Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Water Resource Supervisor

🎯 Role Definition

The Water Resource Supervisor leads day-to-day operations, planning, and technical execution of municipal, regional, or utility-based water resource programs. This role supervises field crews and engineers, manages water quality and watershed programs, ensures regulatory compliance (NPDES, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act), coordinates capital projects and maintenance, and serves as the technical liaison with state and federal agencies, consultants, contractors, and the public. The ideal candidate blends applied hydrology, asset management, regulatory knowledge, and people leadership to maintain reliable and compliant water systems while advancing long-term resilience and sustainability goals.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Water Resources Technician / Field Technician
Civil or Environmental Engineer (junior/associate)
Environmental Scientist / Hydrologist

Advancement To:

Water Resources Manager
Director of Utilities / Public Works
County/Regional Floodplain Manager

Lateral Moves:

Stormwater Program Manager
Watershed Coordinator / Environmental Compliance Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead, assign, and supervise a multi-disciplinary team of field technicians, operators, engineers, and inspectors to deliver water resource programs, ensuring safety, quality, and timely completion of work.
Develop, implement and update watershed management plans, floodplain management strategies, stormwater masterplans, and integrated water resource plans that align with long-term municipal or regional goals.
Manage regulatory compliance programs including NPDES permit administration, Clean Water Act reporting, drinking water regulations, groundwater withdrawal permits, and water quality standards compliance; prepare and submit required regulatory reports.
Design, oversee, and approve hydrologic and hydraulic analyses (e.g., HEC-RAS, SWMM) for flood risk assessments, channel modifications, detention/retention design, and capital project scoping.
Direct water quality monitoring programs: sampling design, QA/QC, chain-of-custody, coordination with certified laboratories, data validation, trend analysis, and corrective actions.
Administer and prioritize capital improvement projects (CIP) from concept through construction closeout, including scope definition, technical specifications, bid processes, contractor management, and project deliverables.
Prepare, manage and forecast operating budgets, CIP budgets, and grant-funded project budgets; monitor expenditures, track cost variances, and recommend cost-saving measures.
Write, manage and report on grants and external funding applications (state, federal, and foundation grants); ensure compliance with funding requirements and performance metrics.
Oversee maintenance, inspection, and rehabilitation programs for water infrastructure such as canals, pump stations, levees, culverts, stormwater basins, and erosion control structures; implement preventive maintenance and asset lifecycle planning.
Ensure effective operation and maintenance of telemetry and SCADA systems for remote monitoring and control of pumps, gates, and valves; coordinate with IT/operations to resolve issues and implement upgrades.
Review private development and public works permit applications for stormwater impacts, on-site detention, erosion and sediment control, water availability, and enforce municipal codes and design standards.
Coordinate emergency response and incident management for flooding, drought, contamination events, or system failures; serve within ICS structure and liaise with emergency management, first responders, and water utilities.
Manage contracts and consultant performance for design, construction, environmental studies, and monitoring; negotiate scopes, review deliverables, and enforce contract terms and quality standards.
Lead stakeholder engagement, public outreach, community meetings, and inter-agency coordination to communicate project objectives, address concerns, and build consensus.
Conduct environmental review and permitting support (NEPA, CEQA, 401/404 coordination) including preparation of technical sections, mitigation plans, and monitoring protocols.
Develop and maintain GIS layers and spatial datasets for watershed boundaries, hydraulic features, infrastructure assets, water quality sampling points, land use, and modeling inputs.
Implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) for stormwater and watershed protection, providing technical guidance to operations and development partners on erosion control and low-impact development (LID).
Oversee water rights administration and allocation processes, including water accounting, diversion reporting, interagency coordination, and seasonal allocation planning during water shortages.
Prepare technical reports, memos, board packets, and presentations for elected officials, councils, and regulatory agencies that clearly explain technical findings, budgetary impacts, and recommended actions.
Establish and track performance metrics (KPIs) for operations, maintenance effectiveness, water quality outcomes, and permit compliance; use metrics to drive continuous improvement.
Provide technical review and field oversight for construction projects including daily construction inspections, RFI review, change order evaluation, and as-built documentation.
Mentor and train staff in safety procedures, sampling techniques, instrumentation use, data management, and regulatory requirements to build team capacity and succession planning.
Implement asset management systems and preventive maintenance schedules; maintain inventory control for parts, chemicals, and monitoring equipment.
Evaluate and implement new technologies, modeling tools, and data workflows (e.g., remote sensing, real-time monitoring, machine learning) to improve decision-making and operational efficiency.
Maintain positive working relationships with federal, state, and local regulatory agencies (EPA, USACE, state water boards), ensuring timely responses to audits, inspections, and technical inquiries.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
Assist with procurement processes for equipment, reagents, and professional services tied to water resource activities.
Provide on-call coverage on a rotating basis for urgent operational incidents and coordinate after-hours response teams.
Support policy development related to water efficiency, drought response, and environmental protection, and recommend updates to ordinances and technical standards.
Maintain training records, certifications, and ensure team members meet continuing education and licensing requirements.
Coordinate with GIS and data teams to publish interactive maps and dashboards for internal stakeholders and the public.
Contribute to cross-department initiatives such as sustainability, climate adaptation, and green infrastructure implementation.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Hydrology & Hydraulics Modeling — Proven experience performing and interpreting HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS, SWMM, or similar models for floodplain analysis, channel capacity studies, and stormwater system design.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) — Proficient with ArcGIS Pro, QGIS or equivalent for spatial analysis, asset mapping, watershed delineation, and map production.
SCADA, Telemetry & Instrumentation — Experience operating, troubleshooting, and specifying SCADA telemetry, RTUs, flow meters, and remote sensing equipment for real-time monitoring.
Water Quality Sampling & Laboratory Procedures — Familiarity with field sampling methods (grab, composite), QA/QC, chain-of-custody, and coordination with certified labs for parameters such as nutrients, bacteria, metals, and turbidity.
Regulatory Compliance & Permitting — Practical knowledge of NPDES permit requirements, Clean Water Act Section 404/401, SDWA, state water rights frameworks, and environmental permitting processes.
Project & Construction Management — Skilled in managing CIP delivery, contract administration, construction inspection, RFP/RFQ processes, and managing consultant/contractor deliverables.
Asset Management & Preventive Maintenance — Experience implementing CMMS or asset management approaches, condition assessments, lifecycle cost analysis and maintenance scheduling.
Data Analysis & Reporting — Strong MS Excel skills, experience with SQL, Tableau/Power BI, and familiarity with Python or R for data cleaning, statistical analysis, and automated reporting.
Budgeting & Grant Management — Experience preparing budgets, tracking expenses for operating and capital programs, and writing and managing state/federal grants.
Hydrologic Field Techniques — Experience with stream gauging, discharge measurements, groundwater monitoring, sediment sampling and field safety procedures.
Emergency Management & ICS — Familiarity with Incident Command System (ICS) roles, emergency response planning, flood/drought contingency operations and mutual aid coordination.
Technical Writing & Presentation — Ability to prepare technical reports, environmental assessments, board-level summaries and deliver clear presentations to diverse audiences.
Water Rights & Allocation — Understanding of surface and groundwater rights administration, accounting, and seasonal allocation strategies advantageous for utilities and regional programs.
Modeling & Decision Support Tools — Experience applying decision support and optimization tools for supply allocation, drought planning, and scenario modeling.

Soft Skills

Leadership & Team Development — Ability to coach and motivate multidisciplinary teams, set expectations, and build a high-performing culture.
Clear Communication — Translate technical concepts into plain language for elected officials, stakeholders, and the general public.
Stakeholder Engagement & Negotiation — Facilitate public meetings, manage conflicts, and negotiate interagency agreements and contracts.
Problem Solving & Critical Thinking — Diagnose complex operational or environmental problems and develop practical, cost-effective solutions.
Time Management & Prioritization — Manage multiple projects and emergency demands, balancing long-term planning with operational needs.
Attention to Detail & Quality Assurance — Maintain rigorous QA/QC standards for monitoring programs, modeling inputs, and regulatory submittals.
Decision Making Under Pressure — Make informed decisions during incidents and system disruptions while coordinating with partners.
Adaptability & Continuous Learning — Stay current with regulatory changes, emerging science, and evolving technologies in water resource management.
Collaboration & Cross-Functional Work — Work effectively across public works, engineering, planning, legal, and IT teams to deliver integrated solutions.
Public-Facing Diplomacy — Calmly handle contentious public inquiries and explain technical tradeoffs and constraints.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Hydrology, Water Resources, Geology, Natural Resources, or closely related field.

Preferred Education:

Master's degree in Water Resources, Hydrology, Environmental Engineering, or Public Administration with a focus on utilities or environmental management.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Civil / Environmental Engineering
Hydrology / Water Resources Science
Geology / Hydrogeology
Environmental Science / Watershed Management
Public Administration (utilities management)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5–10 years of progressive experience in water resources, stormwater, watershed management, or related public works operations, including at least 2–3 years in a lead or supervisory capacity.

Preferred:

7–12+ years of relevant experience with demonstrated supervisory responsibilities and project management of capital programs.
Experience working with state and federal permitting processes (e.g., NPDES, 401/404).
Hands-on field experience with water quality monitoring, SCADA/telemetry, and construction inspection.

Licenses & Certifications (Preferred/Relevant)

Professional Engineer (PE) license or ability to obtain within specified timeframe.
Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM)
State Water/Wastewater Operator Certification (if applicable)
Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent project management training
OSHA 10/30, confined space, trenching and shoring, CPR/first aid
Incident Command System (ICS) training (ICS-100/200/700/800 desirable)

Additional requirements: valid driver's license and availability for occasional after-hours emergency response.