Water Resources Senior Technical Leader

Woodard & Curran is an employee-owned engineering, science, and operations firm dedicated to clean water, a safe environment, healthy communities, and happy people. We foster an inclusive, collaborative culture that supports professional growth, flexibility, and meaningful work, empowering our employees to make a lasting impact on our clients, communities, and the planet.

Water Resources Senior Technical Leader

Woodard & Curran is a national engineering, science, and operations firm with a vision for clean water, a safe environment, healthy communities, and happy people. As an employee-owned company, we strive to cultivate teams that encourage collaboration in an inclusive culture. We seek talented individuals from all backgrounds to help us address a broad range of water and environmental issues. We prioritize our people, offering opportunities for professional growth, ownership, and flexibility. This commitment enables us to make a meaningful impact on our clients, communities, and the planet.

Who we are looking for:

At Woodard & Curran, we love a complex water management challenge. We handle a wide range of water and environmental issues, solving problems with creativity and tenacity to make a difference to our clients, people, and planet. Our company was founded on a simple concept: to provide a safe and enjoyable place to work, with opportunities, integrity, and commitment, and we will attract talented people. Those people are at the heart of our firm. 

We are seeking an experienced professional to grow our Integrated Water Resources Planning Practice. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing, implementing, and managing water resources and watershed resiliency projects. This role will evaluate and lead clients through complex water resources challenges, including watershed management, natural resource management, groundwater sustainability, and programmatic funding, among other areas.  

What You Will Be Doing at Woodard & Curran:

We believe that our ability to grow and succeed as a firm is a direct function of the technical expertise we develop and the client and business partnerships we cultivate.  As such, the Senior Technical Leader is responsible for keeping technical proficiency and innovative project delivery at the forefront of client and business relationships. This position is highly visible inside and outside the firm.  You will be responsible for overseeing integrated water resources planning projects in California and across the country. This includes providing technical expertise in integrated planning, fostering relationships with clients and regulatory agencies, supervising project teams, preparing/reviewing reports and proposals, staying current on emerging state and federal regulations, and representing the company in industry and professional organizations.

Location: Where you work best. We have California Offices in Sacramento, San Francisco, Walnut Creek, Los Angeles, Irvine, San Diego, and numerous other states across the US and flexible work arrangements including remote or hybrid options (Hybrid 1 -2 days a week in office or on site with clients).

Travel: Up to 20% of time with clients in CA.  Occasional travel within the US to support national Practice strategic initiatives and attend market events (conferences, etc.).

Projects may include

• Integrated/regional water resources planning projects
• Watershed resiliency projects
• Water supply planning/strategy
• SGMA implementation & recharge planning projects
• Strategic funding initiatives
• Outreach & facilitation

What you will be doing at Woodard & Curran:

• Act as a technical lead for key projects, including substantial interaction related to scoping and delivery of technical tasks.
• Develop and maintain relationships with clients and regulatory agencies.
• Provide technical expertise on water resources and integrated planning projects, and resource agency permit engagement/applications.
• Support project teams, including supervision of planners, engineers, scientists, and other professionals.
• Prepare or review technical reports and proposals for clients.
• Represent the company in industry and professional organizations.
• Stay current on emerging regulatory developments that impact water resources and infrastructure planning.
• Collaborate with Market Leaders on Practice strategic growth opportunities, marketing approach, technical direction, quality controls, and innovation.
• Support Project Managers & Technical Managers for completion of technical tasks to scope, schedule, and budget.
• Support the Technical Manager by providing strategic advice and technical leadership on projects.
• Responsible for overall technical content and quality of project deliverables.
• Responsible for directing complex engineering or scientific work for clients.
• Foster and maintain one-on-one relationships with key external clients & internal technical teams.
• Prepare and deliver presentations to internal and/or external clients.
• Identify business needs to support strategic growth opportunities.
• Work with the marketing team to develop and maintain marketing materials for the water resources and integrated planning market.

Business Development Marketing

• Drive positioning of the firm as a leader in the water resources marketplace by participating in client engagement with a collaborative team.
• Partner with the Business Development team to grow business with target clients and in emerging geographic markets. 
• Provide leadership in the coordination of the Practice’s participation in conferences.  Prepare abstracts and present at targeted conferences to maintain reputation as a leader in the Practice and to assist in enhancing W&C’s brand.
• Increase W&C visibility through prioritization of active participation and leadership in professional organizations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of 15 years related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience in the execution and management in the marketplace.
• Bachelor's degree in environmental science, civil engineering, or a related field from an accredited program. MS preferred.

• Broad experience in the environmental and engineering consulting business, including experience in project management and technical project execution.

• Demonstrated track record of extensive project/program management.
• Experience identifying, leading, and participating in business development and bid and proposal efforts.
• Strong desire to grow an organization through internal mentorship and external engagement and the ability to motivate others.
• Network of potential clients and professional teaming partners, specialty sub-consultants, and industry experts; excellent reputation within the industry.
• Understanding of the business development cycle explicitly related to the consulting business, including campaign management, proposal writing, and development of oral interview strategy and materials.

• Industry leader with proven ability to understand and articulate issues that impact the success of our technical practice.