Building Skills, Leadership, and Lasting Opportunity in the Navajo Nation

As the San Juan Lateral Water Treatment Plant (SJLWTP), the largest project included in the overall Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project, delivers life-changing access to clean, reliable water, the Design-Build Team’s commitment extends beyond building infrastructure. The Design-Build Team is ensuring the project creates a legacy by strengthening local skills, developing future leaders, and expanding economic opportunities within the Navajo Nation.

Archer Western, a key member of Jacobs’ Design-Build Team, has developed a workforce development program. The program’s focus is long-term economic sustainability. By investing in Navajo Nation workers rather than relying solely on outside labor, Archer Western helps strengthen family incomes, retain critical skills within the community, and establish visible role models for future generations considering careers in construction and field leadership.

Participants are selected based on performance, leadership potential, and a strong commitment to safety, integrity, and operational excellence. Each participant follows a structured development plan that aligns project needs with individual career goals, converting hands on experience into long-term career pathways. The program emphasizes upward mobility, allowing participants to advance into increasingly skilled and leadership-focused roles.

A key strength of the program is its balance of jobsite immersion and targeted learning. Participants remain embedded in active projects while building competencies in construction planning, safety leadership, quality control, labor management, and communication. Through this investment in local talent, Archer Western is helping ensure the benefits of the SJLWTP well beyond construction, building not only critical infrastructure, but lasting futures