Project Manager, Water Resources

WRA has been growing an interdisciplinary team of river restoration professionals including engineers, landscape architects, fluvial geomorphologists, ecologists, and hydrologists. Our projects range from large floodplain restoration to dam removal to urban stream rehabilitation across California. We are passionate about restoring riverine and coastal systems that support healthy and resilient natural and human communities. We are invested from start to finish in our projects with our expertise including site selection, topographic and bathymetric surveys, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, ecological assessments, biological surveys, drafting, design, project management, bidding and construction support, performance monitoring, and adaptive land management. As a team, we strive to make positive lasting changes to our natural landscapes where we both work and play. 

WRA has a diverse portfolio of projects with clients including decades-long private entities, public agencies, and non-profit organizations. In addition to our technical expertise, we help clients deliver on projects by developing grant proposals, preparing financial models, partnering with investors, and engaging stakeholders.

Our Riverscapes and Shorelines Team is actively seeking an experienced Project Manager who can bring their passion and expertise in water resources engineering to our dynamic group. Our ideal candidate has a passion for, and experience in, supporting and delivering projects across a broad spectrum of complexities with primary focuses on water resources, including riverine systems. 

The position location is flexible within the state of California. Fully remote within California or Oregon will be considered on a case by case basis. Active projects span the San Francisco Bay Area, Central Valley, Sierra foothills, and North and South coasts. In this role you will have the choice to work in person or remotely. Field site visits may be needed during design development and construction.

• Developing project work plans and scopes of work
• Providing project oversight and schedule monitoring
• Track and manage project budgets and invoicing
• Producing project deliverables including technical memoranda, design plans and specifications, and technical reports
• Administering quality assurance procedures for project deliverables
• Participating in various business development events and presenting at conferences
• Partnering across WRA teams and market segments to assist on multi-disciplinary project pursuits
• Collaborating with other senior staff to propose on and win work with existing and new clients 
• Participating in proposal presentations and project interviews
• Building upon our existing client base through routine contact and networking
• Maintaining effective communications with clients and project teams
• Technical reporting and presentations
• Construction observation and coordination with construction contractors
• Ensuring staff resources are deployed in a productive and profitable manner
• Conducting regular meetings to ensure that project needs are balanced with staff availability
• Assisting with strategic planning for the Riverscapes and Shorelines Team
• Leading and conducting river restoration-related design projects Training and mentoring staff with diverse skill sets and backgrounds
• Supervising, managing, directing and providing oversight of tasks and responsibilities for engineering staff and/or other technical support staff
• Mentoring and training engineering staff as needed

• A minimum of 6 years of professional experience
• A Bachelor’s degree in civil or environmental engineering, or related field with an emphasis in water resources, hydrology, or hydraulic engineering from an accredited university 
• A professional Civil Engineering license from the state of California or the ability to obtain within six months of hiring
• Familiarity with natural systems and a thorough understanding of river restoration
• Strong industry relationships and an understanding of municipal, state and federal criteria
• Significant experience and understanding of local, regional, state and federal policies, programs and procedures
• To be physically capable of walking on rough, sloped, terrain and licensed to drive for field visits and construction observations
• An eagerness to work collaboratively with coworkers who are mostly working remotely
• A valid driver’s license and reliable transportation (while WRA has fleet vehicles that can be reserved for field use, during busy field seasons a truck may not be available)

• Experience with FEMA Floodplain Development (CLOMR/LOMR) permitting; Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) certification a plus
• Graduate degree in engineering or physical sciences
• Organized and detail oriented with excellent interpersonal skills
• Exceptional verbal and written communication
• Business Development

WRA has an established internal leveling system for our staff that maps to salary bands that have been informed by market data. Our leveling system is dependent on years of relevant industry experience, education, and the level of responsibility and autonomy at which you’re expected to operate.

*The salary range for this position is $125,000 - $161,000 which represents 2 job levels that WRA is open to considering for this role. 

Who are we?

WRA is an employee-owned environmental consultancy. We are a tenacious team of planners, engineers, and scientists, and we aim to leave the lands we love better than we found them. 

Our clients and partners hire us because we’re skilled at navigating through challenging projects involving wildlands, parks, community spaces, restoration and infrastructure. We bring over four decades of expertise, long-standing relationships, and connections to our local communities to make sure that projects are pursued in responsible ways where both people and the environment thrive. 

As an organization, we believe that independence and interdependence are not mutually exclusive. We invest in systems, processes, and employee programs to support our staff’s collective engagement and success while simultaneously encouraging our employees to operate with an ownership mindset, taking responsibility for outcomes and being true to our commitments. 

WRA’s company vision is “cultivating a sustainable future where people and the environment thrive” and that starts with our staff. We are committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment, and we have developed flexible policies, internal practices, and are investing in programs that prioritize learning and sustainability. We aim to create conditions that allow employees to prioritize their families, lead healthy and balanced lives, and to bring their authentic selves to work every day. We believe that by creating an exceptional workplace, our employees will be able to do their best work and be able to meaningfully contribute to the sustainability of the environment and the communities in which we live.

WRA is an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to creating a diverse environment. Our leadership team represents the diversity we strive to build within our company: to learn more about our Executive Committee, visit us here. We recruit, employ, train, compensate and promote regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law.