Torchora
Back to Home

Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Water Quality Consultant

💰 $60,000 - $115,000

EnvironmentalWater ResourcesConsultingScience

🎯 Role Definition

The Water Quality Consultant provides technical leadership and hands-on execution for water quality monitoring, assessment, and compliance projects. This role combines field sampling, laboratory coordination, data analysis, regulatory interpretation (NPDES, TMDL, Clean Water Act), report preparation, and client communication. The consultant will design monitoring programs, prepare Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs), manage project budgets and schedules, and present findings to clients, agencies, and stakeholders. This position is ideal for professionals who are skilled in EPA-approved methods, have strong QA/QC discipline, and can translate complex environmental data into clear, defensible recommendations.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Water Quality Technician / Field Technician
  • Environmental Scientist I
  • Laboratory Analyst

Advancement To:

  • Senior Water Quality Consultant
  • Project Manager / Technical Lead
  • Principal Environmental Scientist or Practice Lead

Lateral Moves:

  • Regulatory Affairs Specialist (permitting and compliance)
  • Hydrologist or Surface Water Modeler
  • Environmental Planner or Stormwater Program Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Design, implement, and oversee comprehensive water quality monitoring programs (surface water, groundwater, stormwater, industrial discharge) including site selection, sampling frequency, analyte lists, and QA/QC protocols to meet regulatory and client objectives.
  • Conduct field sampling using EPA and state-approved methods (grab and composite sampling), install/maintain automated samplers, flow meters, and in-situ sensors (DO, pH, conductivity, turbidity) and ensure correct chain-of-custody procedures.
  • Prepare and maintain Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and Health & Safety Plans tailored to project scope, regulatory requirements, and laboratory capabilities.
  • Coordinate sample logistics, subcontract laboratory selection, review laboratory SOPs, track sample shipments, and ensure timely receipt of accurate laboratory analytical data according to project QA/QC criteria.
  • Perform rigorous data validation and QA/QC review (holding times, detection limits, blanks, duplicates, spikes) and document data qualifiers, corrective actions, and data usability for decision-making and regulatory submittals.
  • Analyze water quality datasets using statistical techniques, trend analysis, load calculations, and visualization tools; prepare tables, charts, and maps that clearly communicate results and uncertainties to clients and regulators.
  • Prepare technically robust reports, technical memoranda, permit applications, and regulatory deliverables (NPDES self-monitoring reports, TMDL support documents) that meet agency formats and deadlines.
  • Provide regulatory support and consultation for NPDES permitting, stormwater management plans (SWMP), best management practices (BMPs), anti-degradation reviews, and TMDL development and implementation.
  • Develop and calibrate hydrologic and water quality models (e.g., SWMM, HSPF, QUAL2K, WASP, EFDC) to estimate pollutant loads, simulate BMP performance, and support permit limits and compliance strategies.
  • Lead client-facing activities including scoping meetings, proposal development, budget estimates, and progress presentations; translate technical findings into practical, cost-effective recommendations and implementation plans.
  • Manage multiple projects simultaneously, maintaining project schedules, scopes, and budgets; prepare invoices, track consultant and subcontractor deliverables, and ensure contractual compliance.
  • Conduct field reconnaissance and permitting support for sampling access, coordinate with landowners and agency staff, and obtain necessary access agreements and sampling permits.
  • Design and oversee effectiveness monitoring for stormwater BMP retrofits, watershed restoration projects, and source control programs; measure performance against project success criteria and adaptive management triggers.
  • Provide expert testimony and technical support during regulatory negotiations, public meetings, and enforcement actions by preparing clear summaries and defensible scientific evidence.
  • Supervise and mentor junior staff and field crews: assign tasks, provide training in sampling techniques and safety protocols, review field logs, and ensure high standards of data integrity and field safety.
  • Maintain and service field instrumentation (multi-parameter sondes, flow meters, autosamplers) including calibration, troubleshooting, and record-keeping to ensure data accuracy and continuous operation.
  • Implement pollution prevention and source identification studies including illicit discharge detection and elimination (IDDE), dye tracing, microbial source tracking (MST), and targeted pollutant source investigations.
  • Prepare and manage grant applications and technical proposals to secure funding for monitoring, restoration, and research programs, including budget narratives, methodologies, and deliverables.
  • Develop and deliver training workshops and technical outreach materials for clients, municipal staff, and community stakeholders on monitoring techniques, permit compliance, and watershed stewardship.
  • Integrate GIS and remote sensing data to produce spatial analyses, watershed delineations, and pollutant source mapping that inform monitoring design and remediation strategies.
  • Support continuous improvement initiatives by updating QAPPs, SOPs, and internal procedures to incorporate new methods, technologies, and regulatory guidance.

Secondary Functions

  • Respond to ad-hoc technical and data requests from clients or regulators and perform exploratory data analysis to support rapid decision-making.
  • Contribute to the firm’s water quality strategy and technical roadmap by identifying new tools, analytical methods, and market opportunities.
  • Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams (ecologists, engineers, planners) to translate monitoring results into engineering solutions, restoration designs, and permit-ready reports.
  • Participate in project planning activities and agile-style internal reviews to optimize resource allocation and deliverable quality.
  • Assist business development by preparing scopes of work, cost estimates, and technical content for proposals and client pitches.
  • Maintain professional certifications and attend conferences to ensure the practice remains current with EPA methods, state regulations, and industry best practices.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Proficient in surface water and groundwater sampling techniques and EPA analytical methods (e.g., EPA 200.7, 200.8, 1106, 160.1, 365.4); strong chain-of-custody and sample handling experience.
  • Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) expertise including QAPP preparation, data validation, and corrective action documentation.
  • Practical experience with NPDES permitting, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs), TMDL development, and state water quality standards interpretation.
  • Hands-on experience with field instrumentation and sensors (multi-parameter sondes, YSI, Hach, turbidity meters, autosamplers) and routine calibration/maintenance procedures.
  • Competence in water quality data analysis using statistical packages and scripting languages (R, Python, MATLAB) and advanced Excel (pivot tables, macros).
  • Experience using GIS (ArcGIS, QGIS) for watershed delineation, spatial analysis, and map production.
  • Familiarity with hydrologic and water quality modeling tools (EPA SWMM, HSPF, QUAL2K, WASP, EFDC) for load estimation, BMP performance, and scenario analysis.
  • Strong technical writing skills to produce regulatory reports, technical memoranda, permits, and peer-review-ready documentation.
  • Laboratory coordination experience, including method selection, lab audits, sample log-in, and interpreting QA reports from accredited labs.
  • Project management skills: scope development, budgeting, schedule management, subcontractor oversight, and invoicing.
  • Experience with microbial water quality methods (fecal indicator bacteria testing, qPCR MST) is a plus.
  • Knowledge of stormwater BMP design principles and effectiveness monitoring frameworks.
  • Experience preparing and executing health & safety plans (HASP) for field operations.

Soft Skills

  • Excellent verbal and written communication; able to explain complex technical findings to non-technical stakeholders and regulatory audiences.
  • Client-focused mindset with strong consulting instincts and the ability to manage expectations and deliverables.
  • Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills; able to design monitoring approaches that answer specific management questions.
  • Attention to detail and commitment to data integrity and scientific rigor.
  • Leadership and mentoring ability to train and supervise field crews and junior staff.
  • Time management and organizational skills to balance multiple projects and deadlines.
  • Collaborative team player comfortable working across disciplines and with external partners and agencies.
  • Adaptability to field conditions and changing regulatory priorities.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Chemistry, Geology, Hydrology, or a closely related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master’s degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Hydrology, or related discipline preferred for senior roles.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Environmental Science
  • Environmental/Civil Engineering
  • Hydrology / Water Resources
  • Geology
  • Chemistry / Environmental Chemistry

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3–8 years of progressive experience in water quality monitoring, laboratory coordination, and regulatory support for environmental consulting or agency work.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years of consulting or agency experience with demonstrated project leadership, NPDES permitting experience, QAPP development, and client-facing responsibilities. Certifications (e.g., OSHA HAZWOPER, WQM certifications, professional engineer [PE] or certified environmental professional credentials) are a plus.
Explore More Careers