South Central Program Management Lead

South Central Program Management Lead

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world? Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. We believe water is more than a resource, it's a shared responsibility. As part of our 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, your work will directly support public health, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure resilience. We bring together experts across disciplines to solve complex challenges with bold thinking and technical excellence. Whether you're modernizing aging systems or pioneering innovative approaches, your contributions will make a meaningful difference in people's lives. This isn't just a job, it's a chance to lead change, drive progress, and leave a lasting legacy.

The Program Management Lead for the South Central U.S. Water Engineering practice is a strategic leader responsible for driving the successful delivery of complex, multi-disciplinary water programs across Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Oklahoma. This role serves as a key integrator between clients, technical teams, and regional leadership, ensuring Programs are executed with excellence, consistency, and alignment to client needs and organizational goals. The leader will cultivate high-performing teams by developing talent, strengthening program management capabilities, and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. In parallel, this role will deepen client relationships, identify growth opportunities, and position the organization as a trusted partner in solving critical water challenges across the region.

In the role of a Program Management Lead, we'll count on you to:

• Assume leadership responsibilities for the management of multidisciplinary infrastructure programs with a high degree of technical complexity and non-technical intricacies
• Advise clients on the technical, regulatory, financial, and community facets of infrastructure programs, which are all critical to program success
• Leverage lessons learned from other programs and industry best management practices to address the specific needs of each client
• Plan, direct, and monitor all aspects of program execution
• Oversee a broad range of disciplines including, but not limited to: capital planning, change management, commissioning/asset onboarding, communications, construction management, cost control/estimating, document management, environmental planning/compliance, engineering, equity, financial support, organizational strengthening, permitting, planning/design management, program governance, procurement, project management, quality management, real estate, regulatory support, risk management, scheduling, strategic planning, sustainability and resiliency
• Anticipate and identify potential issues and risks that may impact program implementation, and assist the client with problem-solving, issues resolution, risk mitigation, and timely decision-making
• Provide strategic advice and thought leadership
• Deploy the required resources to address various program challenges and unanticipated events
• Develop and implement various plans (program management plans, startup plans and work plans), business processes, and tools to drive efficiencies, emphasize accountability, bring team alignment, and promote transparency
• Direct the services provided by multiple large program teams or provide day-to-day leadership on a single mega-project
• Promote alignment within the team through effective and regular communications
• Secure the resources required to deliver services specified in the contract scope with a focus on contract compliance
• Monitor team performance and establish a robust QA/QC program to meet client expectations
• Monitor the financial performance of the program against pre-established financial metrics and adjust as necessary to meet earnings and profitability targets, and control losses
• Contribute to the growth of HDR's program management services by (1) building a long-term trusted advisory relationship with clients; (2) looking for opportunities to expand our services to address the needs of existing clients; (3) supporting the pursuit of new program contract opportunities; (4) mentoring and training staff working on programs; and (5) supporting practice-wide initiatives

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Sciences, Planning, Business Administration or closely related field
• DBIA certification
• Experience leading the consultant or owner program management team of at least one [transportation/water/resources] infrastructure program(s) with a capital value of $1 billion
• Knowledgeable of other alternative delivery/contract models, such as public-private partnership (P3), design-build-finance-operate-maintain (DBFOM), and engineering procurement construction (EPC)
• Willingness to travel regularly, and if needed, commute to a client's site temporarily

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Sciences, Planning, Business Administration or a closely related field
• At least one of the following licenses/certifications recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position offered: Professional Engineering License (PE or P.Eng), PMI Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, PMI Program Management Professional (PgMP) certification, AICP Certification, or CMAA Certified Construction Manager (CCM) Certification
• Program management experience consistent with the following requirements: A minimum of ten (10) years of program management experience, with at least four (4) years as a Senior Program Manager, and Experience leading as a Senior Program Manager or serving in a similar role on delivery of three or more programs, each with a capital value of $500 million or more, and Experience delivering concurrent programs with a total value of $500 million or more qualifies as one of the required programs
• Strong leadership skills with experience building a cohesive team culture and managing team members located in various locations
• Excellent communication skills. Comfortable presenting to client executives and in front of a large audience in a public setting
• Management experience with the implementation of projects or programs using alternative and collaborative delivery methods, including design-build (DB), progressive design-build (PDB), and/or construction management at-risk (CMAR)
• Familiar with the various types of tools used to manage large programs - PMIS, CMIS, scheduling, cost control, document management, risk management, asset management, dashboard analytics, etc.
• Experience working in an integrated fashion within a Program Management Office (PMO) comprised of both consultant and client staff

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve. Our Commitment As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day. Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

Primary Location: United States-Texas-Houston

Other Locations: United States-Arkansas-Bentonville, United States-Arkansas-Little Rock, United States-Texas-Austin, United States-Texas-San Antonio, United States-Texas-Dallas, United States-Louisiana-Baton Rouge, United States-Louisiana-Lafayette, United States-Mississippi-Jackson area

Industry: Water

Schedule: Full-time

Employee Status: Regular

Business Class: Water Treatment

Job Posting: Jun 9, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.