Groundwater Program Analyst

Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is a 100% employee‑owned environmental consulting firm that plans, designs, permits, mitigates, and restores projects across our communities, infrastructure systems, open spaces, and wildlands. With 21 offices across California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Southeast, we have 50 years of experience. Position Overview ESA seeks an early‑career Groundwater Program Analyst (2‑7 years experience in groundwater management) to join our Technology Services team. The role is hybrid and best suited for candidates located near Sacramento or another ESA California hub. Mandatory travel to client locations across California may occur up to a few times per month. Who You Are

• Early‑career water resources professional.
• Master’s degree in water resources, hydrology, environmental science or management, environmental policy, or relevant field OR 2–7 years experience in groundwater management in California.
• Solid foundation in California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), including groundwater allocations, demand management, sustainable yield, and reporting/compliance.
• Comfortable with data: proficiency in spreadsheets, data QA/QC, systems thinking, geospatial tools (QGIS or ArcGIS), and spatial data. Familiarity with SQL or Python is a plus.
• Strong communicator and relationship builder, able to explain technical concepts to non‑technical audiences and facilitate meetings, workshops, and trainings.
• Holds a master’s or bachelor’s degree and eligible to pass federal/state background checks.
• Coursework or certification in GIS is a plus.

What You Will Do for ESA As a Groundwater Program Analyst you will help groundwater agencies operate transparent, trustworthy water accounting programs on ESA’s Groundwater Accounting Platform (GAP). Responsibilities include: Configure groundwater management programs within GAP—establishing geographies, zones, management areas, water accounts, and measurement types such as evapotranspiration, precipitation, and metered extraction. Assemble, integrate, and perform QA/QC on data backing groundwater accounting, including third‑party meter and telemetry data, OpenET evapotranspiration data, self‑reported extraction, allocation records, and parcel spatial data. Prepare and process parcel and spatial data for parcel‑level accounting using GIS tools. Translate allocation rules, carry‑over and transfer provisions, true‑up procedures, and other demand‑management policies into platform configuration and accounting logic, documenting assumptions. Build and validate dashboards and reports that provide agencies and growers with clear views of usage, allocations, deadlines, and compliance status. Support development of data‑management strategies by analyzing current workflows, inventorying data sources and systems, and synthesizing pain points and dependencies. Prepare workshop materials, training guides, and platform demonstrations; facilitate stakeholder workshops, Technical Advisory Committee and Board meetings, grower training sessions, and the GAP user community. Draft sections of proposals, scopes of work, findings memos, and technical documentation that are clear, concise, and well‑supported. Grow toward independent ownership of program configuration and client/stakeholder support. What’s Special About Our Groundwater Accounting Platform Team Groundwater is a critical and stressed resource in California. Under SGMA, agencies are tasked with restoring basin balance. Our team builds and operates GAP—a transparent, open‑source system that helps agencies and growers track allocations, report pumping, manage demand, and administer programs defensibly. Working at the intersection of policy, data, and people, we collaborate with NGO partners, agency staff, advisory committees, boards, and growers, translating complex sustainability rules into usable tools. We also lead a nationwide community of practice to share best practices and continuously improve the platform. What’s Special About ESA Joining ESA means becoming part of a close‑knit team dedicated to environmental stewardship, resilient communities, and wild places. We share ownership, foster partnership, and celebrate diversity. Benefits Medical, dental, and vision insurance (70% paid for you and your family) Annual company‑share allocations through our ESOP 401(k) plan with company match Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays Tuition reimbursement, professional development bonuses, and conference attendance support Compensation Pay range: $86,000 — $105,000 USD (based on location, experience, and education). Who We Are ESA is a 100% employee‑owned firm that values diversity and inclusion, believing that varied backgrounds and perspectives lead to better solutions. All employees must provide proof of COVID‑19 vaccination status or an approved exemption if required by state law. Equal Opportunity Statement ESA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. (EOEM/V/F/D) #J-18808-Ljbffr Environmentalscienceassociates