Waste to Energy Practice Leader

Waste to Energy Practice and Industry

HDR remains a key player in the Waste to Energy (WTE) field and has been involved in several facilities for the last three decades. While landfilling is the predominant method of managing waste in the United States, WTE provides an alternative that can be considered an environmentally friendly solution by managing waste to create energy. Most WTE facilities in North America exist due to lack of land for landfilling, economies of scale, and the desire to generate power. Minnesota, Florida, California, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, Maine, and Canada are the primary areas HDR has provided WTE services for clients. While California is moving away from WTE (mainly due to economics), the other areas with facilities remain committed to maintain WTE facilities. There are only a handful of engineering firms and small niche engineers have the experience equivalent to HDR's. To maintain our experience and expertise, a WTE Practice Leader is important in not only responding to the needs of our clients, but also to increase our bench strength, focus on succession planning, and determining best practices.

Due to the market opportunities and needs identified above, we have a need for a renewed focus on a Global WTE Practice Lead that can grow our service offerings, support the Waste Sector on opportunities and to train waste staff.

Primary Responsibilities

The WTE Practice Lead will lead the development of resources and skilled staff for supporting WTE projects while supporting the implementation of business strategies in coordination with the Waste Market Sector leadership and other technical Business Class Directors and Practice Leaders. Reporting to the Waste Market Sector Director, and in close coordination with the Waste Business Class Leader, this individual will strive to advance the Sector's WTE initiatives and growth. Initiate and support frequent and regular communication across the country with Market Sector leadership, technical development, technologies, regulatory compliance, implementation of strategic plans and delivery of key WTE projects. This position will support and collaborate across various regions and business service lines to advance a variety of strategies intended to support, grow, and enhance the WTE industry for HDR.

Specific activities include the following:

• Develop and implement best practices intended to improve delivery of services to internal and external clients.
• Support Waste strategic and tactical planning activities, and the development of strategic positioning with individual Areas in the West, Central and East regions.
• Leverage industry contacts externally to expand relationships with Waste technical staff and clients in key locations.
• Support the development of WTE project experience qualifications and other marketing materials.
• Identify and organize the necessary health and safety training required for WTE practitioners to perform duties safely and efficiently in compliance with HDR guidelines and WTE industry standards.
• Support project pursuits including targeted client relationship development, preparation of scopes of work, project budgets and contract negotiations.
• Perform quality control reviews of project deliverables and serve as technical advisor where appropriate.
• Conduct (or direct) technical research and market analysis to stay up to date and ahead of WTE and waste conversion technology trends and developments.
• Direct billable work on WTE projects.
• Participate on project teams in Project Manager or Project Principal role for WTE project work.
• Participate in the interviewing and selection of WTE staff in other areas. Identify key talent in the WTE market and assist with recruitment of identified talent including key staff retention.
• Perform other duties as required to support the Market Sectors.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Engineering or related sciences discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of technical experience associated with the coordination of project design teams associated with WTE facilities, planning, feasibility analysis and construction.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Flexibility and ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks and collaborate with various managers in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience with business development (i.e., marketing) responsibilities such as workshops, presentations, proposal content development and business development strategy.
• Ability to travel.

*LI-MB1

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering
• 10 years related experience
• A minimum 5 years project management experience
• Professional Engineer (PE) license
• MS Office and MS Project experience (Access experience would be plus)
• Demonstrated leadership, business development and strategic planning skills
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must