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Water Project Manager Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

HR Green

Potable Water Project Manager

Johnston, IA · On-site

Project Manager / Senior Project Manager - Water/Wastewater At HR Green, we bring more than 100 years of experience helping communities grow through impactful infrastructure solutions. With 700 ...

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Water Project Manager information

See Iowa salary details

$36.2K

$96.4K

$152.2K

How much do water project manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for water project manager in Iowa is $96,445.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $73,700.00 and $115,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a water project manager typically collaborate with engineers and local authorities during project execution?

A Water Project Manager works closely with engineers to ensure that technical specifications and design plans align with project goals, budgets, and timelines. They also coordinate with local authorities to secure necessary permits, address regulatory requirements, and facilitate community engagement. Regular meetings, site visits, and progress reports are common ways these professionals collaborate, helping to identify challenges early and ensure smooth project delivery. Effective communication and problem-solving skills are essential in managing these multi-stakeholder relationships.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a water project manager?

To thrive as a Water Project Manager, you need expertise in civil or environmental engineering, strong project management abilities, and a relevant degree, often supported by PMP certification. Familiarity with project management software (such as MS Project), GIS tools, and regulatory compliance systems is typically required. Excellent leadership, stakeholder communication, and problem-solving skills set standout professionals apart in this role. These competencies are crucial for ensuring water projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and in accordance with environmental and regulatory standards.

What is the difference between Water Project Manager vs Water Engineer?

AspectWater Project ManagerWater Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Civil, Environmental Engineering or related; PMP certification often preferredBachelor's or Master's in Civil, Environmental Engineering; Professional Engineer (PE) license often required
Work EnvironmentOversees projects, manages teams, coordinates with stakeholdersDesigns, analyzes, and develops water systems, often in labs or field sites
Employer & Industry UsageConstruction firms, government agencies, consulting firmsEngineering firms, government agencies, research institutions

While both roles focus on water systems, the Water Project Manager primarily oversees project execution and team coordination, whereas the Water Engineer concentrates on designing and analyzing water infrastructure. Both roles require relevant engineering credentials and often work within the same industries, but their daily responsibilities differ significantly.

What does a water project manager do?

A Water Project Manager oversees the planning, execution, and completion of water-related projects such as water treatment plants, pipelines, and distribution systems. They coordinate with engineers, contractors, government agencies, and other stakeholders to ensure projects are completed on time, within budget, and in compliance with regulations. Their responsibilities include budgeting, scheduling, risk management, and ensuring that the project meets quality and environmental standards. Effective communication and leadership are essential skills for this role.
What are popular job titles related to Water Project Manager jobs in Iowa? For Water Project Manager jobs in Iowa, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Water Project Manager jobs in Iowa look for? The top searched job categories for Water Project Manager jobs in Iowa are:
Water Project Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Water Project Manager job openings in Iowa as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $96,445 per year, or $46.4 per hour.

Potable Water Project Manager

HR Green

Cedar Rapids, IA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 10 days ago

HR Green rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 6 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Project Manager / Senior Project Manager – Water/Wastewater

At HR Green, we bring more than 100 years of experience helping communities grow through impactful infrastructure solutions. With 700+ professionals across 20+ offices, we combine deep technical expertise with strong local relationships, responsive leadership, and a collaborative, low-bureaucracy culture.

In water and wastewater, we deliver practical, end-to-end solutions spanning planning, funding, design, and construction. For experienced professionals, this means the opportunity to lead meaningful municipal projects, build lasting client partnerships, and take real ownership in shaping both project outcomes and the future of our growing practice.

What We’re Looking For

We’re seeking an experienced Project Manager or Senior Project Manager to help lead the continued growth of our Water/Wastewater practice in Iowa. This is a highly visible leadership role for someone already managing potable water infrastructure projects who wants greater autonomy, stronger client access, and more influence over project delivery and team direction.

Why This Role Stands Out

This opportunity is ideal for professionals looking for:

  • Greater ownership of projects and delivery decisions
  • Direct client relationships without layers of bureaucracy
  • More influence over staffing, technical direction, and team development
  • Leadership on meaningful municipal infrastructure projects
  • A clear path into broader leadership within a growing water practice

This is not a narrow execution role—you would be a trusted leader shaping both project outcomes and long-term client relationships.

The Work You’d Lead

Projects span the full lifecycle of municipal potable water infrastructure, including:

  • Raw water systems, wells, and source development
  • Water treatment facilities and process upgrades
  • Pump stations, storage facilities, and distribution systems
  • Transmission system rehabilitation and expansion
  • Regulatory compliance, including SDWA requirements

You would stay involved from planning and design through permitting, bidding, and construction.

What the Role Looks Like

You would lead multi-discipline teams while owning project scope, schedule, budget, and client satisfaction. Responsibilities include managing technical delivery, serving as a trusted advisor to municipal clients, supporting QA/QC, overseeing construction-phase coordination, mentoring engineers, and helping grow the next generation of technical leaders.

Your work will focus heavily on potable water systems, including treatment facilities, storage infrastructure, pumping systems, and distribution networks, while also supporting wastewater treatment and collection system projects. This role provides the opportunity to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver innovative, cost-effective solutions that meet regulatory requirements and support long-term community growth.

Growth & Leadership Opportunity

Beyond project delivery, this role offers the chance to help shape a growing practice through client development, proposal strategy, industry involvement, and operational leadership.

This role tends to resonate with professionals who are already successful in their current role but want more decision-making authority, stronger client-facing responsibility, less organizational friction, and a clearer long-term leadership path within water/wastewater infrastructure.

Benefits

Not only does HR Green provide you with a place to grow, thrive, and enjoy your work, but we are also dedicated to delivering a comprehensive and multi-faceted benefits package. Visit our website for detailed total rewards information.

https://www.hrgreen.com/careers/total-rewards/

HR Green is proud to be an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or other classification protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

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