applicants in the County of Los Angeles- Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Applicants in the City of San Francisco- Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Applicants in the State of California -Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act.