Principal Water Resources Scientist / Engineer - US MIDWEST

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

INTERA Incorporated is seeking an accomplished and entrepreneurial Principal Water Resources Scientist/Engineer to help expand our Water Resources and Supply practice throughout the Midwest. This position may be based in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, or Illinois and will focus primarily on building INTERA’s presence and client base across those states.

This is a hands-on doer-seller position for an established water resources professional who can develop trusted client relationships, secure new work, and lead the successful delivery of complex projects. The selected individual will combine technical expertise and project leadership with a strong understanding of the Midwest water market. They will work directly with clients while collaborating with INTERA’s multidisciplinary teams of engineers, hydrogeologists, scientists, planners, modelers, and data professionals.

The Principal Water Resources Engineer will help municipal utilities, regional water authorities, industrial clients, and other water providers address complex water supply, infrastructure, regulatory, and resource-management challenges. Project work may include water supply planning, groundwater development, utility planning, infrastructure evaluation, permitting, aquifer storage and recovery, managed aquifer recharge, and long-term water resource strategy.

As INTERA’s senior water resources representative in the region, this individual will be responsible for establishing and expanding relationships, identifying market opportunities, leading strategic pursuits, and translating client needs into successful projects. At the same time, they will remain actively engaged in project execution by serving as a principal-in-charge, project manager, technical lead, or senior advisor. The ideal candidate is a respected industry professional who enjoys both doing the work and creating the opportunities that allow a practice to grow.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategies to expand INTERA’s Water Resources and Supply practice across Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and other targeted Midwest markets
• Build, maintain, and grow relationships with municipal utilities, regional water authorities, public agencies, industrial clients, private water providers, and strategic teaming partners
• Identify prospective clients and project opportunities through industry involvement, direct outreach, existing relationships, and an informed understanding of regional water needs
• Lead capture planning, client positioning, proposal development, interviews, contract negotiations, and other activities needed to secure new work
• Personally lead and contribute to billable project work while balancing business development and regional growth responsibilities
• Serve as principal-in-charge, project manager, technical lead, or senior advisor for complex water supply, utility planning, infrastructure, permitting, and regulatory projects
• Advise clients on long-term water supply strategies, infrastructure investments, regulatory requirements, risk management, and implementation priorities
• Lead or oversee water supply evaluations, alternatives analyses, conceptual planning and design, cost estimating, economic evaluations, and implementation planning
• Support projects involving groundwater supply development, wellfield planning, aquifer storage and recovery, managed aquifer recharge, water treatment, conveyance, storage, and distribution infrastructure
• Assemble and lead multidisciplinary project teams while maintaining accountability for technical quality, financial performance, schedules, risk management, and client satisfaction
• Develop clear and accurate scopes of work, budgets, schedules, technical approaches, and project delivery strategies
• Provide senior technical review of reports, designs, analyses, permit applications, regulatory documents, and other major deliverables
• Monitor regional market conditions, funding priorities, regulatory developments, and emerging client needs to help shape INTERA’s growth strategy
• Represent INTERA at client meetings, conferences, professional associations, and other industry events throughout the Midwest
• Collaborate with company leadership, regional teams, and technical experts to connect Midwest clients with INTERA’s broader capabilities
• Mentor project managers, engineers, scientists, and emerging leaders while helping build a sustainable regional team

About INTERA & Our Benefits 

INTERA is a Top Workplaces USA 2025 award winner!

Founded in 1974, INTERA has grown into an international geosciences and engineering consulting firm that helps clients make informed business decisions, mitigate risk, and drive optimal outcomes in a multitude of industries. Building and sustaining a strong company culture is at the heart of INTERA’s practice of good stewardship. We strive to foster an environment where people love the work that they do and the place that they work because we believe that our employees are our most valuable asset. As an employee-owned company, we are committed to investing in our people’s needs for security, health, and well-being with:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance that includes a free health plan option for employee-only coverage
• Paid parental leave – up to 12 weeks for birthing and non-birthing parents
• Group term life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, short-term and long-term coverage – paid 100% by the company
• Paid holiday, vacation, and sick time
• Opportunities for stock ownership
• Performance-based bonuses and award programs for technical paper publication and employee referrals
• Career coaching instead of performance evaluations
• Tuition reimbursement, financial assistance for professional licensure and registration, and one paid membership to a professional society
• Pet insurance, LegalShield, IDShield, and more

These are just some of the reasons why many of our employees have spent 10 to 25 years at INTERA. We love what we do, and it shows. 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Environmental, Water Resources, or a closely related engineering discipline 
• Current Professional Engineer license in at least one U.S. state, with the ability to obtain licensure in applicable Midwest states 
• Typically 15 or more years of progressively responsible experience in water resources engineering, water supply development, utility planning, infrastructure, or related consulting services 
• Established professional relationships and relevant market experience in one or more of the following states: Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, or Illinois 
• Demonstrated success developing business, securing consulting work, and expanding client relationships within the water resources or utility sector 
• Proven ability to generate opportunities while also leading and contributing directly to project delivery 
• Recognized technical expertise in one or more areas of water supply planning, groundwater development, utility infrastructure, water treatment, permitting, regulatory compliance, or water resource management 
• Experience serving municipal utilities, regional water authorities, public agencies, industrial clients, or private water providers 
• Experience leading complex, multidisciplinary projects from initial strategy and planning through implementation 
• Proven project and client management experience, including responsibility for scopes, budgets, schedules, contracts, technical quality, and financial performance 
• Strong understanding of the water-related needs, procurement practices, and regulatory considerations affecting Midwest clients 
• Excellent communication, presentation, facilitation, and relationship-development skills 
• Ability to explain complex technical, regulatory, and financial information clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences 
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, create momentum in a developing market, and collaborate effectively with geographically dispersed teams 
• Willingness to travel throughout the Midwest and nationally as needed for client engagement, project delivery, and business development 

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Hydrogeology, or a related field 
• Professional Engineer licensure in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, or Illinois 
• Active NCEES record and the ability to obtain licensure in multiple states 
• A strong professional network spanning multiple Midwest states 
• Experience developing or expanding a geographic market, regional practice, service line, or client portfolio 
• Experience leading water supply and infrastructure programs for municipal utilities, regional authorities, industrial facilities, or other major water users 
• Advanced experience with groundwater supply development, wellfield planning, aquifer storage and recovery, managed aquifer recharge, water supply permitting, or alternative water supply strategies 
• Familiarity with Midwest water planning, Great Lakes water resource considerations, groundwater management, utility operations, and state-specific regulatory frameworks 
• Experience with water treatment, transmission, distribution, storage, pumping, or related municipal and industrial water infrastructure 
• Familiarity with hydraulic modeling, GIS, data analytics, decision-support tools, or integrated water resource planning methods 
• Demonstrated success leading major proposals, strategic pursuits, teaming arrangements, and client account-development efforts 
• Active involvement in relevant professional associations, technical committees, conferences, or regional water organizations 
• Record of technical publications, presentations, or recognized thought leadership within the water resources industry