Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Water Resource Program Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

The Water Resource Program Coordinator leads and coordinates water resource, watershed, and stormwater programs to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, advance restoration and protection projects, manage monitoring and assessment activities, and engage stakeholders. This position combines project management, technical application of hydrology/GIS/water quality methods, grant and contract administration, and public outreach to deliver measurable improvements in water quality and resilience.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Environmental Technician or Field Technician with water sampling and monitoring experience
GIS Technician or Analyst supporting environmental projects
Natural Resource Specialist or Conservation Assistant

Advancement To:

Water Resources Program Manager / Watershed Program Manager
Regional Water Resources or Stormwater Manager
Senior Environmental Planner or Environmental Project Director

Lateral Moves:

Stormwater Program Coordinator
Environmental Compliance Specialist
Grants and Contracts Coordinator (environmental programs)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead, plan, and coordinate multi-year watershed restoration and water quality improvement projects, including scoping, design coordination, permitting, construction oversight, and post-construction monitoring to ensure projects meet technical objectives, budgets, and regulatory requirements.
Develop, implement, and manage water quality monitoring programs (surface water, stormwater, groundwater) that include sample design, standardized field protocols, QA/QC procedures, laboratory coordination, data validation, and reporting to regulatory bodies and stakeholders.
Prepare, submit, and administer state and federal grant applications (e.g., Clean Water Act Section 319, state revolving funds, WEF grants), including development of work plans, deliverables, budgets, budgets narratives, match documentation, and timely compliance reporting.
Manage program budgets and fiscal tracking, including forecasting, expense reconciliation, contract invoicing, subrecipient oversight, and ensuring allowable costs and compliance with funding source requirements.
Coordinate and ensure compliance with permits and regulations such as NPDES stormwater permits, Clean Water Act provisions, Section 404/401, state water quality certifications, and local stormwater ordinances through permit tracking, reporting, and coordinating corrective actions.
Serve as the technical lead for watershed assessments and watershed management plans, performing hydrologic and hydraulic assessments, pollutant loading analyses, prioritization of BMPs, and drafting technical memos and planning documents.
Oversee consultant selection and contract management for design, engineering, monitoring, and construction services; prepare scopes of work, evaluate proposals, negotiate contracts, and manage deliverables and payment milestones.
Conduct field investigations and site assessments to evaluate stream stability, riparian conditions, erosion, sediment sources, and priority restoration needs; prepare site-specific recommendations and project concept plans.
Utilize GIS to analyze spatial data for watershed delineation, impervious surface mapping, project siting, and to produce maps and geospatial deliverables used in reports, public materials, and grant applications.
Coordinate multi-stakeholder partnerships—municipalities, state agencies, watershed groups, landowners, utilities, and advocacy organizations—to align goals, secure buy-in, and resolve conflicts during project planning and implementation.
Prepare technical reports, regulatory submittals, presentations, and public materials that translate complex data and regulatory requirements into clear, actionable guidance for elected officials, community groups, and funders.
Track and interpret water quality and regulatory trends, permit limits, TMDL requirements, and emerging pollutants of concern; translate policy changes into program adjustments and outreach to partners.
Design and implement public outreach and education programs—including workshops, volunteer monitoring events, interpretive signage, and school programs—focused on pollution prevention, BMP maintenance, and watershed stewardship.
Coordinate and supervise field crews, contractors, interns, and volunteers for monitoring, maintenance, and construction activities; maintain field safety protocols and ensure consistent training and documentation of field work.
Maintain and manage program databases for water quality, monitoring results, GIS layers, permit compliance, and project records; prepare dashboards and executive summaries for program performance tracking.
Develop and implement BMP tracking and maintenance plans for stormwater infrastructure, green infrastructure sites, and restoration projects to ensure long-term functionality and compliance with funding agreements.
Lead permit and regulatory reporting including annual NPDES reports, monitoring summaries, SAPs, and corrective action plans; ensure timely submission and maintain documentation for audits.
Coordinate emergency response support for water quality incidents (spills, illicit discharges, post-storm damage) including field sampling, coordination with emergency responders, and short-term remediation planning.
Integrate climate resiliency and nature-based solutions into project design and program strategy, evaluating flood risk reduction, habitat enhancement, and long-term adaptability.
Evaluate and pilot new technologies and monitoring approaches—automated samplers, continuous sensors, remote sensing, eDNA—to improve monitoring efficiency and program outcomes.
Support land acquisition and conservation easement coordination for critical riparian buffer protection, working with landowners, legal counsel, and conservation partners to secure project sites.
Ensure documentation, close-out, and lessons-learned reporting for completed projects, including as-built documentation, final financial reconciliation, and maintenance handover to operations or partners.

Secondary Functions

Provide technical assistance and training to municipal staff, contractors, and community partners on stormwater BMP design, low-impact development, erosion control, and permit compliance.
Assist in grant prospecting by tracking funding opportunities, preparing concept memos, and aligning local priorities with available funding sources to expand program capacity.
Support adaptive management by synthesizing monitoring data into recommendations for BMP adjustments, maintenance schedules, and future capital planning.
Maintain and update outreach materials, website content, and social media to promote program successes, volunteer opportunities, and regulatory changes.
Participate in regional working groups, technical advisory committees, and intergovernmental coordination meetings to align program objectives and leverage shared resources.
Coordinate volunteer and citizen science programs (e.g., community water quality monitoring), including training, kit preparation, data entry protocols, and quality assurance review.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Water quality sampling & analysis: field sampling techniques, chain-of-custody, laboratory coordination, QA/QC protocols, and data validation.
Hydrology and hydraulics fundamentals: watershed delineation, stormwater runoff modeling, load estimation, and stream stability assessments.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS): spatial analysis, map production, watershed mapping, geoprocessing, and spatial database management (ArcGIS, QGIS).
Regulatory knowledge: NPDES MS4 permit requirements, Clean Water Act programs, TMDL frameworks, 401/404 permitting, and state water quality standards.
Project and grant management: developing scopes, budgets, deliverables, tracking milestones, subrecipient management, and federal/state grant compliance.
Construction oversight and BMP implementation: construction inspection, erosion and sediment control, green infrastructure installation, and as-built documentation.
Data management and reporting: database management, Excel (advanced), data visualization and dashboards, and technical report writing.
Permit application and compliance reporting: preparing permit applications, stormwater pollution prevention plans (SWPPPs), monitoring plans (SAPs), and annual compliance reports.
Monitoring technologies: automated samplers, in-situ sensors, remote sensing products, and laboratory coordination for emerging contaminants.
Contract and procurement management: preparing RFPs, evaluating bids, managing consultants, and monitoring deliverables against contract terms.

Soft Skills

Strong written communication for grant proposals, technical reports, public materials, and regulatory correspondence.
Clear verbal communication and presentation skills for stakeholder meetings, public outreach, and interagency coordination.
Project management and organizational skills with attention to detail and ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and deadlines.
Collaborative leadership and stakeholder facilitation, able to build consensus among diverse partners and technical/non-technical audiences.
Problem-solving and critical thinking to diagnose field issues, evaluate alternatives, and recommend technically sound, cost-effective solutions.
Adaptability and resilience in field conditions, regulatory changes, and shifting funding landscapes.
Customer-service orientation for working with municipalities, landowners, and community volunteers.
Ethical judgment and integrity in data handling, financial management, and regulatory compliance.
Coaching and supervision ability for mentoring interns, contractors, and cross-functional teams.
Time management and prioritization to balance fieldwork, office tasks, reporting, and stakeholder engagement.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Hydrology, Civil or Environmental Engineering, Natural Resources, Ecology, or related field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Water Resources, Environmental Science, Civil/Environmental Engineering, Hydrology, or related discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Hydrology / Water Resources Engineering
Environmental Science / Ecology
Civil / Environmental Engineering
Natural Resource Management
Geospatial Science / GIS

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7 years of progressively responsible experience in water resources, stormwater management, watershed restoration, environmental monitoring, or related programs.

Preferred:

5+ years of direct program coordination experience with demonstrated success in grant administration, multi-stakeholder project delivery, and regulatory reporting.
Experience supervising field crews, managing consultants, and administering construction contracts.
Preferred certifications: Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM), Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS), Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Lead (CESSCL) / Certified Erosion, Sediment and Stormwater Inspector, or Project Management Professional (PMP).