Principal Project Manager - Municipal Water/Wastewater (Client Lead, SAWS)

We are seeking a Principal Project Manager to lead complex municipal water and wastewater programmes from early planning and design through procurement, construction, commissioning, and closeout. This senior client-side role will provide strategic direction across a portfolio of capital improvement projects, ensuring that scope, schedule, budget, quality, safety, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder expectations are effectively managed. The successful candidate will serve as a trusted representative for the client, coordinating internal teams, consultants, contractors, regulators, utility partners, and community stakeholders.


Responsibilities will include defining project objectives and delivery strategies; managing professional services and construction contracts; reviewing designs, estimates, schedules, risk registers, change orders, claims, and payment applications; and establishing clear governance, reporting, and decision-making processes. You will lead project controls and financial oversight, identify and mitigate delivery risks, resolve complex technical or commercial issues, and ensure that projects comply with applicable environmental, permitting, public procurement, health and safety, and industry requirements. The role will also involve mentoring project managers and technical staff, supporting programme prioritisation, and presenting recommendations and status updates to senior leadership and public-sector decision-makers.


Applicants should hold a bachelor's degree in civil, environmental, or related engineering, construction management, public administration, or a comparable discipline. Professional registration or certification, such as Professional Engineer, Project Management Professional, or equivalent, is highly desirable. Significant experience delivering major municipal water, wastewater, treatment, collection, distribution, or utility infrastructure projects is required, along with a strong understanding of design and construction methods, contract administration, project controls, and regulatory frameworks. The ideal candidate will bring excellent communication, negotiation, leadership, and problem-solving skills, demonstrated success managing multidisciplinary teams and multiple concurrent projects, and the ability to operate with sound judgement in a complex public-service environment.