Description
The Opportunity:
Tetra Tech is growing its Stormwater Practice and is seeking a Stormwater Practice Lead to spearhead program delivery and strategic growth focusing in Southern California. This is a high-impact leadership role for an experienced civil engineering professional who thrives at the intersection of technical excellence, team leadership, and community-driven infrastructure solutions.
Why Tetra Tech:
At Tetra Tech, we are Leading with Science to solve the world's most complex challenges. Our industry-leading experts in engineering and consulting are committed to driving positive change in communities around the world. For over 50 years, we have been at the forefront of innovation and sustainability. Today we stand as a market leader, offering cutting-edge solutions in water, environment, energy, and international development. Our work has improved more than 625 million lives around the world.
Your Impact:
Join Tetra Tech to make a real difference. Our work leverages cutting-edge technologies, advanced analytics, and the expertise of world-class scientists and engineers to create meaningful change around the world. Discover your full potential – join us to advance your career while leaving a lasting legacy.
Position Summary:
Tetra Tech is seeking a proven leader to grow and guide our stormwater practice in Southern California. This role combines strategic direction with technical oversight, leading multidisciplinary teams in planning, design, and delivery of innovative stormwater and flood management projects. The Stormwater Practice Leader will strengthen client relationships, mentor staff, and advance Tetra Tech's mission to create resilient, sustainable water solutions.
Essential Job Functions:
Provide strategic leadership and business planning to grow the stormwater practice in Southern California.
Provide senior leadership, technical direction, and decision-making on Tetra Tech's key projects throughout Southern California, eventually expanding the scope and services across geographies.
Lead, perform, and manage drainage and flood control program planning and analysis for regulatory and municipal agencies. Examples include program management of LA County's Measure W program, US Army Corps of Engineers initiatives, and other resiliency projects across the nation.
Oversee planning, design, and construction, including watershed studies, flood mitigation evaluations, stormwater master planning, preliminary/conceptual design, regulatory approvals, and detailed design.
Guide a team performing modeling, mapping, design, and reporting, ensuring high-quality and timely deliverables on traditional and alternative delivery projects (design/build, CMAR).
Ensure the team is aligned throughout the project delivery.
Serve as a client leader on projects critical to the segment and provide contractor oversight.
Serve as a point of contact to troubleshoot critical or high-risk projects.
Agency Insight & Regulatory Program & Technical Leadership:
Apply a deep understanding of FEMA, HUD, USACE, county, city, and regional authority standards, criteria, and review processes.
Prepare technical documentation for SWMPs, drainage reports, permitting, and design submittals.
Client & Business Development:
Participate in initiatives to assist in developing and executing Tetra Tech's water strategic plan, such as market sector development and technical leadership across offices and geographies.
Cultivate and maintain strong client relationships, serving as a trusted advisor on current and future projects.
Contribute to technical marketing efforts, presentations, and proposal development for municipal, regional, and state clients.
Review, lead, and support major business development efforts, including writing and pricing scopes of work for competitive pursuits.
Active participation in conferences and meetings to increase Tetra Tech's visibility in the water market, pursuits, and clients.
Delivery & Performance Oversight:
Drive excellence in project delivery by ensuring technical accuracy, adherence to standard engineering practices, and completeness of project documentation.
Evaluate design alternatives, resolve technical issues, and coordinate across multidisciplinary teams (civil, environmental, structural, etc.).
Meet financial targets related to backlog, utilization, profitability, and invoicing.
Team Development:
Serve as a mentor and practice builder, identifying growth opportunities for team members and supporting staff development.
Participate with the regional senior leadership in developing and executing strategic growth of the operations and improvement in the welfare of the group.
Foster a collaborative, inclusive culture with a focus on technical rigor, innovation, and purpose-driven work.
Recruit and build a staff of junior and mid-level engineers.
Required Qualifications:
10+ years of experience in civil engineering, stormwater infrastructure, or water resources.
Bachelor's degree in civil or environmental engineering.
PE license in California is required.
Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and large programs.
Deep knowledge of stormwater planning, H&H modeling, permitting, and public sector delivery.
Excellent communication skills—capable of presenting to clients, public agencies, and stakeholders.
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Passion for mentorship, sustainability, and long-term infrastructure solutions.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience in design-build or alternative delivery strongly preferred.
Physical Requirements:
Prolonged periods of sitting or standing while working at a computer, attending meetings, or reviewing technical documents.
Frequent use of hands and fingers to operate computers, calculators, and drafting or modeling software.
Visual concentration for extended periods while analyzing plans, data, and reports.
Occasional walking or standing for extended periods during site visits or client meetings.
Occasional climbing of stairs, embankments, or uneven terrain to access project locations.
Occasional driving to project sites, client offices, or regional meetings.
Occasional lifting or moving of materials up to 25 pounds (e.g., laptops, project files, or field equipment).
Occasional exposure to outdoor weather conditions during field inspections or project walkthroughs.
Work Environment / Environmental Factors:
This position operates primarily in a professional office environment with periodic field visits.
While performing office duties, the employee routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and printers.
Occasional travel to project sites may involve exposure to outdoor weather conditions, uneven terrain, construction noise, and moderate environmental elements such as dust or moisture.
Additional Information
This position may require occasional travel within Southern California and to other Tetra Tech offices or project sites.
Work may include participation in client meetings, conferences, or professional events.
Tetra Tech offers a flexible work environment that supports both in-office collaboration and remote work arrangements, as appropriate for project needs.
Life at Tetra Tech:
The perks of working at Tetra Tech include:
Comprehensive and market-competitive benefits.
Merit-based financial rewards.
Flexibility and company-wide commitment to work/life balance.
Collaborative team atmosphere that values the contributions of all employees.
Learning and development opportunities for ongoing professional growth.
CA Salary: $169,000 – 205,000 dependent on experience
About Tetra Tech:
Tetra Tech is the leader in water, environment, and sustainable infrastructure, providing high-end consulting and engineering services for projects worldwide. With 30,000 employees working together, Tetra Tech provides clear solutions to complex problems by Leading with Science® to address the entire water cycle, protect and restore the environment, design sustainable and resilient infrastructure, and support the clean energy transition.
Tetra Tech is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law. Tetra Tech is a VEVRAA federal contractor and we request priority referral of veterans.
We invite applications from all interested parties.
Explore our open positions at https://www.tetratech.com/careers. Follow us on social media to learn more about our people, culture, and opportunities:
LinkedIn: @TetraTechCareers
X (Twitter): @TetraTechJobs
Additional Information- Organization: 200 IEW
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