Groundwater & Water Resources Project Manager

About Us

We are an award-winning California-based environmental consulting firm with 600+ professionals and more than 30 years of diverse experience serving clients in transportation, energy, water, infrastructure, private development, and government sectors. Our mission is to deliver practical, science-based environmental and planning solutions that support communities, infrastructure, and natural systems. 

As a people-centric organization, we value collaboration, fairness, and transparency, and are committed to fostering a workplace that supports both personal and professional growth while offering robust career opportunities. We are especially proud of our recent certification, which reflects an independent assessment of our culture and our team-member experiences.

About The Role 

Rincon is seeking an experienced Project Manager, Groundwater & Water Resources to help lead our growing groundwater and water resources practice across California. We are especially interested in candidates who combine strong groundwater and water resources expertise with demonstrated project management and client leadership. California professional licensure, including California Professional Geologist (PG), Certified Engineering Geologist (CEG), or Certified Hydrogeologist (CHG) is preferred for candidates whose background is centered in geology or environmental engineering. 

This role will focus primarily on Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) planning and implementation, watershed resilience, nature-based and groundwater recharge solutions, water resources planning, and grant funding strategies that move water resource solutions from planning through implementation. The successful candidate will combine technical expertise with strong project management and client leadership skills, working alongside groundwater modelers, hydrologists, engineers, planners, environmental scientists, and other specialists. 

This position is well suited for a technical professional ready to take greater ownership of projects and client relationships while continuing to deepen their expertise in groundwater sustainability and integrated water resources management.

How We Collaborate 

This role may offer a hybrid work setup, blending time in the office with remote work as business needs evolve. We enjoy coming together in person to collaborate, connect with teammates, and partner with clients, and may prioritize candidates who live within 50 miles of a Rincon office.

Eligible office locations for this role include Carlsbad, Fresno, Los Angeles, Monterey, Oakland, Palm Springs, Riverside, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, San Jose, Santa Barbara, and Ventura.

What You’ll Do 

• Lead and manage SGMA planning and implementation, including Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) and Alternatives, annual reports, periodic evaluations, monitoring programs, evaluation of sustainable management criteria, groundwater projects and management actions, and adaptive management strategies. 
• Evaluate complex groundwater and water resource conditions using hydrogeologic, hydrologic, water quality, land use, and climate information, including groundwater levels and storage, water budgets, groundwater-surface water interactions, groundwater dependent ecosystems, and basin sustainability issues. 
• Lead or support watershed resilience and climate adaptation efforts, integrating groundwater, surface water, water supply, land use, climate vulnerability, and other technical information to develop practical long-term resilience strategies. 
• Evaluate and advance nature-based and groundwater sustainability solutions, including managed aquifer recharge, groundwater recharge, stormwater capture, watershed restoration, green infrastructure, and related water infrastructure, working with multidisciplinary technical teams to assess feasibility, benefits, constraints, and implementation considerations. 
• Lead development of grant applications and funding strategies for groundwater sustainability, watershed resilience, recharge, water supply, and other water resource projects, helping clients align technically sound projects with available funding and move priority projects toward implementation. 
• Direct and integrate technical work performed by multidisciplinary teams, including groundwater modelers, hydrologists, engineers, geologists, environmental scientists, GIS professionals, and other specialists; review technical analyses and work products for quality, consistency, and defensibility. 
• Lead development and QA/QC of complex, multidisciplinary water resources planning documents, including Urban Water Management Plans, Water Shortage Contingency Plans, water supply and recycled water feasibility studies, watershed management plans, technical memoranda, and funding applications. 
• Lead development of water supply and demand forecasting models using excel-based decision-support tools, addressing water demand factors, passive and active conservation savings, climate change impacts on water use and supply availability, wastewater and return flow generation, and recycled water/non-potable connections.
• Manage projects and client relationships, including scopes, budgets, schedules, contracts, subcontractors, deliverables, meetings, and multidisciplinary project teams across multiple concurrent assignments. 
• Lead planning and facilitation of community and governing body engagement related to water resources projects, including e-blasts, social media posts, presentations, resolutions and staff reports, posters, interview/input sessions, surveys, and summaries of engagement efforts.
• Communicate complex technical information clearly through technical reports and memoranda, presentations, workshops, public meetings, and discussions with Groundwater Sustainability Agencies, water districts, municipalities, state agencies, stakeholders, and other clients. 
• Support proposals, client development, and other business development efforts while mentoring and developing early- and mid-career water resources professionals. 

What You’ll Bring 

• Bachelor’s degree in Geology, Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Geological Engineering, Civil or Environmental Engineering, Water Resources, or a closely related technical field. 
• Five or more years of relevant professional experience in groundwater, hydrogeology, hydrology, water resources, SGMA planning and implementation, watershed management, or related technical consulting. 
• Demonstrated technical understanding of groundwater systems and hydrogeologic principles, with the ability to interpret and critically evaluate groundwater, hydrologic, water quality, and other water resource data. 
• Experience with SGMA or technically comparable groundwater management work, including GSP implementation, groundwater assessments, monitoring, water budgets, sustainability evaluations, or projects and management actions. 
• Experience managing projects, including scopes, schedules, budgets, technical teams, deliverables, and client communications. 
• Ability to understand and work effectively with groundwater models, water budgets, and other technical analyses and modeling outputs, even if numerical modeling is not the candidate's primary specialty. 
• Strong technical writing, QA/QC, presentation, and communication skills. 
• Experience working directly with public agencies, water agencies, or other water resource clients. 
• Working knowledge of California groundwater and water resource regulations and programs. 
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and work effectively across technical disciplines. 
• Valid driver's license with a clean driving record and willingness to travel and participate in field activities as project needs require. 

Nice to Have

• Certified Hydrogeologist (CHG) or Certified Engineering Geologist (CEG). 
• Master's degree in Geology, Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Geological Engineering, Water Resources, or a closely related technical discipline. 
• Significant experience implementing SGMA, including GSPs or Alternatives, annual reports, periodic evaluations, sustainable management criteria, water budgets, monitoring networks, or projects and management actions. 
• Experience interpreting groundwater model results and working directly with modelers on model development, calibration, scenarios, water budgets, or decision-support analyses. 
• Experience evaluating groundwater-surface water interactions, managed aquifer recharge, subsidence, groundwater dependent ecosystems, water quality, or other SGMA sustainability issues. 
• Experience developing and implementing monitoring programs, field investigations, or hydrogeologic studies. 
• Experience with GIS, groundwater databases, hydrologic or groundwater modeling tools, or other technical analytical platforms. 
• Experience developing successful grant applications or funding strategies for groundwater, watershed, climate resilience, or water infrastructure projects. 
• Experience developing water supply and demand forecast models to support long-range water resources planning efforts. 
• Demonstrated experience leading client meetings, workshops, technical discussions, and public or stakeholder presentations. 
• Experience developing scopes and budgets, preparing proposals, supporting business development, and developing long-term client relationships. 
• Experience mentoring geologists, hydrologists, scientists, engineers, or other technical professionals. 

Investing in You 

The base salary range for this full-time position is $100,000-$125,000 , plus a generous benefits program. Salary ranges are based on the market median of similar jobs, according to third-party salary benchmark surveys. Base pay is determined based on internal equity and a candidate’s job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. 

We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Package designed to support employee well-being, growth, and financial security. Our benefits are designed to offer flexibility and choice, including health coverage options, employer-sponsored insurance, retirement benefits, generous time off, and programs that support learning, growth, and community engagement. 

Explore more about our culture, benefits, and life at Rincon on our

Additional Employment Information 

Individuals offered employment must successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening as a condition of employment. Additionally, those hired who may be assigned to federal projects will be subject to further drug testing, including screening for cannabinoids (THC/marijuana), in compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and other applicable federal regulations, which take precedence over California state and local laws. 

 

Rincon Consultants does not accept unsolicited applicant/candidate resumes from search firm recruiters and/or temporary agencies that do not have a signed contract and specified work order with Rincon Consultants. Further, such resumes received will be deemed the sole property of Rincon Consultants and no fees will be paid in the event Rincon Consultants subsequently hires such individual. Rincon Consultants is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.