Senior Utility Management Consultant

Blue Cypress Consulting is building its Pacific Northwest (PNW) practice, and we are looking for a Senior Utility Management Services (UMS) Consultant to help lead that growth from the ground floor. Reporting directly to the PNW Regional Director, you will be a key partner in shaping the region: leading client delivery, deepening client and teaming relationships, advancing business development, and growing and mentoring staff as we scale. This is an opportunity to build something and expand market share in the PNW, while operating with the backing of an established, stable firm.

An integral part of our collaborative business development and technical team, you will manage client projects, develop and maintain client relationships, carry business development threads, mentor early- to mid-career staff, and help shape internal strategy.

The ideal candidate brings deep utility management experience in the Pacific Northwest across water, wastewater, and stormwater systems, an established professional network in the region, and a track record of leading teams and delivering complex work on time and on budget. You should thrive in a fast-moving, collaborative environment and embody our values: Collaboration, Strategic Development, and Improvement-Oriented Growth.

You will develop and lead work such as: conducting strategic planning efforts, performing operational assessments, leading business transformation projects, examining the effectiveness of information management tools and the data generated, designing and conducting analyses to identify actionable insight, effectively communicating recommendations in writing and in presentations to a variety of audiences, designing improvement strategies and initiatives, and supporting implementation of new business practices, information management tools, etc.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function mentioned satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Necessary accommodations will be provided in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and state or local law.

The statements in this job description are intended to describe the essential nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to list ALL responsibilities or qualifications of the job.

Responsibilities

This role has three parts: deliver the work, grow the business, and build the team.

Deliver the work:

• Provide specialized management consulting services in areas that may include: strategic planning, infrastructure management/asset management, operational optimization/lean processes, regulatory support, maintenance management, capital planning/forecasting, system planning, technology selection/on-boarding, data management/analytics/visualization, etc. More detailed related duties may include:
• Plan, design, and implement operations and maintenance optimization and capital planning and renewal strategies for water, wastewater, and/or stormwater for utilities
• Design and oversee analyses on large infrastructure datasets, such as GIS, computerized maintenance management system (CMMS), customer information systems, condition assessment/inspection databases, capacity assessment/hydraulic modeling, etc.
• Perform services on-site or off-site to support client staff in performing their day-to-day activities, such as planning/scheduling, condition assessment, capacity assessment, contractor management, etc.
• Design and implement analytics and dashboard platforms
• Perform project management on concurrent projects ranging from small to large, complex projects and successfully deliver these on time and on budget. Plan and designate project resources, prepare budgets, monitor progress, and keep clients and internal staff informed throughout the duration of the project
• Perform quality control and quality assurance reviews of deliverables in accordance with Blue Cypress policy

Grow the business:

• Own client relationships end to end. Assess client needs and shape tailored, cost-effective solutions.
• Carry business development leads, from early capture through to proposal and interview.
• Build and maintain teaming relationships with prime and subconsultant partners across the region and represent Blue Cypress at industry associations and conferences.
• Identify and qualify pursuits that fit our capabilities in collaboration with our Marketing Lead.
• Partner directly with the PNW Regional Director on regional strategy, pipeline priorities, and team growth. Operate with substantial independence and communicate proactively across a small, distributed firm.
• Collaborate regarding internal strategic business planning and lead or support internal strategic initiatives

Build the team:

• Supervise, develop, and delegate to early- to mid-career consulting and analytical staff including: regular one-on-ones, professional development plans, goal setting, stretch assignments, and direct feedback.
• Help shape how the Pacific Northwest team grows, including role definition and hiring as the work supports it.

General:

• Periodic travel required
• Perform other related duties as necessary or assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related technical discipline such as environmental science/management, or equivalent experience
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive utility management experience in the Pacific Northwest focused on water, wastewater, or stormwater systems, gained in consulting, at a utility, or a combination of both
• Advanced proficiency in infrastructure management and asset management consulting services
• Demonstrated leadership: managing project teams, supervising and mentoring staff, and delivering complex concurrent projects on time and on budget.
• Established, active network of utility and engineering contacts in the Pacific Northwest, particularly the Seattle metro area, with demonstrated ability to convert relationships into work
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Enthusiasm, professionalism, creativity, and strong interpersonal skills
• Outstanding critical thinking skills
• Must be detail-oriented and able to prioritize, multitask, and organize complex projects
• Strong interest in local government and public agency operations and management, utility management, and asset management consulting services
• Ability to periodically travel to utilities across the region or country

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in engineering, public administration, business administration, environmental science, or other technical graduate science degree
• Licensed professional engineer (PE) in the State of Washington or Oregon
• Experience in environmental regulatory space
• Certification in Asset Management
• Certified Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Certified GIS Professional
• Experience or interest in growing into airport, transit, transportation, or other physical infrastructure intensive sectors

What Sets You Apart

We are especially interested in candidates who bring an innovation mindset to utility consulting. In this role you will have the opportunity to:

• Spot opportunities to modernize how we work using current data and analytics toolkits.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to clients looking with fresh eyes at modern analytics and data stacks and support them through technology transformations.
• Help shape adjacent capabilities in data, technology, and analytics as the region grows.

Required software proficiencies

• Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, OneNote, Sharepoint)

Preferred software proficiencies

• The Senior UMS Consultant should have familiarity with the following software and be able to direct junior staff in using and analyzing data from the following sources: Microsoft specialized applications (Access, Power Query, PowerPivot, Visio, Project)
• Microsoft Access or similar SQL environment, including writing queries and joining tables
• ESRI ArcGIS ArcMap and/or Pro and various extensions such as Spatial Analyst
• Esri Apps including Workforce, Survey123, Collector, etc.
• Trimble Cityworks, Central Square’s Lucity, Infor/Hansen, IBM Maximo, InfoAsset Planner, hydraulic and hydrological modeling, CCTV, FOG, Fleet, etc.
• Data warehouse and business intelligence tools such as Tableau, Qlik, Power BI, etc.
• Proficiency in creating pivot tables, pivot charts, writing formulas (e.g., performing v-lookups) within Microsoft Excel

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position supervises Pacific Northwest consulting and analytical staff, with responsibility for performance, development, and growth of the regional team.

Travel

Approximately 20% travel, primarily within the local metropolitan area for client sites, meetings, and conferences, with occasional out-of-state travel

Work Authorization

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

This is a hybrid position (in office/remote). We offer a telecommute option to work once a week from the office, with a minimum of 6 times per month at the office, and the remainder of the time to work from home. If desired, employees may work up to every day in the office instead of at home. During onboarding, new hires may be required to work more frequently in-person at the office with their supervisor. While in the office, the employee will normally work in a temperature-controlled office environment, with frequent exposure to electronic office equipment. Smoking and vaping shall be prohibited in all enclosed areas within the workplace.