Water Resources Section Head

EWI Recruitment; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

EWI Recruitment seeks an experienced Water Resources Section Head to lead a multidisciplinary team responsible for planning, management and delivery of strategic water resources activities.

Role requires strong leadership, regulatory knowledge and stakeholder engagement to shape long-term water resilience, investment decisions and environmental outcomes.

Qualifications

• Degree in water resources, hydrology, or related field.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder engagement skills are essential.
• Experience with regulatory frameworks and risk assessment is required.

Responsibilities

• Lead a multidisciplinary water resources team.
• Set priorities, manage workloads and allocate resources.
• Oversee strategic assessments, technical reports and investment plans.
• Provide authoritative advice on risks and long-term planning.
• Manage budgets, procurement activity and contracts.
• Represent the section at senior forums and industry events.
• Champion data quality, innovation and effective risk management.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory knowledge

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in water resources, hydrology, or related field

Job description

Water Resources Section Head

An experienced water resources professional is sought to lead a specialist section responsible for the planning, management and delivery of strategic water resources activities. This is an influential role for an individual who can combine technical expertise with effective leadership, stakeholder engagement and sound commercial judgement.

You will provide direction across water availability, demand forecasting, drought and resilience planning, abstraction management, catchment assessments and related regulatory programmes. Working closely with internal teams, regulators, local authorities, customers and external partners, you will ensure that projects and services are delivered to a high standard, within agreed timescales and in line with relevant legislation and environmental objectives.

Key responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and develop a multidisciplinary water resources team, promoting collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Set priorities, manage workloads and allocate resources to support successful delivery of programmes and technical commissions.
• Oversee the preparation of strategic assessments, technical reports, business cases, investment plans and regulatory submissions.
• Provide authoritative advice on water resources risks, opportunities, options appraisal and long-term planning.
• Manage budgets, procurement activity, consultant relationships and contract performance where required.
• Represent the section at senior forums, partnership meetings, consultations and industry events.
• Champion evidence-based decision-making, data quality, innovation and effective risk management.

About you

You will be educated to degree level, or hold equivalent professional experience, in water resources, hydrology, environmental science, civil engineering or a related discipline. A recognised professional qualification or membership of an appropriate professional body would be advantageous.

You should have substantial experience in water resources planning or management, including knowledge of relevant regulatory frameworks, environmental considerations and technical modelling or assessment approaches. Strong leadership and communication skills are essential, along with the ability to explain complex issues clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

The successful candidate will be organised, pragmatic and confident in making well-reasoned decisions. In return, the role offers the opportunity to shape long-term water resilience, influence important investment and environmental outcomes, and lead a capable team through a varied and rewarding programme of work.