Senior Water Resources Engineer or Environmental Scientist 3

Haley & Aldrich; Walnut Creek (CA); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

Haley & Aldrich seeks a Senior Water Resources Engineer or Scientist with deep stormwater compliance expertise to join our Oakland/Walnut Creek team. You’ll lead projects for municipal and utility clients, navigating MS4 programs, NPDES permits, and California Water Board requirements.

This full-time role emphasizes regulatory strategy, client interactions, and practical, high-quality solutions, with remote consideration for qualified candidates in the Bay Area able to maintain office presence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, environmental policy, natural resources, or a related field.
• 15+ years of applicable experience in stormwater management, environmental regulatory compliance, or a related field.
• Demonstrated expertise with municipal stormwater/MS4 programs, utility-scale stormwater compliance, NPDES permits, and California Water Boards requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to develop regulatory strategies and lead audits, inspections, compliance evaluations, and regulatory reporting.
• Experience serving as a client-facing technical representative and advising clients on complex regulatory and compliance matters.

Responsibilities

• Support the execution of project work and proposals on large and/or complex multidisciplinary projects to align with company-defined business objectives and client expectations.
• Demonstrate strong technical competence, knowledge of codes and regulations, and professional standards of practice in municipal, utility, construction, and/or industrial stormwater compliance.
• Regularly coach, mentor, and direct staff in the quality execution of projects and preparation of analyses, technical reports, and other deliverables, with a focus on developing skills to support their professional growth.
• Leverage your understanding of codes, regulations, and professional standards of practice to align project scopes with client objectives and regulatory requirements and deliver superior client value.
• Develop and grow relationships with municipal and utility clients by understanding their operational and regulatory challenges and identifying opportunities to provide additional value.

Skills

Stormwater management

Regulatory compliance

Client liaison

Technical leadership

Mentoring staff

Education

Bachelor’s degree in environmental science

Job description

Find your path and enjoy the journey at Haley & Aldrich. With us, you’ll tackle clients’ most meaningful challenges in the built and natural environments – and, in turn, build stronger communities. You’ll work with teams of passionate colleagues, driven by a commitment to technical excellence and continuous learning.

As a company, we aim to build a world where communities go beyond resilience, embracing change as an opportunity to enhance safety, well-being, and quality of life. Join us to accelerate this vision and your professional development.

We are looking to add new talent to our growing team! We are currently seeking a Senior Water Resources Engineer or Scientist who is a technical expert in Stormwater Compliance to work in a technical support role with highly skilled professionals on diverse project teams in a dynamic environment. This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing group and company and get involved in a variety of projects for a diverse range of clients. This is a full-time position located in our Oakland, CA or Walnut Creek, CA office.

In this senior technical leadership role, you will help municipal and utility clients navigate complex stormwater and related regulatory requirements throughout California and elsewhere. You will help lead multidisciplinary compliance programs involving municipal stormwater/MS4 programs, utility-scale stormwater compliance, NPDES permits, and to meet California Water Boards requirements. Serving as a trusted technical representative for clients, you will develop regulatory strategies, advise clients during interactions with regulators, and support project managers in delivering high-quality, practical solutions. This position will also help grow H&A’s municipal and utility client relationships and mentor staff across project teams. Experience with construction and industrial stormwater programs is highly valued. Remote candidates may be considered, provided they are assigned to either the Oakland or Walnut Creek office and are able to establish a limited office presence.

Duties / Responsibilities

• Support the execution of project work and proposals on large and/or complex multidisciplinary projects to align with company-defined business objectives and client expectations in partnership with the project team.
• Demonstrate strong technical competence, knowledge of codes and regulations, and professional standards of practice in municipal, utility, construction, and/or industrial stormwater compliance.
• Regularly coach, mentor, and direct staff in the quality execution of projects and preparation of analyses, technical reports, and other deliverables, with a focus on developing skills to support their professional growth.
• Leverage your understanding of codes, regulations, and professional standards of practice to align project scopes with client objectives and regulatory requirements and deliver superior client value.
• Develop and grow relationships with municipal and utility clients by understanding their operational and regulatory challenges and identifying opportunities to provide additional value. Serve as a trusted technical representative for municipal and utility clients, advising them on stormwater compliance obligations, regulatory risks, and practical implementation strategies.
• Support project managers with technical strategy, scope development, quality review, client communications, and resolution of complex regulatory issues.
• Leverage your learning to increase the technical capabilities of others and the overall technical performance of the company.
• Excel in your field by engaging with external organizations, delivering internal and external presentations, and contributing to technical publications.
• Play a significant role in client and agency communications and negotiations.
• Lead all work in accordance with company and client health and safety protocols.
• Demonstrate the company’s foundational safety behaviors.

Skills and Experience

Minimum Skills and Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, environmental policy, natural resources, or a related field.
• 15+ years of applicable experience in stormwater management, environmental regulatory compliance, or a related field.
• Demonstrated expertise with municipal stormwater/MS4 programs, utility-scale stormwater compliance, NPDES permits, and California Water Boards requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to develop regulatory strategies and lead audits, inspections, compliance evaluations, and regulatory reporting.
• Experience serving as a client-facing technical representative and advising clients on complex regulatory and compliance matters.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary technical assignments while effectively supporting project managers, client account leaders, and project teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including communicating and presenting technical and regulatory information to clients, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to apply emotional intelligence to achieve greater impact in project team, client, and regulator communications.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor staff, transfer technical knowledge, and support the professional development of project team members.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain municipal and utility client relationships.
• Ability to work remotely or from the Oakland or Walnut Creek office while effectively collaborating with clients and multidisciplinary teams.

Preferred Skills

• Master’s degree or other advanced degree in environmental science, environmental policy, natural resources, or a related field.
• California Professional Engineer registration.
• Current CASQA Qualified SWPPP Practitioner (QSP) and/or Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD) certification.
• Experience with construction stormwater permitting and compliance programs.
• Experience with industrial stormwater permitting and compliance programs.
• Experience developing and growing consulting relationships with municipal agencies and utility clients in California.

The salary range for this position in Walnut Creek, CA and Oakland, CA is $160,000 - $175,000 annually. Actual compensation will be based upon a variety of factors such as education, related work experience, certificates, skills, and current market conditions. Haley & Aldrich reviews salary ranges each quarter to assess competitiveness with the market.

About Haley & Aldrich

Haley & Aldrich is committed to solving our clients’ most meaningful challenges in the built and natural environments. Our team of 1,000+ engineers and scientists across the United States draws inspiration from one mission: to work closely with clients as they navigate change to create safer, more robust places to live and work. Since our founding in 1957, organizations across the public and private sectors have relied on us for technical excellence and empathetic leadership that achieve results and secure a thriving tomorrow. Find us at haleyaldrich.com and LinkedIn.

Haley & Aldrich is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, race, age, disability, veteran, or any other legally protected status.

• We offer excellent career growth, a highly competitive total compensation plan, and a solid benefits package.