Principal - Water/Wastewater

Are you highly motivated, hard-working, and seeking to join a growth-focused environmental consulting & engineering firm? Are you looking for a company that will invest in your development and grow your professional skills? If so, consider a career with Apex.

Powered by record sales, extraordinary client retention, strategic acquisitions, and an entrepreneurial spirit, Apex Companies is one of the fastest growing environmental consulting and engineering firms in the US. We take pride in keeping our clients happy and have earned numerous awards for project excellence. We continue to grow, and we want you to grow with us.

Principal

A Principal is a special designation within the Company. The Principal role requires a combination of leadership skills, technical expertise, business acumen, professional association involvement, and a strong commitment to the success and growth of the company. These individuals have developed a reputation as successful, respected members of the Company and are recognized as such in the industry. 

A Principal has acquired the requisite experience and technical knowledge and demonstrates leadership in several other areas of the business. A Principal has built and maintained positive peer and client relationships, demonstrated effectiveness in developing new clients through proactive marketing, cross-selling, and repeat business with existing clients. As a Principal, it is expected that a person will play a pivotal role in leading our team, shaping the strategic direction of the company, recruiting and mentoring staff, and driving value, success and culture at the company. The Principal role is multifaceted as it impacts many aspects of the business, including the following duties and responsibilities:

Key Criteria for Consideration for this Role & Core Job Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate and practice the company’s core values.
• Foster a culture of growth, innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning within the company.
• Consistently demonstrate leadership skills in project execution, client engagement, and business development.
• Lead and inspire a team or teams of engineers, scientists, project managers, and support staff to deliver high-quality results on projects.
• Recruit, mentor and develop junior and mid-level staff, promoting their growth and career advancement.
• Cultivate, engage, and maintain strong relationships with existing clients and partners.
• Understand our business and support implementation of business practices and processes.
• Collaborate with Senior Management, Divisional Leadership and other Principals to set the divisional strategic vision and goals that align with the company’s growth strategy.
• Assist in the training, mentorship, and technical development of Project Managers and staff by various means including holding training seminars, providing technical guidance during project execution, and bringing new technical developments in- house.
• Consult with staff and Project Managers on technical issues in their area of expertise, provide technical or QA/QC reviews on projects that they otherwise may not be involved in, and involve other key technical resources where needed. Responsible for identifying and minimizing project and technical risks and informing Senior Management and Divisional Leadership in a timely manner regarding such matters.
• Work with minimal direction or supervision through demonstrated success with similar project responsibilities.
• Oversee project managers and staff to ensure delivery of quality projects in compliance with the company’s standards, best engineering practices, and industry standards.
• Make technical presentations to the client and at public meetings to review and discuss project details.
• Actively participate and represent the company at industry association events, including sitting on boards, participating in committees, and volunteering for technical presentations.
• Lead projects from project development through completion identifying schedules, scopes, budget estimates, and implementation plans including QA/QC and risk management. Champion QA/QC procedures and policies.
• Understand contract risks, terms and conditions, and professional liability matters, and mitigate risk as required, in consultation with Senior Management or Divisional Leadership.
• May be recognized as a subject matter expert in a specific practice area(s).
• Capability and maturity to address and resolve complex, difficult situations and circumstances related to project execution, client demands, fiscal management, growth initiatives, business development, staffing, and administrative items.

Project Execution:

• Initiate Projects: Prepare proposals/scopes of work and review/approve project budgets prepared by project managers. For assigned projects, complete project initiation documents that include detailed scope/outline, budget, and schedule for completion.
• Manage Project Implementation: With assigned project team, ensure that all steps and procedures are taken according to company operating procedures and that all work is completed as planned and scheduled. This includes keeping the client informed of the on-going status of a project and providing adequate management, advice, and support to the members of the project team.
• Delegate tasks appropriate to project managers and other staff with appropriate levels of support.
• Coordinate/Communicate with Peers and Subconsultants: Work with project managers to anticipate and address conflicts in schedules and staffing needs.
• Supervise Interdisciplinary Team: Coordinate project managers, subcontractors, subconsultants, and staff on the execution and scheduling of the project scope of work.
• Provide Technical Advice: Contribute to the development of recommendations for assigned projects and others, when necessary.
• Prepare High-Quality Deliverables: Demonstrates excellent writing skills through the consistent production of high-quality technical memoranda and reports. Ensures that the review process and other quality control guidelines are followed, and that final reports and presentations are completed per company standard operating procedures using standard company formats.
• Client Management: Meet regularly with clients to discuss current projects, evaluate company performance and client satisfaction, and identify other business or cross-selling opportunities either with current clients or through referrals. Engage additional staff as needed for cross-selling and up-selling.
• Support project team through construction administration phase including participation at key construction meetings; preparation of all required documentation; coordination with construction personnel; and project closeout.
• Budget Tracking and Invoicing: Work with project managers to ensure project costs are being properly tracked versus the project and ensure that invoices are issued to the client in a timely manner in accordance with company policy.
• Negotiates effective amendments and change orders. Engage with Senior Management or Divisional Leadership in advance of sensitive amendments and/or change orders for advice on strategy and communication.

Business/Fiscal Management:

• Recognize the potential risks of nonstandard technical matters or potential legal disputes by participating in required insurance training to minimize the company’s liability. Identify potential risk during design or construction activities and mitigate by informing Senior Management or Divisional Leadership.
• Communicate Opportunities: Present potential new business, cross-selling opportunities or resource information, competitive situation, or new technology/regulatory factors to the company.
• Control Costs: Working with project managers of each project to ensure that costs (internal and external) are kept in line with the original budget for time, travel, and material expenses. Discuss variations with project team and accounting, and issue project notices to reflect agreed upon changes.
• Company Profitability: Ensure that project delivery teams are properly budgeting/pricing work, utilizing resources and cost controls, and maximizing the profit margin on individual projects. Review monthly the budgeted direct labor multiplier (DLM) versus project performance with project delivery teams, and identify, address and resolve issues to support meeting financial goals. Consistent project profitability above company goals is expected.

Marketing/Business Development:

• Public Relations/Brand Ambassador: Be proactive in presenting and communicating the capabilities and strengths of the company and its culture.
• Support Development and Maintenance of Marketing Materials: Ensure appropriate staff are developing project descriptions for completed projects/tasks in accordance with company policy. Anticipate needs for additional or new marketing materials based on regional or national industry trends, client needs and regulatory drivers.

Relationship Building: 

Solicit New Clients/Projects. In interfacing with potential or existing clients, listen for and seek out new projects that may exist or are being formulated either within your discipline or with the potential for cross-selling additional practice areas. Set up meetings with current and prospective clients along with appropriate technical staff, and/or participate in the development of proposals requested.

• Cross-Selling: Proactively look for opportunities to cross-sell services outside of one’s area of expertise. Work collaboratively with other Principals and Project Managers to support growth within a client.
• Manage and lead the sales process for existing clients, including client relationships with large, complex, and/or multi-project clients.
• Prepare proposals, lead proposal teams, participate in project interviews, attend, and participate in public meetings, prepare fee proposals, and prepare contracts and present information to new and future potential clients.
• Prepare contracts and subcontracts, and negotiate fees associated with new projects.

Staff Development:

• Lead, mentor, and develop staff: Recognize strengths and areas needing improvement for assigned project staff. Manage, support, and evaluate direct reports towards achieving their maximum potential. Perform or participate in annual reviews of staff where appropriate.
• Mentor and coach staff at all levels of experience. Develop professional staff, especially project managers.
• Manage direct reports, including responsibility for on-boarding, off-boarding, workload management, time and expense approval, and career path development. Management of Project Managers requires responsibility for their budgetary performance and goal setting coordination with Senior Management or Divisional Leadership. Responsible for direct staff meeting utilization goals.
• Assist in recruitment of new staff, interviews, on-boarding, and acting as a hiring manager or assimilation partner for new hires.
• Identify strategic hires and target key staff for recruiting to support company’s financial and strategic goals and value creation.
• Responsible for implementing performance improvement plans for underperforming staff.

Administrative:

• Actively participate in Leadership and Principal Leadership groups: participate in and contribute to periodic meetings to review and discuss business issues, including but not limited to financial performance, staffing, proposals, risk management, business development, committee and association involvement, recruitment, growth strategy and initiatives, and strategic planning.
• Active, realistic, optimistic, and vocal in identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to support Senior Management and Divisional Leadership decision making.
• Contributes to internal growth and workload initiatives, strategy development, and implementation locally, regionally, and nationally as needed.
• Anticipate regulatory drivers, client needs, company capabilities, or issues to ensure company is properly positioned to implement strategic goals/initiatives and growth.
• Assist in identifying funding avenues to help fund projects for our clients. Actively participate and lead client funding initiatives, webinars, and client outreach.

Requirements:

Education and Experience: B.S. and/or M.S. Degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering, or other appropriate discipline that supports the company’s initiatives and disciplines.The qualified individual will be a professional in the industry with sufficient experience to demonstrate proficiency in the core responsibilities defined above.

All promotions for this position are approved by Senior Management upon recommendation by Divisional Leadership and will be considered based on experience, recommendation by peers, and past performance. Senior Management has the authority to waive experience preferences outlined above on a case-by-case basis to meet the needs of the company’s strategy and growth initiatives. A recommendation for doing so shall be presented with a strong business case to Senior Management.

Registrations: Registered Professional Engineer or other Professional

Certifications or Registrations as appropriate for their primary field of expertise in State(s) where company and/or individual does work or ability to obtain the same by reciprocity is preferred.

Employees or candidates can be evaluated if no licensure is obtained or maintained.

We believe in equality for all and celebrate the diversity and differences of our employees, customers, and communities. We do not discriminate based on gender, race or color, ethnicity or national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law. Apex aims to make apexcos.com accessible to all users. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation to navigate our website or complete the application process, please contact Talent@apexcos.com or (301) 417-0200. Likewise, feel free to reach out to us if you would like to view or discuss Apex policy related to equal employment opportunity or have any related concerns. EO/AA/VEV/Disabled Employer

TO ALL RECRUITMENT AGENCIES: Apex Companies does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes for any of our job postings to our career’s sites, or to any employees of Apex Companies or affiliates. Apex Companies is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.