Job Description

Principal – Water Resources Engineer, Hydrologist, or Hydrogeologist

Location: Portland, Oregon

The Opportunity

Are you a senior water resources professional looking to lead impactful work in a collaborative and entrepreneurial consulting environment? This is a rare opportunity to step into a Principal-level role with a respected boutique environmental and engineering consultancy, known for its technical depth, integrated team model, and long-standing client partnerships.

With decades of industry experience and a team of 250+ professionals nationwide, the firm supports clients across the environmental, engineering, health sciences, and energy sectors. Their Portland office is seeking a technical and strategic leader to help expand water-focused services in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

About the Role

As a Principal based in Portland, you’ll serve as a leader across multiple fronts: guiding client strategy, delivering technically rigorous solutions, mentoring staff, and driving business development. You’ll be instrumental in managing key accounts and serving as principal-in-charge on complex water resources and remediation projects.

This is a high-impact role for someone who thrives on solving difficult problems, building relationships, and shaping the direction of a practice while being part of a unified, non-siloed firm that encourages collaboration across disciplines and regions.

Key Responsibilities

• Expand client relationships and develop new business in the areas of water resources, hydrogeology, and environmental remediation
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams and serve as principal-in-charge on high-profile engagements
• Mentor and coach staff, contributing to talent development and succession planning
• Collaborate with senior leaders to shape strategic direction and grow service offerings
• Provide expert-level input on regulatory strategy, modeling, remediation design, and litigation support
• Represent the firm as a trusted advisor to clients across the public and private sectors

Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in civil/environmental engineering, hydrogeology, geology, or a related field
• Professional licensure as a P.E. or P.G.
• 15+ years of experience in consulting, with a focus on water resources and/or remediation
• Demonstrated success in winning work and managing client accounts (target: $1.25M+ annual net revenue)
• Skilled at leading teams, managing complex projects, and mentoring junior staff
• Experience in expert witness roles or litigation support is a plus
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with a reputation for technical excellence

Why Join This Firm?

• Collaborative Model: Operates as a unified profit center where teams share expertise, not compete.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: Encourages innovation, ownership, and leadership at every level.
• Growth-Focused: Clear career progression and a strong track record of promoting from within.
• Trusted by Industry: Serves a wide client base from emerging companies to Fortune 500 firms in sectors including energy, manufacturing, chemicals, government and more.

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