Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Water Program Manager

🎯 Role Definition

The Water Program Manager leads the planning, implementation, compliance, and continuous improvement of municipal, regional, or utility-level water programs — including stormwater, wastewater, watershed, and source-water protection initiatives. This role combines strategic program management, regulatory compliance (federal, state, and local; e.g., Clean Water Act and NPDES), capital project coordination, grant and budget administration, stakeholder engagement, monitoring and data analysis, and team leadership to deliver resilient, sustainable water services and infrastructure.

Key SEO / LLM keywords: water program manager, water resources management, stormwater program, wastewater program, NPDES compliance, EPA, permitting, grant administration, watershed management, GIS, water quality monitoring, environmental compliance.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Environmental or civil engineer (entry-level project engineer focused on water resources)
Stormwater or wastewater compliance coordinator / specialist
Environmental planner or watershed analyst

Advancement To:

Senior Water Program Manager / Division Manager
Director of Water Resources or Utilities
Deputy or Chief Resilience Officer (municipal/regional)

Lateral Moves:

Capital Projects Manager (water infrastructure)
Regulatory Affairs Manager (water & wastewater)
Environmental Grants & Funding Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of comprehensive water programs (stormwater, wastewater, watershed protection, source water protection) including strategic planning, annual work plans, and multi-year capital improvement plans that align with municipal/agency goals and regulatory requirements.
Manage program budgets, prepare annual budget requests, track expenditures, forecast multi-year funding needs, and ensure fiscal stewardship of operating and capital funds, including detailed tracking for grants and federal/state funding sources.
Oversee grant seeking, grant application development, grant compliance, reporting, and audit responses for federal, state, or foundation-funded water projects, ensuring timely deliverables and accurate financial documentation.
Coordinate NPDES permit compliance, prepare permit applications and renewals, develop and implement Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs), and ensure adherence to federal, state, and local water quality regulations and timelines.
Supervise program staff, contract staff, and consultants — hiring, training, mentoring, setting performance objectives, conducting evaluations, and creating professional development plans to build a high-performing water program team.
Develop and implement water quality monitoring and sampling programs (surface water, stormwater, groundwater, effluent) including QA/QC protocols, chain-of-custody procedures, interpretation of analytical results, and integration of monitoring data into program decision-making.
Oversee design, procurement, and contract management for technical services, construction, and professional services related to water infrastructure projects; manage scopes of work, RFPs/RFQs, contractor performance, invoicing, and change orders.
Lead interagency and cross-departmental coordination, fostering partnerships with public works, planning, parks, utilities, county/state agencies, watershed groups, and regulatory agencies (EPA, state environmental agencies) to align objectives and expedite permitting and project delivery.
Direct public outreach, stakeholder engagement, and community education initiatives — preparing public-facing materials, facilitating public meetings, responding to inquiries, and building consensus on water program priorities and projects.
Prepare, edit, and deliver technical reports, regulatory submittals, project summaries, and guidance documents for elected officials, boards, partner agencies, and the public — ensuring clarity, regulatory compliance, and defensible technical rationale.
Manage capital projects from concept through close-out, including project scoping, feasibility studies, preliminary design review, permitting, construction oversight, schedule management, and post-construction evaluation to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery and performance outcomes.
Establish and track program performance metrics, KPIs, and outcome measures (e.g., pollutant load reductions, miles of stream restored, green infrastructure installed, regulatory milestones met) and produce periodic dashboards and executive summaries for leadership.
Conduct regulatory and policy analysis, translate evolving federal and state requirements into local program changes, and lead updates to municipal ordinances, codes, and stormwater standards to maintain compliance and reduce liability.
Implement asset management practices for water infrastructure, prioritizing rehabilitation and replacement needs based on condition assessments, risk analysis, lifecycle cost modeling, and community resilience objectives.
Lead climate resilience and sustainability integration across water programs, evaluating vulnerability, recommending adaptation measures, and prioritizing projects that increase flood management, groundwater recharge, and water supply reliability.
Oversee data management and geospatial information systems (GIS) for program delivery — maintain project databases, map assets, analyze spatial data for planning, and ensure data interoperability and accessibility for internal teams and external partners.
Provide technical guidance and review for engineering designs, environmental assessments (CEQA/NEPA-related tasks), hydrologic/hydraulic modeling, and BMP (best management practices) selection to ensure projects meet performance and regulatory goals.
Manage emergency response and spill/bypass response coordination for water quality incidents, coordinate sampling and notifications, and support rapid remediation planning and communications during events.
Lead procurement and purchasing for program materials, green infrastructure components, monitoring equipment, and professional services, adhering to procurement policies and ensuring competitive and transparent processes.
Negotiate and manage inter-local agreements, memoranda of understanding (MOUs), cooperative funding agreements, and cost-sharing arrangements with partner agencies and stakeholders to support multi-jurisdictional water projects.
Supervise the development and delivery of training programs for municipal staff, contractors, and volunteers on water quality best practices, construction site controls, illicit discharge detection and elimination (IDDE), and regulatory compliance.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis to inform program decisions and grant reporting.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap by identifying key water data needs and opportunities for automation and integration.
Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements, GIS layers, and monitoring plans.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within cross-functional project teams to accelerate digital tools and permit tracking system improvements.
Assist in drafting policy memos, funding proposals, and internal briefings for senior leadership and elected officials.
Represent the organization at industry conferences, technical working groups, and peer networks to share best practices and drive innovation in water resources management.
Support community science and volunteer monitoring programs by providing training materials, QA protocols, and coordination for citizen sampling events.
Provide backup support for related utility operations during peak workload periods or emergency events, including coordination with operations and maintenance staff.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Regulatory Compliance & Permitting: In-depth knowledge of Clean Water Act requirements, NPDES permit processes, state stormwater/wastewater regulations, and experience preparing regulatory submittals and permit renewals.
Water Quality Monitoring & Data Analysis: Experienced in designing sampling programs, interpreting laboratory results, applying QA/QC practices, and using statistical tools to evaluate water quality trends.
Grant Writing & Grant Management: Proven ability to write competitive grant proposals, manage grants from award through close-out, and prepare accurate progress and financial reports.
Project & Program Management: Strong program scheduling, budgeting, risk management, contract administration, and project close-out skills for capital and non-capital water projects.
GIS & Spatial Analysis: Proficient with GIS tools (ArcGIS, QGIS), spatial data management, mapping of assets, and geospatial analysis for watershed planning and project siting.
Engineering & Technical Review: Ability to review engineering plans, hydrologic/hydraulic modeling outputs (e.g., HEC-RAS, SWMM), BMP design, and construction documents for compliance and constructability.
Data Systems & Reporting Tools: Familiarity with environmental data management systems, MS Excel (advanced), Power BI/Tableau, and permit tracking software to create dashboards and automate reporting.
Construction Oversight & Contract Management: Knowledge of construction administration, inspection practices, progress payment review, and contractor performance evaluation.
Emergency Response & Incident Management: Experience coordinating responses to spills, bypasses, or flooding events, including notification procedures and remedial action tracking.
Asset Management & Lifecycle Planning: Skills in condition assessment, prioritization frameworks, asset valuation, and lifecycle cost analysis for water infrastructure.
Environmental Policy & Planning: Ability to translate policy into implementable program changes, update ordinances, and advise on legislative impacts on local water programs.
Public Outreach & Communication: Technical writing and public presentation skills for community engagement, workshops, and media interactions.

Soft Skills

Leadership & Team Development: Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, mentor staff, delegate effectively, and foster a collaborative, accountable culture.
Stakeholder Engagement & Consensus Building: Skilled at negotiating with diverse stakeholders, facilitating meetings, and building partnerships across agencies, NGOs, and the public.
Strategic Thinking & Decision-Making: Capacity to align program activities with long-term agency goals, prioritize competing demands, and make defensible decisions based on data and policy.
Communication & Presentation: Clear, persuasive verbal and written communication tailored to technical and non-technical audiences including elected officials and community groups.
Problem Solving & Analytical Reasoning: Strong critical thinking skills to diagnose complex program issues, evaluate alternatives, and implement practical solutions.
Time Management & Prioritization: Able to manage multiple concurrent projects, deadlines, and compliance milestones with attention to detail.
Political Savvy & Diplomacy: Comfortable navigating political contexts, advising leadership on sensitive issues, and responding to public scrutiny.
Adaptability & Resilience: Capacity to respond to changing regulatory environments, emergency events, and evolving stakeholder expectations.
Coaching & Mentorship: Commitment to staff growth through constructive feedback, training plans, and career development support.
Customer Service Orientation: Focus on serving internal and external customers, responding promptly to requests, and maintaining high-quality service standards.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Science, Hydrology, Water Resources, Natural Resources Management, Public Administration, or related field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Water Resources Engineering, Environmental Management, Public Policy, or MBA with emphasis in public sector management.
Professional certifications such as Professional Engineer (PE), Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM), Certified Stormwater Inspector, or Project Management Professional (PMP) are a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Environmental Engineering
Civil Engineering (water/wastewater emphasis)
Environmental Science / Hydrology
Public Administration / Policy
Urban Planning / Watershed Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

5–10+ years of progressively responsible experience in water resources, stormwater, wastewater, environmental compliance, or related program management; including at least 2–4 years of supervisory or project leadership experience.

Preferred:

7+ years managing municipal, utility, or regional water programs with demonstrated success in permitting (NPDES), capital project delivery, grant administration, and stakeholder engagement.
Experience with state and federal funding programs, interagency agreements, and demonstrated track record of measurable water quality or infrastructure outcomes.