Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Water Resource Director

🎯 Role Definition

The Water Resource Director provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for municipal or regional water resources programs, including stormwater, watershed management, floodplain and groundwater oversight, water quality monitoring, regulatory compliance, capital improvement planning, and community engagement. This senior management role drives long-range water resource planning, directs interdisciplinary teams and consultants, secures and manages grant and CIP funding, negotiates interagency agreements, and ensures compliance with federal, state, and local water quality and floodplain regulations (NPDES, Clean Water Act, FEMA/DM II/DFIRM processes). The ideal candidate combines technical expertise in hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, GIS, and asset management with strong fiscal stewardship, policy development experience, and the ability to translate complex science into actionable programs for elected officials, stakeholders, and the public.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Senior Water Resources or Stormwater Engineer
Watershed Program Manager / Watershed Planner
Public Works or Utilities Manager

Advancement To:

Director of Public Works
Deputy Public Works Director / Assistant City Manager
Chief Resilience Officer / Environmental Services Director

Lateral Moves:

Environmental Compliance Manager
Floodplain & Mitigation Manager
Water Quality Program Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, implement, and continuously update an integrated long-range water resources strategy covering stormwater, watershed restoration, floodplain management, groundwater protection, and water quality objectives aligned with community resilience and climate adaptation goals.
Lead and manage the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program and NPDES permit compliance, including permit renewals, monitoring plans, reporting, and implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs).
Oversee the development and execution of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for water resources projects, prioritize investments, prepare budget proposals, and manage multi-year funding strategies for infrastructure replacement and resilience projects.
Direct comprehensive flood risk assessments and modeling (HEC-RAS, SWMM, HEC-HMS) to inform design standards, floodplain mapping, levee and channel improvements, and FEMA elevation/map revisions.
Manage water quality monitoring programs, laboratory QA/QC, data interpretation, and reporting to regulatory agencies to ensure compliance with state water boards and the Clean Water Act.
Prepare, submit, and administer federal, state, and local grant applications (e.g., FEMA, EPA, state climate resilience funds) and manage awarded grants, ensuring scope, schedule, and budget compliance.
Supervise, mentor, and build high-performing multidisciplinary teams including engineers, hydrologists, scientists, inspectors, and administrative staff; lead recruitment, performance management, training and succession planning.
Oversee consultant selection, contract negotiation, scopes of work, and contract management to deliver engineering design, environmental studies, and construction management services.
Establish and enforce standards, policies, and procedures for stormwater design, erosion and sediment control, low-impact development (LID), green infrastructure, and watershed restoration projects.
Coordinate with planning, public works, utilities, transportation, and emergency management on land-use reviews, development plan checks, and infrastructure integration to minimize flood and water quality impacts.
Negotiate and execute interagency agreements with state agencies, neighboring jurisdictions, irrigation districts, and flood control districts to coordinate regional water resource programs and maintenance responsibilities.
Provide technical leadership for groundwater management plans, aquifer recharge projects, wellhead protection programs, and conjunctive use strategies to support long-term water supply reliability.
Lead emergency preparedness and response activities for flood events, storm incidents, dam failures, and other water-related emergencies; serve as an incident commander or technical advisor during activations.
Develop and present clear, data-driven briefings, technical reports, and visualizations for elected officials, boards, community stakeholders, and the public to build consensus and support for projects and policies.
Implement and maintain asset management systems for culverts, channels, detention facilities, pump stations, and conveyance infrastructure; prioritize maintenance, rehabilitation and replacement based on risk and lifecycle analysis.
Oversee integration and modernization of remote monitoring and control systems (SCADA) for flood control facilities and regional drainage infrastructure, including cybersecurity and vendor management.
Lead environmental permitting (NEPA, CEQA, state water quality certifications) and biological resource consultation efforts for projects, coordinating with resource agencies and mitigating project impacts.
Manage budget development, cost forecasting, revenue projections, fee studies, and user rate recommendations related to stormwater utilities and water resource programs.
Drive the adoption of data analytics, GIS, remote sensing, LiDAR and modeling tools to improve decision-making, performance metrics, and scenario planning for climate resilience and flood management.
Champion public engagement campaigns, community outreach, and education initiatives to increase awareness of flood risk, stormwater pollution prevention, and property-level resilience measures.
Establish performance measures and KPIs for program delivery, capital project outcomes, regulatory compliance, and customer service; report regularly to executive leadership and governing bodies.
Provide subject matter expertise on sustainable practices such as green infrastructure, low-impact development, natural channel design, riparian restoration and bank stabilization to advance ecological and community goals.
Advise on policy development and land-use ordinances (e.g., floodplain regulations, stormwater drainage standards, post-construction requirements) and represent the agency in legislative and regulatory forums.

Secondary Functions

Conduct technical reviews of private development plans and public works projects to ensure alignment with water resource policies and minimize downstream impacts.
Maintain and improve interdepartmental workflows to streamline plan check, permitting, and inspection processes for water resource-related projects.
Support procurement and vendor management for materials, specialized equipment, and consulting services, ensuring compliance with public contracting rules.
Facilitate training and certification programs for staff in floodplain management, NPDES permit administration, and safety protocols.
Monitor emerging regulations, standards, and best practices in stormwater and watershed management and recommend policy updates or pilot projects.
Assist in the preparation of agenda items, staff reports, and presentations for city/county councils, boards, and commissions.
Coordinate local and regional public education programs, volunteer restoration events, and partnerships with NGOs and academic institutions.
Serve as a technical reviewer for environmental impact analyses and provide recommendations for mitigation measures.
Support long-term data stewardship and open-data initiatives to make water resource data accessible and usable for planners, researchers, and the public.
Participate in professional associations, adopt demonstration projects, and pursue funding opportunities that advance the jurisdiction’s water resource priorities.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Water resources management and program leadership (stormwater, watershed, floodplain, groundwater)
Regulatory compliance: NPDES, Clean Water Act, state water boards, FEMA floodplain regulations
Hydrologic and hydraulic modeling (HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS, EPA SWMM)
Groundwater modeling and management (MODFLOW familiarity)
GIS and spatial analysis (ArcGIS, geoprocessing, LiDAR interpretation)
Stormwater design and green infrastructure / LID principles
Water quality monitoring and laboratory QA/QC procedures
Capital improvement planning (CIP), budget development, and fiscal management
Grant development, grant administration, and state/federal funding processes
Asset management systems (Cityworks, Lucity or equivalent)
SCADA systems oversight and vendor coordination
Environmental permitting and NEPA/CEQA process knowledge
Construction management and inspection of drainage infrastructure
Data analytics, remote sensing, and visualization tools for risk assessment
Contract negotiation, procurement, and consultant management
Floodplain mapping and FEMA CLOMR/LOMR processes
Risk and resilience planning, including climate adaptation strategies
Experience with CAD/Civil3D and stormwater modeling toolchains
Public communication tools and techniques for outreach and stakeholder engagement

Soft Skills

Strategic leadership and vision-setting for complex, cross-functional programs
Strong oral and written communication; ability to brief elected officials and the public
Stakeholder engagement and consensus-building with diverse partners
Political acumen and public sector governance experience
Project and program management with demonstrated prioritization skills
Problem solving, critical thinking, and technical judgment
Team development, coaching, and performance management
Negotiation and conflict resolution across agencies and community groups
Adaptability to changing regulatory and environmental conditions
Ethical decision-making and commitment to public accountability

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

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

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Water Resources Engineering, Civil Engineering, Hydrology, Environmental Science/Management, or Public Administration with a focus on infrastructure or environmental programs.
Professional Engineer (PE) license, Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM), or equivalent certifications strongly preferred.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Civil / Environmental Engineering
Hydrology / Water Resources Engineering
Geology / Hydrogeology
Environmental Science / Natural Resources Management
Public Administration / Public Policy (for leadership roles)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 8–15+ years of progressive experience in water resources, stormwater, floodplain, or related environmental programs.

Preferred:

10+ years of relevant technical experience and at least 5 years in a supervisory or management role directing multidisciplinary teams.
Demonstrated experience managing multi-million-dollar operating and capital budgets, securing and administering grants, and delivering large-scale infrastructure projects from planning through construction.
Proven track record of regulatory compliance, successful permit negotiations, and interagency collaboration.