How to hire a water resource project manager

How to hire a water resource project manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step water resource project manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a water resource project manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new water resource project manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The water resource project manager hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a water resource project manager to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a water resource project manager that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of water resource project managers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Water Resource Project Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Water Resource Project Manager	Natural sciences managers supervise the work of scientists, including chemists, physicists, and biologists. They direct activities related to research and development, and coordinate activities such as testing, quality control, and production.	$32-55
   Project Director	A project director is a professional responsible for supervising workers from various departments given specific tasks to complete a given project. They create a budget to complete a job while monitoring the amount of money spent to ensure that overspending is avoided... Show more	$33-77
   Project Manager	Project managers oversee a specific project related to the organization's business. They manage the whole project from inception to evaluation... Show more	$30-62

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Water Resources
   • Business Development
   • GIS
   • HEC-RAS
   • Autocad
   • SWMM
   • Stormwater Management
   • Construction Management
   • Private Client
   • Scour Analysis
   • Federal Agencies
   • Project Management
   • Data Collection
   • Army Corps

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Perform problem resolution, cost recovery, manage inventory of network components, direct RFP process for procurement of telecommunications services.
   • Develop, organize and execute SDLC projects to improve safety, quality and/or productivity throughout several processes in a warehouse environment.
   • Supervise and coordinate installation of new telecommunication system in multiple buildings.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your water resource project manager job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A water resource project manager can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, water resource project managers' average salary in south dakota is 38% less than in nevada.
   • Seniority. Entry-level water resource project managers 42% less than senior-level water resource project managers.
   • Certifications. A water resource project manager with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a water resource project manager's salary.

   Average water resource project manager salary

   $88,678yearly

   $42.63 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level water resource project manager salary

   $67,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 31, 2026

4. Writing a water resource project manager job description

   A job description for a water resource project manager role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a water resource project manager job description:

   Water resource project manager job description example

   • Generous Benefits Package
   • Medical, Dental, Vision, Profit Sharing, 401K, and Life and Disability Insurance and Personal Leave
   • Company Events
   • Holiday Parties, Team Building Activities and Events and Alternative Work Schedule

   Qualifications

   Candidate will have a BSCE degree, California Registration as a Professional Civil Engineer, plus a minimum of five (5) years of experience in water resources engineering or the equivalent work experience of ten (10) years in this industry. Candidate must have a minimum of two (2) years project management experience including supervising a design team, overseeing the work of designers, drafters, and subconsultants.

   Required Technical Skills:

   Candidate’s technical experience must include proficiency with the following: Preparation of preliminary design and final design drainage studies, detention basin design, riverine hydraulic modeling, stream restoration, sediment transport modeling, floodplain mapping studies, FEMA compliance (including LOMCs), and Drainage Master Plan preparation. Candidate should also have proven proficiency with LID design principals, HMP Compliance, Water Quality modeling, BMP design, Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) programs, and complying with regulatory requirements of the RWQCB and the SWRCB.

   Must demonstrate good oral and written communication skills.

   Proficiency in the following software and modeling is desired:

   · SWMM

   · HEC-RAS (HEC-2)

   · ArcMAP v10+

   · HEC-HMS (HEC-1)

   · Geo-RAS/Geo-HMS

   · Microstation

   · LSPC/SUSTAIN

   · WSPGW

   · AutoCAD/Civil 3D

   Required Project Management Skills:

   Candidate for this position must demonstrate strong independent thought, decision-making abilities, and possess demonstrated leadership and supervisory skills. Candidate’s managerial experience shall also include the following :

   direct supervision of water resources design staff including personnel management, reviews, training, and QC review. Proven record of establishing and maintaining strong and positive working relationships with clients/public-agency personnel and in-house staff.

   Must have significant experience in preparation of contracts, fee proposals, and scopes of work, demonstrated experience with management of multiple coincident contracts, ongoing management of project schedules, budgets, and billing/collections, and significant successful experience in client and public agency interactions.

   Candidate’s experience should include the ability to respond to RFP’s/SOQ’s, prepare and deliver presentations, and participate in interviews for Public Works Projects.

   The Following Areas are a Plus:

   Recent professional experience specific to Central Coast California, Central Coast Post Construction Requirements (PCR’s), a MS in Civil Engineering or a related field, programming skills, and one or more of the following certifications: Certified Flood Plain Manager (CFM), LEED, ENV-SP, Project Management Professional (PMP), CPESC, QSD, QSP

   
   

   Rick Engineering Company is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right water resource project manager for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your water resource project manager job on Zippia to find and recruit water resource project manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with water resource project manager candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new water resource project manager

   Once you've selected the best water resource project manager candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new water resource project manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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