Utility Planning Practice Leader
Reports to: Practices Director – Horizontal Infrastructure & Advisory Services
Location Options: Lone Tree, CO; Boise, ID; Maple Grove, MN; Billings, MT; Bozeman, MT; Great Falls, MT; Bismarck, ND; Fargo, ND; Grand Forks, ND; Rapid City, SD; Sioux Falls, SD; or Lehi, UT
Apply By: Monday, July 6, 2026, at 5:00 PM CST
The AE2S Utility Planning Practice Leader will serve as the strategic technical leader responsible for defining the firm's approach to utility planning, shaping how we help clients make infrastructure decisions, differentiating the practice in the market, and anticipating evolving client needs. Practice Leaders at AE2S focus on the technologies, trends, and training for their respective practices.
In this role, you will champion technical excellence, guide the evolution of our service offerings, and drive innovation across our utility planning portfolio. You will develop and execute a forward-thinking practice strategy that strengthens technical quality, enhances market position, and ensures we pursue and win the right work.
As our Utility Planning Practice Leader, your primary focus will be advancing how we help clients make infrastructure decisions and how we deliver planning services at a national level. You will leverage market and trend intelligence to position the practice for sustained success, lead pursuit strategy with a focus on technical differentiation, and serve as a technical leader who inspires teams and clients alike.
You will lead the growth of the Utility Planning Practice by collaborating with Operations Managers across multiple geographies to develop technical talent and by partnering with Client Program Leaders to build trusted client relationships and expand planning services into new markets.
The AE2S Utility Planning Practice includes engineers, planners, GIS specialists, and technical professionals who help communities make informed infrastructure decisions. Our team continuously works to improve utility decision-making through services including:
- Water distribution system modeling
- Wastewater collection system modeling
- Utility master planning
- Capital improvement planning
- Asset management
- GIS strategy and implementation
- Infrastructure risk assessment
- Level-of-service evaluations
- Growth and capacity planning
- Utility system optimization
This role is ideal for a leader who is motivated to build, shape, and expand a high-impact practice with meaningful influence on firm strategy and market position.
Responsibilities
Leadership
- Leads and inspires the Utility Planning team while actively supporting and advocating for Company mission, vision, and initiatives
- Promotes the desired AE2S culture by leading through example
- Mentors technical leaders and emerging talent across the practice
- Balances project execution priorities with long-term practice development
- Sets and drives high performance expectations aligned with strategic goals
Strategic Planning
- Defines and executes the Utility Planning Practice strategy, including growth priorities, technology investments, and service innovation
- Evaluates evolving planning methodologies, modeling technologies, and data-driven decision tools
- Creates planning frameworks that help utilities prioritize investments, manage risk, and improve long-term system performance
- Partners with Operations Managers, Client Program Leaders, and other Practice Leaders to align staffing, market focus, and geographic expansion strategies
- Ensures practice strategies align with firm-wide strategic priorities
Technical Innovation & Resources
- Leads initiatives that drive knowledge creation and dissemination
- Evaluates the firm's competitive technical position relative to other firms and identifies opportunities to strengthen market differentiation
- Defines and launches new service offerings aligned with client needs and industry trends
- Advances AE2S capabilities in:
- Hydraulic modeling
- Asset management
- GIS
- Infrastructure prioritization
- Capital planning
- Works with Operations Managers to identify technical resources needed to augment, mentor, and train staff on the pursuit and delivery of technical solutions
- Represents the firm externally through presentations, publications, and professional engagement
Trends
- Identifies and translates key technical, regulatory, demographic, and infrastructure trends for business development and operations teams
- Evaluates emerging technologies and planning methodologies that improve infrastructure decision-making
- Leads implementation strategies that translate trends into actionable services
- Shapes practical strategies that help clients respond to growth, aging infrastructure, affordability challenges, and workforce constraints
Business Development
- Leads technical strategy for major pursuits and key client opportunities
- Actively participates in and leads strategic pursuits, including positioning, proposal development, and client engagement
- Leads or contributes to market positioning and growth strategies across geographies
- Oversees the Utility Planning opportunity pipeline and supports prioritization of key pursuits
Indicators of Success
- Successful implementation of the Practice's strategic initiatives
- Expanded technical thought leadership and external market visibility
- Ongoing improvement and growth of the Practice's Employee-Owners
- Achievement of practice growth targets, including sales and revenue goals
- Measurable growth of Utility Planning services into new geographies and for new clients
- Strong pipeline of strategic planning pursuits and key client relationships
- Advancement of AE2S's reputation as a leader in utility planning, asset management, hydraulic modeling, and infrastructure decision support
Demo