How to apply for Client Manager – Water Services

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 combines consulting, engineering, operations and maintenance, and integrated solutions, which gives employees exposure to water projects across the full asset lifecycle.

About the role

This client manager role leads municipal water services growth across the Northeast, covering drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and water resources. The position moves beyond project delivery into client leadership, account growth, and business development while still supporting water infrastructure projects. It is a visible role with a path toward greater regional and practice leadership.

A typical day

A typical day may include client calls or meetings with municipal water staff, internal coordination with engineering and operations teams, and work on proposals or account plans for Northeast water clients. You would also support project delivery and help position Woodard & Curran for new drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, or water resources work. Exact routines depend on the regional team, so ask about weekly client engagement and travel expectations during interviews.

Who Woodard & Curran is looking for

• An experienced engineer or project manager with a background in municipal water, drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, or water resources.
• Someone with public-sector experience and strong technical expertise in water infrastructure.
• A relationship-focused professional who can build client trust and grow accounts, not just deliver projects.
• A collaborative team player who can work with experts across consulting, engineering, operations and maintenance, and integrated solutions.

Tips for this application

• Connect your experience to municipal water clients in the Northeast, especially drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, or water resources work.
• Show evidence of client relationship growth or business development, even if your title was engineer or project manager.
• Mention public-sector projects or clients you have supported, since the role requires public-sector experience.
• Explain how you have worked with operations and maintenance teams or integrated delivery teams, because Woodard & Curran combines these services.
• Note any interest in employee ownership or long-term regional leadership, since the firm is employee-owned and this role has a path to greater responsibility.

What to cover in your cover letter

Describe a municipal water client you grew or a public-sector relationship you strengthened. Explain how you moved from project delivery toward client leadership or account growth. Show knowledge of drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, or water resources in the Northeast. State why employee ownership and integrated water services at Woodard & Curran fit your career direction.

Research before applying

• Woodard & Curran's service lines: consulting, engineering, operations and maintenance, and integrated solutions.
• Their municipal water project history in the Northeast, especially drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and water resources.
• The firm's employee ownership structure and what it means for decision-making and long-term growth.
• Recent Woodard & Curran water projects or client announcements in New England.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you grow municipal water services across the Northeast for Woodard & Curran?
• Describe a time you turned a project relationship into a longer-term client account.
• What is your experience with drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, or water resources projects for public-sector clients?
• How do you work with operations and maintenance teams or integrated solutions groups to deliver water infrastructure?
• What interests you about an employee-owned firm and a path toward regional or practice leadership?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying as a pure project delivery engineer without showing any client relationship or business development experience.
• Ignoring the municipal and public-sector focus and highlighting only private-sector or industrial water work.
• Treating the role as a standard project manager job instead of a client leadership and account growth position.