Surface & Storm Water Practice Area Lead

About the role

The Surface and Storm Water Practice Area Lead at West Yost owns the strategic direction and daily execution of a critical practice area within the firm. This role involves leading a multidisciplinary team of engineers and technical specialists focused exclusively on surface water and storm water solutions. The hire will be responsible for shaping innovative practice strategies that align with the firm's long-term vision for resilient water management. They will foster a collaborative environment that balances technical rigor with exceptional client service. The position requires building strong, trust-based relationships with both internal leadership and external public agency partners. The PAL will drive business development efforts to identify and secure new project opportunities throughout California. Success in this role will be measured through the growth of the practice, client satisfaction, and the delivery of high-quality, impactful water solutions. This is a hands-on leadership position that blends technical expertise with strategic business management.

Key facts

What you'll do

Develop and implement a comprehensive annual business plan that directly supports the strategic goals of West Yost.

Lead the growth and strategic expansion of the Surface and Storm Water practice across California markets.

Identify emerging market trends and client needs to uncover new stormwater and surface water project opportunities.

Provide hands-on leadership, mentorship, and technical direction to a multidisciplinary team of engineers and staff.

Foster a collaborative team environment that prioritizes technical excellence, innovation, and superior client service.

Establish annual performance goals and key performance indexes for the practice in partnership with the Business Sector Leader.

Manage forecasting, utilization, and resource planning to ensure practice area revenue and profit targets are met.

Strengthen and expand client relationships with public agencies and regional partners through proactive engagement.

Coordinate with Area Market Leads, Client Service Managers, and other Practice Area Leads to enable cross-selling of firm services.

Support grant strategy, pursuit of funded projects, and alternative delivery methods to expand the firm's capabilities.

Balance workload, track resourcing needs, and support recruiting and onboarding to maintain team capacity.

Guide quality control and quality assurance efforts to ensure consistent delivery of high-standard solutions.

Partner with the Business Sector Leader to track performance against key metrics including revenue, utilization, and backlog.

Champion continuous learning and mentorship to build a strong pipeline of future technical and leadership talent.

Requirements

Candidates must be a registered professional engineer in good standing with relevant discipline(s).

Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering, or a closely related field.

A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in surface water or storm water engineering is required.

At least 5 years of leadership experience managing technical teams in a professional services environment is mandatory.

Demonstrated success in business development, business planning, and client relationship management is essential.

Proficiency in using design and analysis tools specific to storm water and surface water engineering is required.

A strong commitment to West Yost's values of integrity, collaboration, and excellence is a non-negotiable standard for employment.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship for this role at this time.

Relocation to or consistent presence in the Irvine, CA office is required for this position.

Nice to have

Experience with sustainable storm water practices such as Low Impact Development (LID) is preferred.

Knowledge of California water regulations, including NPDES and regional watershed requirements, is highly valued.

Familiarity with consulting for public agencies and complex institutional projects is a distinct advantage.

Experience with grant writing or managing funded projects is a preferred qualification.

Understanding of computer modeling tools for storm water analysis is a plus.

Practical notes

This is a hybrid role requiring 3 days in the office and 2 days remote.

The compensation range for this position is $150,250 - $210,050, based on the Irvine, CA office location.

West Yost is an equal opportunity employer and is proud to be an employee-owned firm.

Candidates must be available to work from the Irvine office as required by the role.

This position is exempt and full-time, aligned with the firm's standard employment policies.