Senior Program Manager, Water Efficiency and Reuse

Role Description

We are seeking a strategic Senior Program Manager within our Water Efficiency and Reuse focus area. This role will be responsible for leading high-impact, multi-year projects directly, as well as overseeing a portfolio of related efforts, including guiding and supporting teams who lead other projects within the portfolio. The position requires the ability to balance hands-on project execution with portfolio-level leadership ensuring alignment, quality, and impact across multiple workstreams.

The ideal candidate will bring deep technical expertise in water efficiency and reuse analysis and policy, combined with a strong understanding of how these strategies are practically implemented by utilities, communities, agencies, and large water users – including data centers and other large industries. The role requires an ability to translate technical information into real-world solutions.

The role calls for a strategic mindset to guide project selection and program activities, with a drive to identify innovative approaches and emerging opportunities to advance water efficiency and reuse. The Senior Program Manager will help shape the understanding of evolving strategies in the field and explore how existing strategies and approaches can be applied in new contexts and where new solutions are needed.

This position requires the ability to set and execute strategic directions. The Senior Program Manager will independently develop project and portfolio approaches, secure funding, manage budgets and teams, and deliver high-quality results on schedule and within budget. The role requires close engagement with technical work and research team members to ensure rigor and credibility with diverse audiences. This role includes direct managing responsibility for team members who lead individual projects within the portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of complex projects and multi-year initiatives.
• Oversee and coordinate a portfolio of related projects, ensuring alignment across workstreams, consistency in quality, and integration of outcomes.
• Develop, manage, and monitor complex project budgets, ensuring financial accountability and alignment with funder and organizational requirements.
• Translate strategic vision into actionable project plans, including defined scopes, milestones, and deliverables, to ensure effective execution of project and program objectives.
• Develop and manage project workflows and timelines to ensure delivery of high-quality outputs on schedule and on budget.
• Prepare and oversee high-quality project deliverables (reports, briefs, presentations), ensuring rigor and relevance for target audiences.
• Monitor project quality, cost, progress, and adjust scope, approach, or resourcing as needed to maintain delivery on objectives.
• Identify and advance innovative approaches, new applications, and emerging opportunities in water efficiency and reuse.
• Lead the collection, analysis, interpretation, and synthesis of quantitative and qualitative data from primary and secondary sources.
• Design and oversee research methodologies, literature reviews, landscape scans, and stakeholder interviews to inform projects.
• Develop and implement quality assurance and quality control protocols and processes to manage data quality, documentation, and integrity, ensuring reliable outputs.
• Translate research findings into actionable insights and recommendations for utility, agency, nonprofit, philanthropic, and private-sector audiences.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective project partners, stakeholders, and external collaborators.
• Communicate project results and insights with internal and external audiences through publications, presentations, and other channels.
• Represent the organization at conferences, meetings, and public forums to elevate visibility and influence.
• Expand the organization’s network by identifying new partnership and collaboration opportunities, particularly across utility, public agencies, and large industrial water users.
• Secure sustainable program funding through opportunity identification, proposal development, relationship management, and strategic outreach.
• Lead the development of competitive proposals and grant applications for foundations, corporations, and government funding sources.
• Manage relationships with funders, ensuring timely, accurate reporting and stewardship.
• Provide strategic guidance and oversight to team members leading individual projects within a broader portfolio.
• Hire, train, and mentor team members, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and learning.
• Lead and manage project teams to deliver within the time and budget available, setting clear expectations and resolving issues early.
• Align complex initiatives and team efforts with organizational strategic thinking and planning.
• Model inclusive leadership practices that contribute to a healthy, productive team environment.
• Support professional development and capacity building across team members, including setting clear expectations and providing regular, constructive feedback.

Qualifications

• Minimum 12 years of relevant professional experience advancing water efficiency, reuse, or closely related areas.
• Or an advanced degree in environmental or sustainability sciences, civil or environmental engineering, water resources, environmental economics, hydrology, or a closely related field with at least 10 years of equivalent experience.
• Extensive expertise in water efficiency and reuse, with specialized knowledge in at least one of the following: water-energy interdependencies or applied water economics.
• Working knowledge of water and wastewater utility operations, including practical, regulatory, and financial realities that shape implementation and decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to identify innovative solutions, emerging trends, or new applications in water efficiency, reuse, or related fields.
• Proven ability to lead complex, multi-stakeholder projects from design to delivery, meeting timelines and budgets.
• Proven ability to manage a portfolio of projects or programs, including coordinating across multiple workstreams and providing oversight to project leads.
• Proven success securing project funding from foundations, corporations, or government sources, including developing successful competitive proposals.
• Proven ability to build and maintain trust-based relationships with diverse partners, including utility leaders, nonprofits, and government agencies.
• Experience leading and managing teams to deliver high-quality results within scope, schedule, and budget.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret and synthesize research and data into strategic, actionable recommendations.
• Proficiency with relevant software tools for data analysis and visualization (e.g., Excel, R, Python, Power BI, Tableau).
• Excellent writing and editing skills for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong oral communication and presentation skills, with confidence engaging diverse stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Existing professional relationships with philanthropic, corporate, or government funders active in water, climate, or sustainability.
• Direct experience working within or alongside water or wastewater utilities and nonprofit organizations.
• Familiarity with local, state, and federal water policy landscapes in the United States.
• Experience working at the water-energy nexus on policy, planning, or research.
• Demonstrated experience working with frontline or historically underrepresented communities on water issues.

Benefits

• This position is eligible for paid vacation and benefits.
• The Pacific Institute offers an excellent compensation package, including a generous health, dental, and Institute-matched retirement plan.
• Competitive salary that is commensurate with experience and reflects the field.
• Hiring Range: $93,000 - $105,000 per year (if selected for an interview, a salary range within our hiring range that is specific to the candidates' geographic location will be shared).

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Pacific Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Diversity is a core value at Pacific Institute. We are dedicated to enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within our team and culture for two reasons:

• To stay true to our values and principles.
• To better achieve Pacific Institute's mission and vision.

To Apply

Please submit the following:

• A cover letter of no more than two pages, including your interest in the work of the Pacific Institute and specific fit for this position; a summary of your qualifications; the DEI statement described above.
• Your CV/Resume.
• A writing sample of up to five pages, excluding figures and tables, where you are the first or sole author.

No immigration or relocation assistance is available for this position. No phone calls, please. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

About our recruitment process

Here’s what you can expect:

• Application review
• Schedule a Phone Screen interview with the HR Manager
• Schedule a group interview with the Hiring Manager and Team
• Schedule a second group interview with the Hiring Manager and Team
• References
• Offer