Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Water Program Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

The Water Program Coordinator coordinates, implements, and evaluates water quality and watershed protection programs to ensure regulatory compliance, improve water resource health, and deliver measurable outcomes. This role leads field monitoring and sampling programs, manages permitting and grant-funded projects, prepares technical reports and permit submittals, and serves as the primary liaison between local governments, state agencies, community stakeholders, and contractors. The Coordinator applies data-driven decision-making and QA/QC best practices to support program objectives, budget management, and continuous program improvement.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Environmental Technician / Water Quality Technician
Natural Resources Specialist or Conservation Assistant
Regulatory Compliance Assistant or Field Investigator

Advancement To:

Senior Water Program Coordinator / Program Manager
Watershed or Water Resources Manager
Environmental Services Manager / Director of Water Programs

Lateral Moves:

Stormwater Program Specialist
Permit Compliance Specialist
Grants and Contracts Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead and coordinate comprehensive water quality monitoring programs, including designing sampling plans, scheduling fieldwork, supervising field crews, ensuring chain-of-custody procedures, and overseeing sample transport to certified laboratories to support regulatory compliance and program objectives.
Manage permit compliance activities under federal and state programs (e.g., Clean Water Act, NPDES, MS4), prepare and submit required reports, track permit deadlines, and implement corrective actions to maintain regulatory compliance and avoid enforcement.
Develop, write, and administer grant proposals and funding applications for state and federal water quality programs (e.g., EPA Section 319, state revolving funds), and manage awarded grants including budget tracking, milestone reporting, and compliance with funding agency requirements.
Coordinate and manage contracts and procurement for consultants, laboratories, and field services; develop scopes of work, monitor deliverables, evaluate contractor performance, and ensure contract compliance with technical and financial requirements.
Design and implement watershed restoration and stormwater management projects, including green infrastructure, BMP design coordination, landowner outreach, permitting support, and construction oversight to achieve water quality improvement targets.
Maintain and analyze water quality and hydrologic datasets using GIS, Excel, and statistical tools (e.g., R, Python, SQL), perform trend analyses, generate data visualizations and dashboards, and translate findings into actionable recommendations for program planning.
Prepare clear, technically accurate regulatory reports, monitoring summaries, technical memoranda, environmental assessments, and presentations for agency reviewers, municipal decision-makers, and community stakeholders.
Develop and implement Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for field sampling, and QA/QC protocols to ensure data integrity and defensibility for regulatory submissions and scientific assessments.
Serve as the primary liaison with state environmental agencies, EPA regional offices, municipal partners, NGOs, and community groups to coordinate program activities, share data, negotiate agreements, and represent the organization at interagency meetings.
Lead public outreach, community engagement, and education initiatives related to water quality, watershed health, and pollution prevention; develop informational materials, coordinate workshops, and respond to citizen inquiries and complaints.
Implement and oversee stormwater pollution prevention and construction site inspections, review SWPPP documentation, document violations, issue corrective action notices, and support enforcement actions in coordination with regulatory agencies.
Oversee onsite fieldwork logistics and safety, train and supervise field staff and volunteers in sampling techniques, safety protocols, and data collection best practices, and maintain field equipment and inventory.
Monitor budgets for program areas and projects, prepare cost estimates, track expenditures, reconcile invoices, and prepare financial reports to funders and internal stakeholders to ensure fiscal responsibility and alignment with program goals.
Integrate climate resilience and equity considerations into program design and project prioritization to ensure long-term sustainability and community benefits, particularly for vulnerable or underserved areas.
Lead the development and implementation of monitoring plans to assess restoration success and program effectiveness, including establishing performance metrics, targets, and adaptive management strategies to refine interventions over time.
Conduct permit application support and technical review for municipal infrastructure projects, evaluate potential water quality impacts, recommend mitigation measures, and coordinate permit-driven monitoring requirements.
Coordinate citizen science programs and volunteer monitoring initiatives, including volunteer training, data validation, and integration of citizen-collected data into program databases and reporting products.
Implement and maintain database systems for water monitoring data (e.g., EQuIS, STORET, AquaStat), ensure metadata standards and data management best practices, and coordinate electronic data deliverables (EDDs) for regulatory submittals.
Provide technical assistance to municipalities, developers, and landowners on best management practices for erosion and sediment control, low impact development (LID), and stormwater management to reduce pollution runoff and meet regulatory standards.
Lead interdisciplinary teams for multi-stakeholder projects, facilitate cross-departmental coordination, develop project schedules, and ensure timely completion of deliverables by managing scope, risk, and communications.
Conduct environmental sampling and specialized monitoring (e.g., benthic macroinvertebrates, continuous flow monitoring, nutrient sampling), interpret results in the context of water quality standards, and recommend management or policy responses.
Develop and deliver training programs for municipal staff, volunteers, and other partners on permit requirements, monitoring techniques, data management, and best practices for watershed protection.
Track evolving environmental regulations, permitting guidance, and scientific literature, and incorporate changes into program policies, staff training, and outreach materials to ensure current practices and compliance.
Prepare and present project updates, technical briefings, and policy recommendations to boards, councils, funders, and community groups; craft compelling narratives and visual materials that synthesize complex information for non-technical audiences.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests, prepare spatial analyses and maps using ArcGIS, and produce infographics to communicate water quality trends and project outcomes to stakeholders and the public.
Assist with the development of long-term program strategies, performance metrics, and annual work plans to align monitoring, restoration, and outreach priorities with organizational goals and funding opportunities.
Coordinate volunteer events, community cleanups, and educational workshops; recruit and retain volunteers and partners to extend program reach and build local capacity for watershed stewardship.
Troubleshoot field sampling issues, maintain and calibrate field instruments (e.g., sondes, flow meters), and coordinate repairs or replacement to minimize downtime and preserve data quality.
Compile and maintain an up-to-date permit and regulatory requirements calendar, ensuring timely submissions and proactive responses to new reporting obligations.
Facilitate internal knowledge-sharing, conduct post-project evaluations, and document lessons learned to improve operational efficiency and project delivery across water programs.
Contribute to proposals for new program funding, strategic initiatives, and pilot projects by providing technical input, cost estimates, and anticipated environmental outcomes.
Coordinate with GIS and IT teams to automate routine reporting, integrate monitoring data into web dashboards, and improve accessibility of data for decision-makers and the public.
Provide backup support for emergency response related to spills, illicit discharges, or flood events, including field sampling, reporting, and coordination with response agencies.
Maintain compliance records and documentation for audits, funder reviews, and regulatory inspections; prepare materials and support site visits as required.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Water quality monitoring and field sampling techniques (grab samples, flow-proportional sampling, in-situ sensors).
Regulatory knowledge: Clean Water Act, NPDES, MS4 programs, state water quality regulations, SWPPP and stormwater permit compliance.
Grant writing and grant management, including federal and state funding cycles (e.g., EPA 319, state grants).
Data analysis and visualization: Excel (pivot tables, advanced formulas), R or Python for environmental data analysis, SQL for databases.
GIS proficiency (ArcGIS Pro, QGIS), spatial analysis, and map production for watershed planning and reporting.
Laboratory coordination and QA/QC: chain-of-custody, QAPP development, SOPs, and interpretation of laboratory results.
Project and contract management: scopes of work, budget tracking, RFP development, contractor oversight.
Database and data management systems: EQuIS, STORET/WQX, or other water quality data platforms.
Technical writing and report preparation for regulatory submittals, scientific summaries, and grant reports.
Monitoring equipment operation and maintenance (multiparameter sondes, flow meters, autosamplers).

Soft Skills

Strong verbal and written communication skills; ability to translate technical data into clear public-facing materials.
Stakeholder engagement and consensus-building with municipalities, regulators, NGOs, and community groups.
Problem solving and critical thinking with attention to detail and data integrity.
Project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and deadlines.
Team leadership, mentorship, and the ability to train field staff and volunteers.
Adaptability and resilience in the field, comfortable working outdoors in variable conditions.
Cultural competency and commitment to environmental justice and inclusive community engagement.
Time management and prioritization, particularly when juggling field schedules, reporting deadlines, and stakeholder needs.
Conflict resolution and diplomacy when navigating regulatory, community, or interagency disputes.
Analytical mindset with a focus on continuous improvement and evidence-based decision making.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Hydrology, Biology, Civil/Environmental Engineering, Natural Resources, or related field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Water Resources, Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, or Public Policy with emphasis on water management.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Environmental Science
Hydrology / Water Resources Engineering
Biology / Ecology
Civil/Environmental Engineering
Public Policy / Environmental Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2–7 years of progressively responsible experience in water quality monitoring, program coordination, or environmental compliance.

Preferred:

5+ years of experience coordinating water programs, managing grants and contracts, and interacting with regulatory agencies; demonstrated experience with NPDES/MS4 programs, QAPPs, GIS, and community engagement.