How to apply for Client Manager - Industrial Water and Wastewater Utilities

About Woodard & Curran

Woodard & Curran is an employee-owned engineering, science, and operations firm focused on clean water, a safe environment, and healthy communities. The firm provides outsourced Operations & Maintenance services for water and wastewater utilities and industry clients. Employee ownership and a stated focus on professional growth and flexibility are the main draws.

About the role

This is a remote, full-time sales role focused on developing and closing contract operations opportunities within industrial water and wastewater utilities. The client manager works with clients to match their specific management and business challenges to Woodard & Curran's outsourced O&M services. The role requires a well-connected sales leader with at least 10 years of experience in contract operations or a related field.

A typical day

A typical day likely involves prospecting and qualifying industrial water/wastewater clients, meeting with client management teams to understand their operational and business challenges, and working with internal engineering and operations staff to shape contract operations proposals. Because the role is remote, much of the day is spent on calls, pipeline management, and coordinating with colleagues across the firm. Ask the hiring manager how the team divides lead generation, proposal work, and client handoff.

Who Woodard & Curran is looking for

• At least 10 years of experience in contract operations for water/wastewater utilities or industry, or a closely related field.
• Proven track record of developing and closing contract operations opportunities within the industrial water and wastewater sector.
• A high-energy, well-connected sales leader with an existing industry network.
• Comfortable working remotely and collaborating with engineering, science, and operations teams to build custom client solutions.

Tips for this application

• Quantify your contract operations wins in the resume: deal size, number of clients, types of industrial water/wastewater facilities, and close rates.
• Name specific industrial sectors you have sold into (e.g., food and beverage, chemical, power, mining) since the role targets industrial water and wastewater utilities.
• Reference Woodard & Curran's employee-owned structure and outsourced O&M model in your materials to show you understand how the firm differs from a traditional engineering firm.
• Show your regional or national network in the water/wastewater contract operations space, since the role is remote and relies on connections.
• Keep the resume focused on sales and business development results, not operations or engineering tasks, since the job is a client manager sales role.

What to cover in your cover letter

Emphasize your 10+ years in contract operations for water/wastewater, with specific examples of opportunities you developed and closed in industrial settings. Explain why Woodard & Curran's employee-owned, outsourced O&M model fits how you sell. Describe the industry relationships you bring and how you would use them remotely. State clearly how you match client management and business challenges to custom O&M solutions.

Research before applying

• Woodard & Curran's outsourced Operations & Maintenance service line and how it differs from its engineering and science work.
• The firm's employee ownership structure and what that means for how it operates and sells.
• Recent contract operations projects or clients in the industrial water and wastewater space.
• The firm's stated vision and values (clean water, safe environment, healthy communities, happy people) and how they appear in client work.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Walk through a contract operations deal you developed and closed in industrial water or wastewater: how you sourced it, the client's challenge, and the outcome.
• How would you build a pipeline for Woodard & Curran's outsourced O&M services in your region, given the remote setup?
• What industrial sectors or client types do you see as the best fit for contract operations, and why?
• How do you work with engineering and operations teams to shape a custom solution for a client's management or business challenge?
• How would you explain the value of an employee-owned firm like Woodard & Curran to a prospective industrial client?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying with a resume that lists operations or engineering duties without clear sales and business development results.
• Ignoring the industrial focus and presenting only municipal water/wastewater experience.
• Treating the role as a general sales job without referencing contract operations for water/wastewater utilities.