Freese and Nichols is making a long-term, strategic investment in Florida—and water/wastewater treatment is a major focus area. We are seeking a Treatment Market Leader to help shape the future of one of the fastest-growing and most technically exciting treatment teams in the country.
This is a high-visibility leadership opportunity for a high-potential engineering leader who wants to grow a market, develop people, and leave a lasting professional legacy. You will play a key role in building Florida into a regional design center of excellence for water and wastewater treatment, while also contributing technical expertise and leadership at a national level across the firm.
Whether you are a seasoned manager or a rising leader ready to step into a broader market role with the right support and mentorship, Freese and Nichols offers the platform, backing, and opportunity to succeed.

Why This Role Matters

• Florida is booming: Rapid population growth is driving some of the nation’s largest and most complex treatment projects.
• Unmatched technical challenges: Advanced reuse, nutrient removal, coastal resiliency, and regulatory complexity make Florida unlike any other treatment market.
• Florida is a strategic priority: We are intentionally growing our team in Florida as a long-term regional and national hub for treatment excellence.
• High career visibility: This role interfaces directly with division, treatment practice, and national technical leadership.
• National impact: Beyond Florida, you’ll serve as a subject matter expert supporting projects and teams across the country.

Responsibilities:

Market & Growth Leadership

• Lead treatment-focused client development and sales efforts to support sustainable, long-term growth in Florida.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with municipal, utility, and regional clients.
• Partner with Division Leadership, Treatment Leaders, and Client Service Leaders on strategic pursuits and market positioning.
• Guide opportunity pipelines, pre-positioning efforts, and pursuit strategies, including SOQs and shortlist interviews.

Team Leadership & Development

• Build, lead, and inspire a high-performing team aligned with Freese and Nichols’ LEADS values.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop engineers and project managers at all career stages.
• Support individual growth through Individual Development Plans, coaching, and succession planning.
• Create an environment where emerging leaders are empowered to grow into greater responsibility.

Operations & Performance

• Establish a clear vision and operating plan aligned with FNI’s strategic goals.
• Oversee staffing, utilization, budgeting, and financial performance for the group.
• Monitor key performance indicators and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
• Coordinate closely with other group leaders to support collaboration and work-sharing.

Project Delivery & Technical Excellence

• Serve as a senior technical advisor and quality reviewer on complex water and wastewater treatment projects.
• Ensure adherence to FNI’s Quality Management System and technical standards.
• Support national technical initiatives and help advance firmwide treatment expertise.
• Project management responsibilities may be included selectively but are not expected to dominate the role.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience in water/wastewater treatment, consulting, or related technical leadership roles.
• Demonstrated success in project delivery, client service, and team leadership.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills.
• Florida Professional Engineering licensure (or ability to obtain in 6 months).

Preferred Experience

• Experience leading or contributing to market or practice growth initiatives.
• Familiarity with large, complex municipal treatment projects.
• Interest in mentoring and developing future leaders.
• Desire to contribute technically at both regional and national levels.

About Freese and Nichols

At the heart of our culture is our LEADS values (Learn continuously, Engage as family, Act with integrity, Deliver quality, and Serve always).  Each year, our employee engagement survey confirms that our leaders and our employees live our values.

We strive to be the firm of choice for clients and employees through innovative approaches, practical results, and outstanding service.  For more than 130 years, we have been planning and designing the infrastructure our communities need:  developing water supplies, designing roadways and bridges, preparing for natural disasters, and much more.

Besides our comprehensive benefits package (see more at https://www.freese.com/services/benefits-that-work/), we offer paid overtime for salaried employees, an annual bonus, and access to company cabins in Red River, New Mexico.  We are proud of our flexible work environment which includes a hybrid schedule with up to 40% of remote work, and an alternative work schedule program which provides a day off every other Friday.

Join our team of 1,300+ employees as we grow from Virginia to Colorado. Learn more about working here at https://www.freese.com/careers/.

Freese and Nichols is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and prohibits employment discrimination for employees and applicants based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

#LI-Hybrid