Practice Director

Job Description Overview

We are seeking a Practice Director to join our team in Chicago, IL. AtkinsRéalis brings together some of the industry's brightest engineers, program managers, and technical specialists to solve our clients' toughest challenges. If you're looking for a place where innovation is encouraged, expertise is valued, and your work directly influences the future of water infrastructure, we'd love to have you on the team. Under general direction of Water Infrastructure leadership, the Practice Director - Water and Resource Recovery will lead strategy, growth, technical excellence, and operational performance for a rapidly expanding practice serving Federal, State, Local, Industrial, and Private-sector clients throughout the United States. The Practice Director will provide leadership and direction to engineering managers, technical leaders, and project delivery teams while driving business growth, client satisfaction, staff development, technical collaboration, project quality, and profitability. This role combines business leadership, technical leadership, strategic project development, and organizational collaboration. The Practice Director will connect regional offices, technical specialists, business development professionals, and project delivery teams to pursue and win multidisciplinary consulting and engineering assignments while strengthening AtkinsRéalis' national water and wastewater capabilities.

Strategic Leadership and Business Growth

The Practice Director will develop and implement a comprehensive national strategy to sustain and grow the water treatment, wastewater treatment, reuse, biosolids, and resource recovery practices. Working closely with Business Unit leadership, Key Account Managers, technical specialists, and regional offices, the Practice Director will establish and execute regional growth initiatives and market strategies while identifying and advancing high-value consulting, engineering, and infrastructure opportunities across multiple markets, geographies, and technical disciplines. The role will lead strategic pursuits by defining strategies, technical approaches, teaming structures, scopes, schedules, fee strategies, and proposal content. In addition, the Practice Director will cultivate strong relationships with utilities, industrial clients, infrastructure owners, regulators, and industry stakeholders, translating client challenges and emerging needs into planning studies, assessments, pilot programs, engineering assignments, and implementation projects. The position will also support acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and market expansion initiatives that strengthen the firm's market presence and long-term growth objectives.

Technical Leadership and Collaboration

Serving as a senior technical leader and advisor across the Water and Resource Recovery practice, the Practice Director will champion technical excellence through active participation in AtkinsRéalis technical communities, global technical networks, and thought leadership initiatives. The role will establish and maintain a Water Infrastructure Capability Network that connects technical specialists, project experience, office locations, and delivery resources across North America, as well as linking this globally. Through strong collaboration among regional offices and technical experts, the Practice Director will leverage specialized expertise to enhance project delivery and expand client service offerings. Responsibilities also include supporting the development and implementation of technical standards, best practices, innovation programs, and knowledge-sharing initiatives, while providing executive-level technical oversight on strategic projects and helping resolve complex technical, operational, and client challenges. The Practice Director will identify and advance opportunities for applied research, pilot programs, technology demonstrations, and innovation initiatives that strengthen organizational capabilities and create future business opportunities.

Staff Leadership and Organizational Development

The Practice Director will evaluate current and future staffing requirements based on workload forecasts, strategic growth plans, and project demands, ensuring the organization has the resources needed to meet client and business objectives. The role will recruit, develop, mentor, and retain high-performing technical and management professionals while conducting performance reviews and career development discussions with direct reports. The Practice Director will establish technical development pathways and succession planning programs to support long-term organizational sustainability and professional growth. In addition, the position will promote staff development through training, certifications, professional involvement, and leadership opportunities while fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing culture centered on client service, innovation, and technical excellence. Working closely with leadership teams, the Practice Director will also strengthen regional capabilities through recruitment, staff mobility, mentoring, and the strategic deployment of technical specialists.

Project Delivery and Quality Management

The Practice Director will ensure projects are appropriately staffed and resourced to achieve successful outcomes while maintaining oversight of project performance related to quality, schedule, budget, profitability, and client satisfaction. The role will support compliance with established quality management systems and project delivery standards, review project quality control plans, and participate in quality assurance reviews and audits as appropriate. By partnering with project managers and delivery teams, the Practice Director will help resolve project challenges and coordinate multidisciplinary resources to ensure efficient execution. The position will maintain executive oversight of major projects while empowering project managers and operational leaders to effectively manage day-to-day project delivery responsibilities.

Marketing, Visibility, and Industry Leadership

The Practice Director will lead and support business development, pursuit, and marketing activities with both existing and prospective clients while enhancing AtkinsRéalis' visibility and reputation within the industry. This includes participating in conference presentations, publications, industry associations, technical committees, and other professional engagement activities that showcase technical expertise and thought leadership. The role will work closely with marketing and communications teams to develop technical content, project profiles, case studies, thought leadership materials, and market campaigns. The Practice Director will also represent AtkinsRéalis with clients, industry organizations, public officials, regulators, and professional associations, strengthening the firm's market position and industry influence.

Financial and Commercial Management

The Practice Director will support business planning, forecasting, and financial performance management while partnering with project managers and sales leaders on pursuit planning, contract negotiations, and commercial risk management activities. The role will monitor business performance metrics including revenue growth, utilization, profitability, and backlog development, ensuring alignment with strategic and operational objectives. In addition, the Practice Director will support investment decisions related to strategic initiatives, research programs, recruitment, and capability development, while exercising financial stewardship through the approval of expenditures and capital requests in accordance with established authorization requirements.

About you

Bachelor's degree in Civil, Environmental, Chemical, Mechanical, or related Engineering discipline required; Master's degree preferred. Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) required. Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible experience in water, wastewater, reuse, biosolids, resource recovery, or related infrastructure consulting and engineering. Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary teams, business operations, growth initiatives, and complex engineering projects. Strong understanding of planning, process engineering, design, permitting, construction, commissioning, and operational optimization of water and wastewater facilities. Experience with water reuse, biosolids management, nutrient removal, anaerobic digestion, renewable energy recovery, industrial water/wastewater treatment, and emerging treatment technologies is desirable. Proven business development and client relationship management experience. Excellent leadership, communication, technical writing, collaboration, and presentation skills. Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic growth plans and lead major project pursuits. Ability to effectively represent AtkinsRéalis before clients, regulatory agencies, industry organizations, and senior stakeholders.

Rewards & benefits

At AtkinsRéalis, our values—Safety, Integrity, Collaboration, Innovation, and Excellence—are more than just words. They are the foundation of who we are and how we work. These principles shape our culture, guide our decisions, and inspire us to create an environment where every team member feels empowered to grow, succeed, and make a meaningful impact. Depending on your employment status, AtkinsRéalis benefits may include medical, dental, vision, company-paid life and short- and long-term disability benefits, employer-matched 401(k) with 100% vesting, employee stock purchase plan, Paid Time Off, leaves of absences options, flexible work options, recognition and employee satisfaction programs, employee assistance program, and voluntary benefits. You can review our comprehensive benefits page here.

About AtkinsRéalis

We’re AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world.We’re committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.Find out more.

Additional Information

Expected compensation range is between $200,000- $249,000 annually, depending on skills, experience, and geographical location.

Equal Opportunity Statement

AtkinsRéalis is an equal opportunity, Drug-Free employer EOE/Veteran/Disability. Please review AtkinsRéalis' Equal Opportunity Statement here. AtkinsRéalis cares about your privacy and is committed to protecting your privacy. Please consult our Privacy Notice on our Careers site to know more about how we collect, use and transfer your Personal Data. By submitting your personal information to AtkinsRéalis, you confirm that you have read and accept our Privacy Notice.

Recruitment note

Worker Type Employee Job Type Regular