Groundwater Program Analyst

Environmentalscienceassociates; Sacramento (CA); Hybrid; USD 86,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/dental/vision insurance

ESOP

401(k) match

Paid vacation/sick/holidays

Tuition reimbursement & professional 


Job summary

Environmental Science Associates (ESA) seeks an early‑career Groundwater Program Analyst to join our Technology Services team in California. The role is hybrid and requires 2–7 years in groundwater management, with occasional travel to client sites across California.

Responsibilities include configuring GAP, QA/QC data, GIS workflows, building dashboards, and supporting stakeholder workshops. A master’s degree or 2–7 years experience in CA groundwater is expected.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or 2–7 years in groundwater management in California.
• Solid foundation in SGMA, groundwater allocations, demand management and reporting.
• Proficiency with spreadsheets, data QA/QC, and GIS tools.
• Ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences and facilitate meetings.
• Eligible to pass federal/state background checks and maintain credentials.

Responsibilities

• Configure groundwater management programs within GAP—establish geographies, zones, management areas and water accounts.
• Assemble, integrate, and QA/QC data backing groundwater accounting from multiple sources.
• Prepare parcel and spatial data for parcel-level accounting using GIS tools.
• Translate allocation rules and demand-management policies into platform configuration and accounting logic.
• Build and validate dashboards and reports for agencies and growers showing usage and compliance.
• Support data-management strategies by analyzing workflows and data sources; identify pain points.
• Prepare workshop materials, training guides, and demonstrations; facilitate stakeholder workshops and meetings.
• Draft sections of proposals and technical documentation; work toward independent client support.

Skills

Data QA/QC

Geospatial data handling

Stakeholder facilitation

Technical communication

Education

Master’s degree in water resources or related field

2–7 years groundwater management experience in California

Tools

QGIS/ArcGIS

SQL/Python familiarity

Job description

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)