Lead Private Lands Water Resources Engineer

The University of Georgia; Athens (GA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits Eligible

Job summary

The University of Georgia seeks a Private Lands Engineer (Water Resources) to support the WLFW Aquatics Connectivity Framework in Kentucky. You will lead regional activities, coordinate multi-agency workshops, and provide engineering expertise to NRCS state leadership.

Minimum qualifications include a bachelor’s degree and 5 years of experience; Kentucky PE licensure is preferred. Heavy field work and travel are involved, with a focus on design, surveys, and construction oversight.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent and 5 years of professional experience.
• Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in Kentucky or sufficient experience and education to obtain licensure is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of conservation engineering projects on private lands in coordination with NRCS field offices, overseeing engineering analyses, developing design plans and specifications, and producing construction-ready documents using AutoDesk Civil 3D, HEC-RAS, and related software.
• Design projects may include streambank stabilization, erosion control, livestock and vehicular stream crossings, culvert replacement for aquatic organism passage, and dam removal.
• Integrate engineering designs into NRCS conservation planning processes, coordinating with planners, biologists, and landowners to evaluate alternatives and ensure NRCS standards, specifications, and job approval authority requirements.
• Lead field surveys including topographic and channel surveys using Total Station or similar equipment, collecting site data and documenting existing conditions for design development.
• Provide high-level coordination of project design, implementation, and evaluation, overseeing field responsibilities requiring frequent travel and direct interaction with landowners and NRCS staff.
• Oversee and lead project implementation, providing technical oversight during construction and verifying practices per design and NRCS requirements.
• Act as the regional lead with project stakeholders, contractors, and NRCS staff to ensure successful project delivery and completion of construction deliverables.
• Oversee technical expertise and coordination support to NRCS staff, contributing engineering expertise to conservation planning discussions and leading practice selection and feasibility evaluations.

Skills

Hydrologic modeling

Project leadership

Field coordination

Stream restoration

Hydraulic software (HEC-RAS)

Hydrologic software (HEC-HMS)

SWMM

Rivermorph

Permitting experience

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related field

5 years of professional experience

Tools

AutoDesk Civil 3D

HEC-RAS

HEC-HMS

SWMM

Rivermorph

Job description

The University of Georgia seeks a Private Lands Engineer (Water Resources) to support the WLFW Aquatics Connectivity Framework in Kentucky. You will lead regional activities, coordinate multi-agency workshops, and provide engineering expertise to NRCS state leadership.

Minimum qualifications include a bachelor’s degree and 5 years of experience; Kentucky PE licensure is preferred. Heavy field work and travel are involved, with a focus on design, surveys, and construction oversight.