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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Water Coordinator

💰 $ - $

EnvironmentalWater ResourcesOperations

🎯 Role Definition

The Water Coordinator is a mid‑level to senior operational role responsible for planning, implementing, and overseeing municipal or regional water resource programs including stormwater, wastewater pretreatment, watershed protection, and drinking water coordination. This role combines field operations (sampling, inspections, maintenance) with program management (permit compliance, grant administration, reporting), cross‑departmental coordination, and community outreach. The ideal candidate ensures regulatory compliance, optimizes infrastructure performance, and advises leadership on water policy, capital projects, and risk reduction related to flooding, contamination, and aging assets.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Water Program Specialist / Stormwater Technician
  • Environmental Technician or Field Sampling Technician
  • GIS Analyst with water resources focus

Advancement To:

  • Water Resources Manager
  • Stormwater Program Manager
  • Senior Environmental Services Manager / Director of Utilities

Lateral Moves:

  • Regulatory Compliance Specialist (Water)
  • Watershed Planner
  • Asset Management Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Coordinate and administer stormwater, watershed, and runoff control programs to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local water quality regulations including NPDES municipal stormwater permits; prepare and submit timely permit applications, monitoring reports, and inspection records.
  • Develop, implement, and manage routine water quality monitoring programs (surface water, groundwater, influent/effluent) including sampling plans, chain‑of‑custody procedures, field QA/QC, laboratory coordination, and data validation to support regulatory reporting and management decisions.
  • Conduct regular field inspections of stormwater infrastructure, retention/detention basins, culverts, outfalls, pump stations, and erosion control measures; document deficiencies, coordinate corrective actions, and verify repair completion.
  • Design and oversee implementation of best management practices (BMPs) for erosion and sediment control, stormwater treatment, and low‑impact development (LID) measures; provide technical guidance during public works and private development reviews.
  • Lead permit compliance audits and coordinate responses to regulatory agency findings, notices of violation, and consent orders; develop corrective action plans, timelines, and internal tracking to achieve and demonstrate compliance.
  • Manage and administer grants and external funding opportunities (federal, state, and foundation grants) including proposal writing, budget development, contract negotiation, and compliance reporting to secure capital for infrastructure and watershed projects.
  • Coordinate cross‑departmental project teams for capital improvements, rehabilitation of water assets, and flood mitigation projects; prepare scopes, review engineering proposals, and monitor contractor performance and budgets.
  • Maintain and update water asset inventories and geographic information system (GIS) databases; create maps, spatial analyses, and asset condition assessments to support planning and emergency response.
  • Develop and deliver public outreach, education, and stakeholder engagement campaigns on topics such as illicit discharge detection and elimination (IDDE), community drainage responsibilities, and flood preparedness to increase public awareness and regulatory compliance.
  • Oversee illicit discharge detection and elimination programs, perform follow‑up investigations, sample suspected discharges, coordinate enforcement actions, and document case files for legal or regulatory review.
  • Prepare, analyze, and present technical reports, monitoring summaries, and trend analyses to elected officials, agency partners, and the public; translate complex scientific data into clear, actionable recommendations.
  • Implement and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), field safety protocols, and training programs for staff and contractors involved in sampling, inspections, and maintenance activities.
  • Serve as the primary liaison with state environmental agencies, regional water boards, local health departments, utilities, and interagency working groups to coordinate watershed planning, emergency response, and regional water quality initiatives.
  • Supervise, mentor, and schedule field staff and seasonal technicians; assign tasks, conduct performance evaluations, and manage training to maintain high safety and technical standards.
  • Oversee contract administration for consultants and contractors engaged in water monitoring, modeling, construction, and maintenance projects; track deliverables, change orders, and invoices to ensure contractual compliance.
  • Use hydrologic and hydraulic modeling outputs to inform capital project prioritization, floodplain management, and stormwater retrofit selection; coordinate with engineers to interpret model results for permitting and design.
  • Manage SCADA and telemetry systems for pump stations and water control structures when applicable; coordinate maintenance and upgrades with IT and operations teams to ensure reliable remote monitoring.
  • Coordinate emergency response and preparedness activities related to flooding, contamination events, or infrastructure failures; activate response protocols, document actions, and conduct after‑action reviews to improve resilience.
  • Lead implementation of monitoring technology and data management systems (cloud databases, LIMS, CMMS) to improve data accessibility, reporting efficiency, and decision‑making.
  • Prepare and manage program budgets, track expenditures, forecast resource needs, and recommend cost‑effective solutions to maximize public investment in water infrastructure.
  • Review development proposals, site plans, and construction permits to ensure stormwater controls meet municipal standards; provide plan review comments and conditions of approval to reduce future maintenance liability.
  • Coordinate water quality and quantity data sharing with researchers, consultants, and regional partners; support collaborative studies and pilot projects to advance innovative practices.
  • Investigate citizen complaints related to water quality, drainage, or flooding; perform site visits, document findings, recommend solutions, and follow up to ensure satisfactory resolution.
  • Maintain accurate records, prepare regulatory submittals (annual reports, monitoring results), and archive documents in accordance with retention policies and audit requirements.
  • Advise senior management on policy implications, capital needs, and regulatory trends in water resources management; draft briefing memos and recommend strategic initiatives for long‑term resilience.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad‑hoc monitoring and data analysis requests from internal departments, consultants, and agency partners; synthesize information into concise technical summaries.
  • Contribute to the organization's water data strategy, including metadata standards, data governance, and integration of monitoring datasets for predictive analytics and reporting.
  • Collaborate with planning, public works, parks, and emergency management teams to translate program needs into project scopes and operational requirements.
  • Participate in municipal planning meetings, design review boards, and community forums to represent water program interests and provide technical input.
  • Assist in developing procurement specifications and participate in vendor evaluations for laboratory services, monitoring equipment, and construction contractors.
  • Support continuous improvement initiatives by documenting lessons learned, updating SOPs, and recommending process enhancements to increase program efficiency and transparency.
  • Coordinate training exercises and tabletop scenarios for emergency response, including coordination with first responders and neighboring jurisdictions.
  • Maintain relationships with local universities and research institutions to explore applied research opportunities, student internships, and volunteer monitoring programs.
  • Track emerging technologies and best practices in stormwater treatment, nutrient reduction, and green infrastructure; pilot innovative solutions on a small scale and evaluate outcomes.
  • Support grant closeout activities, including final reporting, financial reconciliation, and documentation of project outcomes for funders.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Water quality monitoring and field sampling techniques (surface water, groundwater, stormwater) with rigorous chain‑of‑custody and QA/QC experience.
  • Regulatory compliance expertise: NPDES, Clean Water Act requirements, MS4 program administration, SPDES (or state equivalent), and permit writing/submittal.
  • Illicit discharge detection and elimination (IDDE) program management and enforcement procedures.
  • GIS mapping and spatial analysis (ArcGIS, QGIS) for asset inventories, watershed delineation, and site planning.
  • Hydrologic and hydraulic principles and familiarity with HEC‑HMS, HEC‑RAS, SWMM, or equivalent modeling tools.
  • Stormwater BMP design principles, low‑impact development (LID), and green infrastructure implementation.
  • Laboratory coordination and interpretation of analytical results (metals, nutrients, bacteria, TSS) and basic familiarity with LIMS systems.
  • Contract and grant administration, including proposal writing, budgeting, and compliance reporting.
  • Asset management and CMMS experience for tracking maintenance, work orders, and lifecycle planning.
  • SCADA/telemetry basics and experience interfacing with operations teams to monitor pump stations and control structures.
  • Data analysis and visualization skills (Excel advanced, Tableau, Power BI); comfort with data cleaning and trend analysis.
  • Construction inspection experience for erosion control, sediment BMPs, and stormwater system installation.
  • Knowledge of health and safety practices for field teams, confined space, and PPE requirements.

Soft Skills

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills — able to prepare clear technical reports, regulatory submittals, and public outreach materials.
  • Stakeholder engagement and community outreach — experience facilitating meetings and building consensus among diverse groups.
  • Project management and organizational skills — ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and meet regulatory deadlines.
  • Problem solving and critical thinking — ability to diagnose field problems and recommend practical, cost‑effective solutions.
  • Leadership and supervisory capability — hiring, training, and mentoring field and technical staff.
  • Attention to detail and quality assurance mindset for data integrity and compliance documentation.
  • Adaptability and resilience — ability to manage emergency responses and changing regulatory landscapes.
  • Negotiation and contract oversight skills for working with vendors and consultants.
  • Customer service orientation for responding to citizen concerns and municipal stakeholders.
  • Collaborative team player — able to work across departments and with external partners.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Civil/Water Resources Engineering, Hydrology, Environmental Engineering, Natural Resources Management, or a closely related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's degree in Water Resources, Environmental Science, Civil Engineering, Public Administration with environmental focus, or related advanced degree; or professional certifications (e.g., Certified Stormwater Inspector, CWS, ENV SP).

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Environmental Science
  • Civil or Environmental Engineering
  • Hydrology / Hydrogeology
  • Natural Resources Management
  • Public Administration with environmental emphasis

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3 – 7 years of progressive experience in water resources, stormwater program management, or environmental compliance.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years of direct experience managing municipal or regional water programs, including demonstrated experience with NPDES/MS4 compliance, monitoring program design, grant administration, and supervising field teams.
  • Experience with GIS, hydrologic/hydraulic modeling, and asset management systems is strongly preferred.
  • Prior experience in public sector or municipal government processes, public outreach, and interagency coordination is a plus.
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