Application Guide

How to Apply for Industrial Water Project Manager

at Woodard & Curran

🏢 About Woodard & Curran

Woodard & Curran stands out for its exclusive focus on sustainable water and environmental solutions, combining deep technical expertise with a mission-driven approach to create healthier communities and ecosystems. Their commitment to 'a healthier planet' isn't just marketing—it's embedded in their project work, making this an ideal place for engineers who want their technical skills to serve environmental stewardship.

About This Role

This Industrial Water Project Manager role involves leading multi-disciplinary teams through the entire lifecycle of industrial water/wastewater projects—from design and planning to construction—while managing budgets, schedules, and client relationships remotely. The position is impactful because you'll directly shape sustainable water solutions for major industrial sectors, mentor junior staff, and represent Woodard & Curran's expertise to clients in critical industries like food/beverage and pharmaceuticals.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve morning virtual meetings with your multi-disciplinary team to review project progress, followed by client calls to discuss design updates or proposal development. You'd spend midday analyzing budget reports and schedule milestones using the company's Project Management Framework, then dedicate afternoon time to mentoring staff on technical standards or preparing for an upcoming site visit to observe construction.

🎯 Who Woodard & Curran Is Looking For

  • An engineer with 10+ years at an engineering consulting firm, specifically serving industrial clients in food/beverage, pharmaceutical, data center, or consumer products markets
  • Someone who combines technical water/wastewater system expertise with proven project management skills using structured frameworks (like Woodard & Curran's Project Management Framework)
  • A professional who prioritizes safety in industrial settings and has experience with design-build delivery methods
  • A mentor who enjoys developing staff technically and professionally while contributing to company standards

📝 Tips for Applying to Woodard & Curran

1

Quantify your industrial water project experience by sector (e.g., 'managed 3 pharmaceutical wastewater projects totaling $5M') to match their preferred client markets

2

Explicitly mention your experience with project management frameworks/methodologies, as they specifically reference using their Project Management Framework

3

Highlight any remote project management experience, since this role is remote but requires site visits—show you can balance both

4

Demonstrate your safety commitment with specific examples from industrial settings, not just generic safety statements

5

Research and reference Woodard & Curran's recent industrial water projects in your application to show genuine interest

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific experience with industrial water/wastewater projects in their preferred sectors (food/beverage, pharmaceutical, etc.)', "How you've successfully managed projects remotely while maintaining client relationships and site oversight", 'Examples of mentoring staff in technical and project management areas', 'Your alignment with their sustainability mission and safe work practices in industrial environments']

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • Woodard & Curran's specific industrial water projects—look for case studies on their website focusing on food/beverage or pharmaceutical clients
  • Their Project Management Framework approach (mentioned in job description) through any available materials or employee insights
  • Their sustainability initiatives and how they apply to industrial clients—beyond general environmental statements
  • Company culture around remote work and how they maintain collaboration across distributed teams

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe your experience managing a complex industrial water project from design through construction, including how you handled budget/schedule challenges
2 How would you mentor a junior engineer on both technical water design and project management skills?
3 Walk us through your approach to client site visits for a remote-based project manager—how do you maintain relationships and oversight?
4 What safety protocols have you implemented specifically for industrial water project sites?
5 How do you balance following a project management framework with adapting to unique client needs in industrial sectors?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying with only municipal or residential water experience without highlighting industrial sector work
  • Failing to address the remote nature of the role and how you'll manage site visits and client interactions
  • Overemphasizing technical design skills without demonstrating project management and team leadership experience

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Woodard & Curran!