Principal or Director, Stormwater & Watershed Sciences

Rincon Consultants; Ventura (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Hybrid work arrangement

Professional development

Job summary

Rincon Consultants, Inc. seeks a Principal/Director to lead and grow California stormwater and watershed sciences, driving growth in construction and industrial programs. You will oversee NPDES/WDR compliance, SWPPP and BMPs, and client program delivery across public and private sectors.

The role emphasizes senior leadership, business development, and cross-project collaboration, with a hybrid work model and opportunities to expand Rincon’s Watershed Sciences practice.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressively responsible experience in stormwater, water quality compliance, environmental consulting, or related services.
• Strong knowledge of California’s Construction General Permit and/or Industrial General Permit.
• Experience developing and managing large compliance programs with SWPPP implementation, BMPs, inspections, sampling, and reporting.
• Proven business development experience, including cultivating client relationships, identifying opportunities, leading proposals, and winning work.
• Experience leading complex client programs and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong business acumen with budgets, staffing, scopes, contracts, and risk management.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with regulators and technical teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow Rincon’s construction, industrial, and related stormwater quality services through strategic business development and client program expansion.
• Serve as a senior advisor to clients on NPDES and WDR requirements, compliance obligations, and regulatory challenges.
• Develop and expand programs involving water quality compliance, SWPPP development and implementation, inspections, monitoring, reporting, and training.
• Lead pursuits, proposals, scopes, budgets, and capture strategies for new and existing clients.
• Provide senior technical and program oversight to ensure quality, schedule, budget, and client satisfaction.
• Build long-term relationships with public agencies, utilities, transportation and infrastructure clients, industrial operators, developers, and contractors.
• Mentor staff and support recruiting, team development, and consistent technical delivery across the practice.
• Collaborate across Rincon to identify opportunities that connect stormwater services with broader water quality programs.

Skills

Leadership

Business development

Client relationships

Regulatory leadership

Program management

Communication skills

Strategic thinking

Education

Environmental Engineering

Civil Engineering

Environmental Science

Job description

We are an award-winning California-based environmental consulting firm with 600+ professionals and more than 30 years of diverse experience serving clients in transportation, energy, water, infrastructure, private development, and government sectors. Our mission is to deliver practical, science-based environmental and planning solutions that support communities, infrastructure, and natural systems.

As a people-centric organization, we value collaboration, fairness, and transparency, and are committed to fostering a workplace that supports both personal and professional growth while offering robust career opportunities. We are especially proud of our recentGreat Place To Work certification, which reflects an independent assessment of our culture and our team memberexperiences.

About The Role

Rincon Consultants, Inc. is seeking aPrincipalor Director, Stormwater & Watershed Sciencesto lead and growour constructionand industrial stormwater quality services throughout California.

This senior leadership role will focus on developing client programs related to California’s Construction and Industrial General Permitscompliance, stormwater monitoring,SWPPP development andBMP implementation, regulatory strategy, and program management. The ideal candidate will be a strong seller-doer who can build client relationships, win work, provide senior technical leadership, and grow a high-performing practice.

Candidates with broader experience in municipal stormwaterandMS4 compliance, TMDLs, watershed management, and regional water quality programs will also have opportunities to support and expand Rincon’s broader Watershed Sciences practice.

How We Collaborate

This role may offer a hybrid work setup, blending time in the office with remote work as business needsevolve. We enjoy coming together in person to collaborate, connect with teammates, and partner with clients. We may prioritize candidates who live within 50 miles ofa Rinconoffice. Eligible office locations for this role include Carlsbad, Fresno, Los Angeles, Monterey, Oakland, Palm Springs, Riverside, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, San Jose, Santa Barbara, and Ventura.

WhatYou’llDo

• Lead and grow Rincon’s construction,industrial, and relatedstormwater quality services through strategic business development and client program expansion.
• Serve as a senior advisor toclientsNPDES and WDRrequirements, compliance obligations, and regulatory challenges.
• Develop and expand programs involvingwater quality compliance,SWPPPdevelopment andimplementation,complianceinspections, monitoring and sampling, SMARTS reporting, BMPs, corrective actions, and training.
• Lead pursuits, proposals, scopes, budgets, and capture strategies for new and existing clients.
• Provide senior technical and program oversight to ensure quality, schedule, budget, and client satisfaction.
• Build long-term relationships with public agencies, utilities, transportation and infrastructure clients, industrial operators, developers, contractors, and other regulated entities.
• Mentor staff and support recruiting, team development, and consistent technical delivery across the practice.
• Collaborate across Rincon toidentifyopportunities that connect construction and industrial stormwater services with broader municipal stormwater, watersheds, and water quality programs.

WhatYou’llBring

• Bachelor’s orMaster’s degree in Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Science, Geology, Water Resources, ora related field.
• 15+ years of progressively responsible experience in stormwater, water quality compliance, environmental consulting, or related services.
• Strong knowledge of California’s Construction General Permit and/or Industrial General Permit.
• Experiencedeveloping and managing large complianceprogramswith SWPPP implementation,BMPinspections,water qualitysamplingand monitoring, reporting, and corrective action planning.
• Proven business development experience, including cultivating client relationships,identifyingopportunities, leading proposals, and winning work.
• Experience leading complex client programs and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong business acumen and experience with budgets, staffing, scopes, contracts, and risk management.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage clients, regulators, and technical teams.

Nice to Have

• Experience with municipal stormwater programs, MS4permitcompliance, TMDLs, watershed management, or regional water quality initiatives.
• Established relationships with California public agencies, utilities, transportation agencies, industrial operators, developers, or contractors.
• California PE, PG, or other relevant professional registration.
• Stormwater credentials such as QISP, QSD, QSP, CPSWQ, CISEC, or similar certifications.
• Experience developing multi-office or statewide client programs.
• Industry visibility through professional associations, conferences, publications, training, or related leadership activities.
• Experience and client relationships in Southern California and the greater Los Angeles region.

Investing in You

The base salary range for this full-time position is$150,000 to $200,000plus a generous benefits program. Salary ranges are based on the market median of similar jobs, according to third-party salary benchmark surveys. Base pay isdeterminedbased on internal equity and a candidate’s job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Package designed to support employee well-being, growth, and financial security.

• health coverage options
• employer-sponsored insurance
• retirement benefits
• generous time off
• programs that support learning, growth, and community engagement

Explore more about our culture, benefits, and life at Rincon onourCulture and Benefits page.

Additional Employment Information

Individuals offered employment must successfully complete a pre-employmentdrug screening as a condition of employment. Additionally, those hired who may be assigned to federal projects will be subject to further drug testing, including screening for cannabinoids (THC/marijuana), in compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and other applicable federal regulations, which take precedence over California state and local laws.