Water Resources Planner / Project Manager

About Us  
We are an award-winning California-based environmental consulting firm with 550+ 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  Great Place to Work®  certification, which reflects an independent assessment of our culture and our team member experiences. 

About The Role  
We are looking for an emerging leader in Water Resources Planning  who's ready to make a real impact on groundwater sustainability, watershed resilience, urban land-use planning, and long-term water security across the state. We are specifically seeking a geologist, hydrologist, hydrogeologist, environmental engineer, or professional with a similar degree  who has a passion for groundwater, surface water, data-driven water planning, and climate-resilient solutions.

As a Water Resources Planner / Program Manager, you'll lead and support projects that help communities and agencies understand, protect, and sustainably manage their water resources. You'll collaborate closely with technical experts, project teams, and water agencies to drive innovative solutions and deliver high-quality work.

This is a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment where your analytical skills, curiosity, and big-picture thinking will shine! You'll take ownership of projects, build strong client relationships, and help expand Rincon's growing water resources practice across California.

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/or Ventura. (Please note: While this role's location is listed as San Diego, we encourage you to apply if you reside in or near any of the CA locations listed above.)

What You’ll Do  

Groundwater & SGMA -

• Develop and implement SGMA-related planning for entities responsible for the implementation of SGMA.
• Prepare updates, technical memoranda, monitoring reports, and periodic evaluations. 
• Analyze groundwater conditions, interconnected surface water effects, groundwater dependent ecosystems, and basin-level climate vulnerabilities. 
• Support sustainable management criteria, project evaluation, and adaptive management strategies. 

Watershed & Climate Resilience -

• Lead watershed resilience assessments and hydrologic analyses. 
• Forecast water supply conditions using hydrogeologic, climatic, and land-use datasets 
• Evaluate climate adaptation strategies for integrated water systems 

Urban & Agricultural Water Management -

• Prepare Urban Water Management Plans (UWMPs) and Agricultura Water Management Plans (AWMPs) 
• Analyze water demand, supply reliability, conservation programs, and drought response planning 

Water Quality & Water Supply Planning -

• Conduct water quality assessments and support water supply improvement strategies 
• Work with interdisciplinary teams on water infrastructure, recharge, conveyance, and storage planning 

Project Leadership & Delivery -

• Manage project scopes, schedules, budgets, and deliverables across multiple concurrent projects   
• Collaborate with internal technical teams to ensure accuracy, innovation, and compliance   
• Prepare water supply studies and water management plans, including analysis of drought and climate change impacts on water supplies and systems  
• Communicate findings through clear, compelling technical reports, presentations, and client meetings 
• Stay up-to-date on state and federal regulatory requirements affecting water planning  
• Work closely with Rincon Principal(s) and Directors to promote our business interests in adherence with the company’s mission, vision, and values  
• Perform other duties as assigned by your supervisor(s)  

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Geology, Hydrology, Hydrogeology, Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Water Resources Management, or closely related field  
• ​​​​​​​Four or more years of experience in water resources planning, groundwater management, hydrologic analyses, environmental planning, SGMA, watershed-scale water management strategies, and others  
• Hands-on experience in SGMA-related projects, groundwater plan implementation, groundwater data evaluation, or hydrogeologic assessments 
• Hand-on experience in developing all or portions of UWMPs or AWMPs 
• Demonstrate ability to prepare technical analyses, memoranda, staff reports, or water-planning deliverables 
• Working knowledge of California’s water regulations 
• Strong analytical skills with experience using data analysis tools and platforms 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts to diverse audiences 
• Proven ability to manage tasks, deadlines, and deliverables across multiple concurrent projects 
• Valid driver’s license with clean driving record 
• Five to 10 years of experience specifically in California water resources planning, with a significant portion dedicated to SGMA, Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) or Alternative Plan development, Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) support, UWMP or watershed resilience plans 
• ​​​​​​​Familiarity with groundwater models, watershed models, or related analytical tools in either developing or comfortable working with modeling outputs 
• Experience working directly with GSAs, water districts, municipalities, resource agencies, and other local governments 
• Experience leading client meetings, workshops, or public-facing presentations 
• Understanding of climate adaptation, water budget development, integrated water management, and water-policy frameworks in California 
• Proficiency in GIS, Python, or other data/visualization tools 
• Project management experience, including scoping, budgeting, and team coordination 
• Current professional licenses (i.e., Professional Geologist, Certified Hydrogeologist, Civil Professional Engineer (PE), Environmental PE, Certified Engineering Geologist) 

Investing In You  
The base salary range for this full-time position is $100,000–$126,000, 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  Culture and Benefits page . 

 

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. 

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Rincon Consultants, Inc 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.