About Us

At HDR, we specialize in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services. While we are most well-known for adding beauty and structure to communities through high-performance buildings and smart infrastructure, we provide much more than that. We create an unshakable foundation for progress because our multidisciplinary teams also include scientists, economists, builders, analysts and artists. That's why we believe diversity is our greatest strength. HDR is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative action employer.

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We believe that the way we work can add meaning and value to the world. That ideas inspire positive change. That coloring outside the lines can illuminate fresh perspectives. And that small details yield important realizations. Above all, we believe that collaboration is the best way forward.

Coastal Resilience Practice Leader

Come join HDR's multi-faceted coastal resilience practice, where we help our clients and communities plan for and adapt to future changes. We are hiring a Northern California Coastal Resilience Practice Leader to partner across HDR's business lines to build collaborative teams and develop innovative solutions for our clients, building on our existing planning, engineering, and science practices with existing and new public entities. This position will also work with HDR's broader resilience program across the global company, partnering with other geographies to bring the right expertise to advance our corporate coastal resilience initiative. While centered in Northern California, the position is expected to communicate and engage coastal resilience staff throughout California and the West Coast to grow the practice.

We are seeking well-qualified coastal resilience professionals with backgrounds in planning, engineering, sustainability, water, transportation, infrastructure, etc. We are looking for individuals passionate about guiding our communities through change with political savvy, policy experience, demonstrated ability to lead programs and develop innovative technical solutions.

Candidates should be conversant in coastal policies, funding opportunities, and approaches with experience implementing resilience for large organizations, agencies, cities and/or communities. Additional beneficial experience includes development of resilience assessments and creation of frameworks for solution implementation across diverse stakeholder groups.

• Help expand HDR's portfolio of regional and community-focused coastal resilience and climate-related projects. This could include, but is not limited to, work with municipalities, agencies, and other governmental organizations, as well as at university campuses and utility providers.
• Serve in the role of project manager, project principal or coastal resilience lead on related projects. Direct work of others in completion of required studies, documents, and reports.
• Build and manage cross-disciplinary project teams of engineers, scientists, planners, and project managers to understand clients' resilience needs, design approaches to address those needs and integrate resilience into projects.
• Develop diverse pursuit and project teams around coastal resilience work, including but not limited to: performance- based risk assessment, climate change assessment and adaptation plans, vulnerability assessments, business continuity planning and asset management plans.
• Advise clients on technical, social, political, regulatory, economic, environmental, and financial developments that influence large-scale projects.
• Meet regularly with area operations and business group managers to develop staffing and other resource needs.
• Assist clients with understanding funding related to FEMA Hazard Mitigation Program, the Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, NOAA National Coastal Resilience Fund, and other similar programs.
• Partner with HDR client leaders to help them understand and connect the value of coastal resilience and climate-related services to their clients.
• Participate in HDR's local and corporate initiatives to integrate equity into our projects. Represent HDR on select resilience and climate-change organizations.
• Communicate with external audiences via articles, white-papers and/or conference presentations to continue to position HDR as a leader in coastal resilience.
• Perform other job duties as needed.

Keywords: Coastal Resilience, Floodwall Design, Environmental Restoration, Stormwater, WWTP hardening, Flood Protection, Water, Equity

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Required Qualifications:

• Self-starter with the ability to act in a proactive manner to navigate ambiguity, execute job responsibilities, and ability to create and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external clients.
• BS degree in Civil, Coastal, Ocean Engineering, Coastal Geology, coastal oceanography or similar engineering/science disciplines.
• Familiarity with wave growth and transformation, coastal and estuarine hydrodynamics, littoral processes, sediment transport, and basic geotechnical or structural systems.
• 10 years' experience with a minimum of 5 years focused on coastal, climate change, resilience programs or projects.
• Ability to coordinate complex and multi-part projects independently.
• Ability to coordinate and lead multi-disciplinary teams.
• Excellent organization and communication skills.
• Excellent problem solving, time management, organization and project management skills.
• Superior interpersonal and negotiating skills with a client focus.
• Proven writing, editing, and community skills.
• An attitude and commitment to be an active participant of our employee-owned culture.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MS or PhD in related Engineering discipline is preferred.

Why HDR

At HDR, we know work isn't only about who you work for it's also about what you do and how you do it. Led by the strength of our values and a culture shaped by employee ownership, we network with each other, build on each other's contributions, and collaborate together to make great things possible. When you join HDR, we give you license to do the same. We help you take charge of your career, giving you multiple growth opportunities along the way.

HDR provides a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time off, parental leave, paid holidays, 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonuses and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position is $163,013 - $242,190 annually depending upon skills, experience, education and geographical location.