Senior Water Resources Specialist (Water Use Efficiency)

We welcome veteran or transitioning military to apply. Are you a former service member with experience in environmental compliance, resource stewardship, or water management and have you supported agencies like the Army Corps of Engineers in protecting natural resources? Your background in water conservation practices, regulatory compliance, and sustainable resource planning may closely align with the Water Authority’s Water Use Efficiency efforts.

The San Diego County Water Authority offers excellent benefits, a supportive work/life balance, and the opportunity to contribute to an industry leading organization.

• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to synthesize technical information and develop actionable insights.
• Strong working knowledge of plants and irrigation systems, including application of water-efficient landscaping principles, system troubleshooting, and compliance with local and state regulations.
• A high level of independence, paired with the discernment to check in appropriately on key decisions, project updates, or stakeholder issues.
• Proficiency in researching, interpreting, and applying technical data and regulatory information, including water-use efficiency standards and conservation program requirements.
• Ability to conduct analyses using computer models, spreadsheets, databases, and GIS systems to support program planning and evaluation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with attention to clarity, accuracy, and consistency.
• Great attention to detail in preparing and reviewing work products, ensuring quality and accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, including prioritizing tasks, meeting deadlines, and adapting to evolving program needs.
• Creativity and innovation in developing efficient processes, communicating conservation principles, and improving program deliverables.

The Senior Water Resources Specialist in the Water Use Efficiency group plays a pivotal role in developing, implementing, and evaluating the Water Authority’s commercial, residential, and agricultural WUE programs. This position supports the region’s long-term water reliability goals by advancing WUE strategies, fostering behavioral change, and ensuring compliance with evolving state and local water-use regulations.
 
The incumbent will lead and manage complex water conservation initiatives ranging from program design and performance analysis to grant administration, outreach development, and stakeholder engagement. The role requires strong technical expertise in landscape water efficiency, including knowledge of plants, irrigation systems, and regulatory requirements, as well as the ability to interpret technical data to guide program improvements.
 
This position works both independently and collaboratively, frequently serving as a subject-matter expert within multidisciplinary teams. The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent judgment in balancing autonomy with appropriate check-ins, particularly when navigating program decisions, regulatory issues, and stakeholder concerns.
 
Key responsibilities include preparing technical reports and correspondence; conducting performance assessments and modeling studies; coordinating with member agencies and regional partners; representing the Water Authority in local and statewide forums; and supporting the development and administration of conservation grants and funding opportunities.
 
Overall, this role provides an exciting opportunity to advance innovative WUE strategies that support a resilient water future for the San Diego region.

• Analyzes and develops recommendations for Water Authority planning initiatives and policies; develops and conducts complex projects and investigations involving water resource and water policy issues including long-term water demand forecasting and facility planning, water supply development, quantitative and qualitative assessment of current water supply conditions and quality, climate change adaptation, and water rates and charges; develops regional water management plans; prepares technical and policy-oriented reports, correspondence and action plans.
• Conducts complex budget, statistical, financial and economic analyses and prepares detailed technical reports and presentations.
• Serves as project manager on technical studies and water resource investigations and as lead staff on more difficult and complex planning studies; writes technical correspondence and reports, prepares and delivers presentations.
• Participates in drafting legislation and regulations; develops recommendations for Water Authority legislative and regulatory lobbying efforts.
• Acts as lead staff or assists in the formulation, update and revision of the Water Authority's Urban Water Management Plan, Climate Action Plan, Water Shortage Contingency Plan, internal and stakeholder water management plans and reports and other specific project plans.
• Formulates the Water Authority's water policy positions to advocate at MWD.
• As a project manager, evaluates and recommends for final selection of consultants; develops scopes of work and professional service Requests for Proposals (RFP); negotiates and administers consultant contractor and vendor agreements; processes invoices, tracks reporting requirements and interprets contract language; reviews, evaluates, and directs consultant work on efforts such as economic analyses of local water supplies, demand forecasting, water quality, public outreach programs, long-range facility planning, and local water supply development.
• Assists member agencies to obtain program funding through MWD's Local Resource Program and water-use efficiency credits programs and through state and federal loan and grant programs; negotiates with MWD on behalf of member agencies.
• Provides technical and analytical support to other departments and member agency staff; reviews and provides input on technical, economic and environmental documents prepared by others; reviews and analyzes proposed state and federal legislation to determine impacts on Water Authority and member agencies; participates in drafting legislation and regulations; represents the Water Authority legislative and regulatory positions in statewide forums; develops recommendations for Water Authority legislative and regulatory lobbying efforts
• Represents and promotes the Water Authority positions in statewide forums.
• Consults with and briefs member agency general managers and staff on policy changes at the Water Authority, MWD, and state level.
• Provides analysis and policy recommendations on issues associated with MWD, the State Water Project, Colorado River, and Bay Delta.
• Develops, identifies, and builds partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, agencies, utilities, and organizations that support Water Authority positions, policies, goals and programs and to foster the exchange of information and ideas.
• Administers complex grant-funded projects and oversees and/or monitors project operations and expenditures in alignment with agreements and budget; reviews, approves and tracks invoices to granting agencies for funding reimbursement; develops methodologies and implements processes for collecting data and reporting performance monitoring metrics; oversees Water Authority grant project partners by ensuring adherence to agreements and preparing task orders that establish work scope, schedules and budgets; coordinates overall grant project reporting and completion requirements with partners.
• Develops complex water-use efficiency programs; plans, implements and monitors program progress and reports on outcomes and deliverables; develops program outreach materials and communications; develops program monitoring and reporting systems; streamlines program methodologies; develops program partnerships; coordinates programs with member agencies and MWD.
• Establishes and tracks expenditures associated with in-house water-use efficiency incentive programs; provides trend forecasting analysis and advises on status of dynamic project expenditure levels against identified funding targets.
• Performs complex planning, data gathering and research assignments; interprets data and develops solutions to problems.
• May serve as liaison between the Water Authority (or represent the Water Authority), utilities, and other government agencies, committees or task forces.
• May organize and serve on special committees of planning groups consisting of member agency representatives and others.
• May represent the Water Authority on technical and planning committees.
• May provide work direction and project oversight to other staff.
• Performs related duties as required.

• Certification as a Water Use Efficiency Practitioner (Grade 2 or 3), Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper, Water Manager, Master Gardner, and/or Irrigation Design Certification are desirable. 

Salary : $142,977 - $192,290