Freese and Nichols is seeking a National Strategic Advisor- Coastal Resilience to serve as a senior technical expert, strategic advisor, and market-facing leader in coastal resilience, coastal engineering, flood risk reduction, nature-based solutions, and integrated coastal infrastructure. This individual will help shape and advance Freese and Nichols’ national reputation as a trusted advisor to coastal communities, state and federal agencies, and infrastructure owners facing complex coastal risk, adaptation, and resilience challenges.
As the National Strategic Advisor- Coastal Resilience, you will support the Coastal Resilience Strategic Initiative by providing senior technical leadership, strategic insight, and market credibility across Freese and Nichols’ coastal resilience services. You will report to and work alongside the Strategic Initiative Leader and collaborate with technical experts across practices to expand the firm’s capabilities, strengthen pursuit strategies, mentor staff, identify emerging opportunities, and help position Freese and Nichols for high-impact coastal resilience work across the Gulf Coast, Atlantic Coast, and other coastal geographies.
This role is intended for a nationally recognized coastal resilience leader with the ability to connect technical excellence, business strategy, client trust, and multidisciplinary delivery.
Responsibilities include:
Serve as Freese and Nichols’ national strategic advisor for coastal resilience, guiding technical direction, market positioning, and service development across coastal engineering, flood risk reduction, adaptation, and resilience-related services.
Support the Coastal Resilience Strategic Initiative by working with the Strategic Initiative Leader to advance priorities, strengthen technical differentiation, expand geographic reach, and align coastal resilience capabilities across practices and regions.
Provide senior technical guidance and review for complex projects and pursuits involving shoreline protection, coastal flood mitigation, storm surge risk reduction, nature-based solutions, coastal infrastructure, waterfront planning, sediment management, and long-term adaptation.
Help define and strengthen coastal resilience service offerings, delivery frameworks, methodologies, best practices, tools, and guidance that improve consistency, quality, and innovation across projects.
Champion integrated resilience solutions that connect built infrastructure, natural systems, community needs, funding strategies, regulatory considerations, and long-term risk reduction.
Support strategic pursuits and major opportunities by providing technical credibility, executive-level client engagement, industry intelligence, and subject matter expertise for coastal resilience, flood infrastructure, shoreline, USACE, state agency, and large-program work.
Identify emerging trends, policies, funding programs, regulatory drivers, technologies, and industry practices that create opportunities for client support, innovation, and service expansion.
Mentor and develop technical staff while fostering collaboration across practices and geographies to build firmwide capability in coastal engineering, modeling, nature-based solutions, flood risk management, adaptation planning, and resilience strategy.
Build and maintain relationships with government agencies, universities, research institutions, professional associations, industry leaders, and national organizations to strengthen Freese and Nichols’ visibility, credibility, and access to emerging best practices.
Represent Freese and Nichols through conference presentations, technical publications, professional committees, client education, training programs, thought leadership, and strategic industry engagement.
Advise firm leadership on strategic investments, capability development, staff development, emerging technical needs, and opportunities to enhance Freese and Nichols’ competitive position in the coastal resilience market.
15+ years of progressive experience in coastal engineering, coastal resilience, flood risk management, civil engineering, water resources, environmental infrastructure, adaptation planning, public sector consulting, or a related field.
Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, coastal engineering, environmental engineering, water resources, planning, environmental science, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred.
Demonstrated success leading or advising complex coastal engineering, coastal resilience, flood mitigation, waterfront, coastal infrastructure, or adaptation projects.
Strong technical understanding of coastal processes, coastal flood risk, shoreline systems, storm impacts, hydrodynamic and coastal modeling, resilient infrastructure, and integrated coastal risk reduction strategies.
Experience supporting public sector clients, including local, regional, state, and/or federal agencies involved in coastal infrastructure, flood risk reduction, resilience planning, civil works, environmental restoration, or long-term adaptation.
Demonstrated ability to connect technical excellence with business strategy, client development, pursuit positioning, and market growth.
Experience supporting strategic pursuits, major programs, on-call contracts, federal opportunities, or large multidisciplinary delivery teams.
Ability to translate complex technical, policy, funding, regulatory, and implementation issues into clear strategies, client solutions, and actionable project approaches.
Strong executive presence with the ability to build trust with clients, technical leaders, teaming partners, internal stakeholders, and firm leadership.
Demonstrated ability to lead through influence across practices, geographies, disciplines, and organizational structures.
Excellent communication, facilitation, writing, presentation, mentoring, and client engagement skills.
Commitment to developing staff, sharing knowledge, strengthening technical communities, and advancing Freese and Nichols’ reputation for technical excellence and trusted client service.
Preferred
Ph.D. or master’s degree in coastal engineering, civil engineering, water resources, environmental engineering, or a related field.
Professional registration or technical certification such as PE, P.Eng, Board Certified Coastal Engineer, CFM, PMP, or similar credentials.
Established national reputation in coastal engineering, coastal resilience, civil works, nature-based solutions, flood risk reduction, or integrated infrastructure resilience.
Experience with USACE Civil Works, coastal storm risk management, large federal engineering contracts, state coastal programs, waterfront resilience, or major flood infrastructure programs.
Demonstrated success developing or growing coastal, resilience, adaptation, or infrastructure business lines.
Experience leading multidisciplinary teams that include engineering, planning, environmental, emergency management, funding, modeling, and program management professionals.
Experience integrating built infrastructure and natural systems into resilient coastal solutions.
Active participation in relevant professional and industry organizations such as ASCE, COPRI, SAME, ASBPA, or similar organizations.
Record of technical publications, conference presentations, professional leadership, client education, or industry training related to coastal resilience, coastal engineering, storm resilience, nature-based solutions, or community resilience.
Familiarity with federal and state funding, policy, and program drivers that influence coastal resilience, flood mitigation, disaster recovery, infrastructure adaptation, and long-term resilience investments.
At the heart of our culture is our LEADS values (Learn continuously, Engage as family, Act with integrity, Deliver quality, and Serve always). Each year, our employee engagement survey confirms that our leaders and our employees live our values.
We strive to be the firm of choice for clients and employees through innovative approaches, practical results, and outstanding service. For more than 130 years, we have been planning and designing the infrastructure our communities need: developing water supplies, designing roadways and bridges, preparing for natural disasters, and much more.
Besides our comprehensive benefits package (see more at Benefits That Work for You), we offer paid overtime for salaried employees, an annual bonus, and access to company cabins in Red River, New Mexico and Banner Elk, North Carolina. We are proud of our flexible work environment which includes a hybrid schedule with up to 40% of remote work, and an alternative work schedule program which provides a day off every other Friday.
Join our team of 1,300+ employees as we grow from Virginia to Colorado. Learn more about working here at Working at Freese and Nichols.
Freese and Nichols is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and prohibits employment discrimination for employees and applicants based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.
#LI-HybridSkills Required
- 15+ years of progressive experience in coastal engineering, coastal resilience, flood risk management, civil engineering, water resources, environmental infrastructure, adaptation planning, public sector consulting, or a related field.
- Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, coastal engineering, environmental engineering, water resources, planning, environmental science, or a related field.
- Demonstrated success leading or advising complex coastal engineering, coastal resilience, flood mitigation, waterfront, coastal infrastructure, or adaptation projects.
- Strong technical understanding of coastal processes, coastal flood risk, shoreline systems, storm impacts, hydrodynamic and coastal modeling, resilient infrastructure, and integrated coastal risk reduction strategies.
- Experience supporting public-sector clients and agencies involved in coastal infrastructure, flood risk reduction, resilience planning, civil works, environmental restoration, or adaptation.
- Ability to connect technical expertise with business strategy, client development, pursuit positioning, and market growth.
- Experience supporting strategic pursuits, major programs, on-call contracts, federal opportunities, or large multidisciplinary delivery teams.
- Ability to translate complex technical, policy, funding, regulatory, and implementation issues into clear strategies and actionable approaches.
- Strong executive presence and ability to build trust with clients, technical leaders, teaming partners, stakeholders, and firm leadership.
- Ability to lead through influence across practices, geographies, disciplines, and organizational structures.
- Excellent communication, facilitation, writing, presentation, mentoring, and client engagement skills.
- Commitment to staff development, knowledge sharing, technical community building, and technical excellence.
- Master’s degree or Ph.D. in coastal engineering, civil engineering, water resources, environmental engineering, or a related field.
- Professional registration or certification such as PE, P.Eng, Board Certified Coastal Engineer, CFM, PMP, or similar.
- Established national reputation in coastal engineering, coastal resilience, civil works, nature-based solutions, flood risk reduction, or integrated infrastructure resilience.
- Experience with USACE Civil Works, coastal storm risk management, large federal engineering contracts, state coastal programs, waterfront resilience, or major flood infrastructure programs.
- Success developing or growing coastal, resilience, adaptation, or infrastructure business lines.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams across engineering, planning, environmental, emergency management, funding, modeling, and program management.
- Experience integrating built infrastructure and natural systems into resilient coastal solutions.
- Active participation in professional organizations such as ASCE, COPRI, SAME, or ASBPA.
- Record of technical publications, conference presentations, professional leadership, client education, or industry training.
- Familiarity with federal and state funding, policy, and program drivers influencing coastal resilience and flood mitigation.
What We Do
Freese and Nichols, Inc. is a professional planning, consulting and engineering firm serving clients across the Southwest and Southeast United States. With client service and continuous improvement in mind, Freese and Nichols plans, designs and manages sustainable water and infrastructure projects. It is the first engineering/architecture firm to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
