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Water resource manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. Lincoln Larson Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical water resource manager skills. We ranked the top skills for water resource managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 22.3% of water resource manager resumes contained gis as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a water resource manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 water resource manager skills for your resume and career

1. GIS

A geographic information system (GIS) is a tool for capturing, storing, manipulating, analyzing, managing and presenting various forms of geographic data.

Here's how water resource managers use gis:

Flood Hazards assessment using Arc GIS and HEC-RAS and proposing adaptation measures and designing related structures such as Levees.
Researched, developed, and implemented a GIS program to aid with visual site assessments used agency wide.

2. Water Quality

Here's how water resource managers use water quality:

Developed first district-wide rules and regulations to protect and manage drinking water quality.
Conduct water quality sampling, train staff for sampling, analyze data.

3. Business Development

Business development is the ideas or initiatives that work to make business work better. Selling, advertising, product development, supply chain management, and vendor management are only a few of the divisions involved with it. There is still a lot of networking, negotiating, forming alliances, and trying to save money. The goals set for business development guide and coordinate with all of these various operations and sectors.

Here's how water resource managers use business development:

Developed market strategies and targeted business development efforts focused on large public agencies.
Achieved business development and work forecast of $300K (an increase of $50K/mo) in 2013.

4. Autocad

Here's how water resource managers use autocad:

Drafted construction plans using AutoCAD.
Updated U.S. Navy, Halifax cruiser modification Technical Manual (TM) using Microsoft Word, Visio, and basic AutoCAD.

5. Geotechnical

Here's how water resource managers use geotechnical:

Provided geotechnical review of proposed levee and habitat development projects.
Review, consult and work with reclamation district representatives or their contractors when performing field geotechnical studies and/or geophysical measurements.

6. Surface Water

Here's how water resource managers use surface water:

Surface water hydrologist tasked with building a water resources department.

7. Analyze Data

Analyze data or data analysis refers to the practice of studying, organizing, and transforming data to make it more useful. It also includes the cleansing of non-useful information which helps in better decision making regarding any particular matter. Analyze data is a practice that is used widely in the field of business, social sciences, and science.

Here's how water resource managers use analyze data:

Developed hydrologic/financial models to analyze data, establish resource utilization and energy optimization profiles.

8. Management Plans

Management plans are outlined objectives to complete for a specific project. This may include everything from assigning responsibilities to employees to timelines for individual objectives. Depending on the size of the project, management plans may include milestone objectives, which are smaller goals to reach within the project as a whole and may also have separate timelines.

Here's how water resource managers use management plans:

Completed comprehensive basin management plan.
Developed Aquatic Plant Management Plan for Clear Lake, California's largest natural lake.

9. Water Conservation

Here's how water resource managers use water conservation:

Created and managed water conservation and community outreach programs, including budgeting.
Provide regular reports to the department director, staff, and elected officials on water conservation activities and results.

10. NPDES

Here's how water resource managers use npdes:

Coordinated the County's NPDES program, permit and developed the associated Stormwater Management Plan.

11. Technical Guidance

Technical guidance refers to the various guidelines or resources in the form of handbooks, checklists, tools/toolkits, or surveillance protocols, that reflects the generally accepted technical practices necessary to meet a requirement.

Here's how water resource managers use technical guidance:

Reviewed, provided technical guidance, and approved regional marketing strategies.
Deliver leadership, direction and technical guidance to the junior staff.

12. Scour Analysis

Here's how water resource managers use scour analysis:

Created foundations construction drawings for Hydrologic-Hydraulic Studies and Scour Analysis for bridge construction and replacement.
Performed scour analysis for an existing bridge.

13. Water Management

Here's how water resource managers use water management:

Authored regional ground water management plan and received state approval after stringent review.
Revise, update and implement the district's groundwater management plan.

14. Engineering Services

Here's how water resource managers use engineering services:

Provided engineering services to municipal clients and served as a Water Resource Manager within the company.

15. Water Treatment Plant

Water treatment refers to the process of improving water quality in a way that it becomes appropriate for a specific use. The uses maybe industrial water supply, irrigation, drinking, water recreation or river flow maintenance. The water treatment process usually removes contamination from an undesirable component, if not completely then at least partially.

Here's how water resource managers use water treatment plant:

Designed, constructed and operated reverse osmosis waste water treatment plants associated with coal bed methane wells.
Maintain, repair and perform new installations on Water & Wastewater Treatment Plants, water lines and wastewater collection lines.

What skills help Water Resource Managers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What water resource manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Dr. Lincoln Larson Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Website

Natural resource management is an applied field, so gaining real-world experience is critical. Try out a few temporary jobs or internships to get a better sense of what you enjoy doing. Whether it's field work, analysis and reporting, outreach and engagement, or something else, you might not discover your strengths and preferences until you get your feet wet or get your boots muddy. Be flexible. Your dream job is unlikely to emerge right away, but gaining experience in a variety of places/contexts and building a professional network of connections will ultimately help you find it. Embrace the unexpected, as that's one of the most exciting and rewarding aspects of working outdoors.

Do you want to know more?

List of water resource manager skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a water resource manager resume and required skills for a water resource manager to have include:

GIS
Water Quality
Business Development
Autocad
Geotechnical
Surface Water
Analyze Data

Management Plans
Water Conservation
NPDES
Technical Guidance
Scour Analysis
Water Management
Engineering Services

Water Treatment Plant
Project Management
Army Corps
USACE
Oversight
County Board

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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