Project Hydrogeologist

Yolo County Flood Control & Water Conservation District; Woodland (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Yolo County Flood Control & Water Conservation District seeks a Project Hydrogeologist to support the Yolo Subbasin Groundwater Agency. The role will implement the Groundwater Sustainability Plan, mentor staff, and collaborate with diverse stakeholders.

The candidate will lead data analysis, project management, and modeling efforts, while ensuring SGMA compliance and integration with flood control initiatives. Strong licensing and six years of experience are required.

Qualifications

• Six years of professional groundwater-related experience.
• Bachelor's or higher in geologic/hydrogeologic sciences.
• Licensed in California as a GIT, PG, or CHG; CA Class C driver license.

Responsibilities

• Support data collection, database management, analysis, and reporting to DWR for groundwater conditions.
• Develop, manage, and evaluate YSGA projects and water management actions.
• Conduct hydrogeologic analyses and modeling to inform basin management.
• Assist in grant funding, including preparing cost estimates, scopes of work, and schedules.
• Support conjunctive use, recharge basin operations, and water quality assessments.

Skills

MS Office

GIS (ArcGIS/QGIS)

Project management

Numerical modeling

Communication

Budget management

Conflict resolution

Education

Bachelor's or higher in geologic/hydrogeologic sciences

Tools

ArcGIS

QGIS

Job description

Yolo County Flood Control & Water Conservation District

Project Hydrogeologist

Job Announcement

Yolo County Flood Control & Water Conservation District (District) invites qualified applicants to apply for the position of Project Hydrogeologist for the Yolo Subbasin Groundwater Agency (YSGA).

The District, established in 1951, has a service area of approximately 200,000 acres in Yolo County and provides conjunctive surface and groundwater resources for irrigation, municipal/industrial uses, groundwater recharge, habitat enhancement, and flood control. Key assets include the Cache Creek and Indian Valley Dams, the Capay Diversion Dam and an extensive canal system. The District's mission is to plan, develop, and manage water resources for a safe, reliable supply at reasonable cost, that helps to sustain the socio-economic and environmental well-being of Yolo County communities such as Woodland, Davis, Winters, and throughout the Capay Valley.

The Yolo Subbasin Groundwater Agency (YSGA), formed in 2017 as a Joint Powers Authority with 26 members representing urban, agricultural, and environmental interests (including the District, cities of Davis, West Sacramento, Woodland, and Winters, local reclamation districts, and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation), is the exclusive Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) for the Yolo Subbasin. YSGA's mission is to provide a dynamic, cost-effective, flexible, and collegial organization ensuring compliance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The YSGA adopted its Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) in January 2022, focusing on sustainability goals such as maintaining groundwater levels, preventing subsidence, and protecting water quality through monitoring and implementation of projects and management actions. The YSGA contracts with the District to provide staffing, technical services, and facilities.

We are seeking an experienced Project Hydrogeologist to support the YSGA, reporting directly to the Assistant General Manager of the District. This position will work to implement the Yolo Subbasin’s Groundwater Sustainability Plan, support the District's broader groundwater initiatives, including recharge projects using excess winter flows from Cache Creek, mentor and eventually supervise junior technical staff and interns. The successful candidate may grow into serving a primary technical role for YSGA, collaborating with diverse stakeholders to advance sustainable groundwater management while integrating with the District's conjunctive use strategies.

Examples of Essential Functions

The Project Hydrogeologist will support technical aspects of YSGA's GSP implementation and support District project and program implementation, by fulfilling tasks including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Support data collection, database management, analysis, and reporting to DWR for groundwater conditions in the Yolo Subbasin, utilizing state-of-the-art tools and methods.
2. Work to develop, plan, manage, and evaluate YSGA projects and water management actions.
3. Conduct advanced hydrogeologic analyses, including well impact assessments, water quality evaluations, and analytical or numerical modeling to inform basin management.
4. Assist in the acquisition of grant funding for sustainability projects, including preparing cost estimates, scopes of work, and schedules to be included in grant applications.
5. Support District groundwater-related projects, such as conjunctive use planning, recharge basin operations, water quality assessments, and integration with flood control efforts.
6. Actively collaborate with team members to support growth and ensure high-quality deliverables.
7. Manage and lead projects with technical consultants to effectively support implementation of projects and programs.
8. Assist in development of RFPs/RFQs and selection of qualified firms for implementation of projects and programs.
9. Ensure compliance with California water regulations, including SGMA, Regional Water Quality Control Board requirements, and public agency bidding processes.
10. Support preparation of YSGA board agenda reports, actively contribute to technical discussions at public meetings, workshops, and outreach activities with urban, agricultural, environmental, and tribal representatives.
11. Collaborate with internal teams, subconsultants, and external partners to develop innovative solutions.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

To be considered for the position, candidates for the Project Hydrogeologist must have the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Knowledge of

1. Surface water and groundwater hydrology, water quality, geology, and environmental sciences.
2. SGMA, CEQA, and water rights regulations.
3. Public agency administration, governance, and planning and implementation of capital projects and planning documents.
4. Regional water supply planning and design/implementation of hydrogeologic investigations.
5. Well siting, design, rehabilitation, and oversight of construction of monitoring, production (municipal and agricultural), injection, and aquifer storage and recovery wells.
6. Conducting, overseeing, and analyzing aquifer (pumping) tests.
7. Development of detailed geologic/hydrogeologic cross sections.
8. Development of surface water and groundwater monitoring networks.
9. Database management systems and data analysis.
10. Modern statistical, machine learning, and artificial intelligence analytical methods applied to groundwater applications.
11. Analytical and numerical modeling methods for evaluating groundwater flow and transport, groundwater extraction impacts to neighboring wells, surface water-groundwater interaction, groundwater recharge feasibility, land subsidence, and water quality.
12. Environmental permitting for construction projects (e.g. wells, recharge basins, etc.)
13. Developing technical RFPs, scopes of work, budget, and schedule estimation for groundwater related projects.
14. Effective project management of complex projects and programs and associated budgets.
15. Effective communication techniques, including project documentation, stakeholder coordination, and public communication.

Required Skills

Candidates must be proficient using or applying the following skills:

1. Microsoft Office products (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, & Access) to prepare reports, presentations, perform calculations, and manage data.
2. GIS products (ArcGIS and QGIS) to prepare maps and perform analysis
3. Organize, direct, and implement complex groundwater projects and programs, overseeing all phases from planning to execution.
4. Evaluate and manage complex hydrogeologic conceptual and numerical models.
5. Effectively communicate project and program goals, updates, and challenges to team members, YSGA Board, Member Agencies and Committees, water customers and landowners to achieve project and program objectives.
6. Project and budget management.
7. Resolve conflicts and manage team dynamics to maintain project momentum and foster a positive work environment.

Desirable Skills

It is preferred that candidates possess proficiency in the skills and/or applications listed below:

1. Python, R, or other scripting languages and experience developing tools to perform analytical or numerical analyses.
2. Using artificial intelligence large language models (e.g., Claude) to conduct research, analyses, and develop custom tools to conduct analyses.
3. Building, calibrating, and running integrated surface water-groundwater flow models.
4. Applied geochemical modeling.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience:At least six (6) years of professional experience in conducting groundwater-related projects and investigative work.

Education:Bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited college or university with major study in geologic sciences or hydrogeologic sciences.

Required Licenses and/or Certifications

1. Licensed in California Geologist-in-Training (GIT), Professional Geologist (PG) or Certified Hydrogeologist (CHG). Prospective candidates who do not possess one or more of these professional licenses will NOT be considered for the position.
2. California Class C driver license

Work Environment

The Project Hydrogeologist primarily works in an office environment and is required to sit and/or stand for extended periods of time at a computer workstation. The Project Hydrogeologist must regularly lift and/or move objects up to 35 lbs., use typical office equipment, and possess hearing and vision with normal ranges, with or without correction. This position also requires the ability to drive in a pickup along paved and unpaved roads, entering and exiting the pickup.

This is a full-time position based on a forty-hour workweek, with occasional extended hours necessary.

A physical exam and substance screening are required prior to job placement. This is an at-will, exempt position.

Compensation

The District offers a competitive salary commensurate with the selected applicant’s experience and qualifications, and a generous benefit package. The expected salary range is: $110,000- $130,000. Placement within the range will be based on the selected candidate’s qualifications, relevant experience, internal equity, and organizational considerations.

The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. September 11, 2026.