Water Resources Program Manager

This position will lead the MCRCD’s Water Resources Program, a team responsible for promoting and protecting clean water and healthy streams throughout Mendocino County. This position requires both a passion for conservation as well as advanced project management skills in public works infrastructure, with proven management experience. Experience in the public sector, government contracting, and with grant funding are all strongly desired attributes of this position.

Annual Compensation Range: $90,750 to $110,281

• Salary commensurate with experience.
• Must work from MCRCD’s Ukiah office.
• 4 weeks paid time off per year to start.
• 3% Employer match to retirement fund.
• Generous health benefit package.

Mendocino County Resource Conservation District
The mission of the Mendocino County Resource Conservation District (MCRCD) is to conserve, protect, and restore wild and working landscapes to enhance the health of the water, soil, and forests in Mendocino County. MCRCD is an independent Special District of the State of California, governed by Division 9 of the Public Resources Code and led by an Executive Director and a 5-member Board of Directors.

MCRCD’s Water Resources Program is one of four programs at MCRCD. This program is responsible for work to promote healthy streams, water quality and quantity, and fisheries restoration through a variety of grant-funded programs. Projects include stream bank stabilization, offstream storage, and storm-proofing rural roads to minimize sediment. We work in partnerships with landowners, property managers, schools, non-profits, road associations, Tribes, government agencies, and the public to enhance, protect, and restore water resources in Mendocino County. Team members engage in infrastructure project management, public works contract management, outreach, education, technical assistance, biological and water quality monitoring, and implementation of cost-share and grant opportunities to:

 Demonstrate water conservation best management practices,
 Promote and implement water quality improvement projects,
 Support stormwater pollution prevention strategies,
 Support sustainable groundwater efforts and strategies,
 Restore fisheries habitat and riparian connectivity on a landscape level, and
 Enhance stream flows and engage in climate beneficial practices.

General Responsibilities
The Water Resources Program Manager is responsible for leading the Water Resources Team in its day-to-day operations, managing staff, and working on the executive management team. The Program Manager is a working manager, with responsibility both for their own projects and for helping staff with their projects. Staff work includes field work as well as procurement, contracting, and managing public works-type infrastructure projects.

This position requires continual interface with public and agency partners. The Water Resources Project Manager is expected to develop and maintain good working relationships with diverse community stakeholders, organizations, and resource agencies, and to represent the district at public events, meetings, and functions. The Program Manager must be a proven leader and a team player, with the ability to communicate effectively and professionally, representing the MCRCD as needed.

Primary responsibilities

Water Resources Program Support and Project Management
• Development of projects for watershed restoration, water conservation, monitoring and other related projects and draft grant applications and funding proposals, in collaboration with MCRCD staff, landowners, and partners.
• Understand, secure, and adhere to regulatory permitting requirements.
• Develop and maintain relationships with partners to achieve project objectives, and attend and conduct meetings.
• Manage grant-funded projects that protect water quality, promote water conservation, and enhance/conserve aquatic habitat.
o Develop project scope;
o Use and understand appropriate contracting procedures to hire subcontractors;
o Manage subcontractors;
o Track and manage project implementation and quality;
o Draft invoices and work with operations manager on financial aspects of projects, using Excel, QuickBooks, and other project software;
o Prepare project reports to funding agencies, executive director, and MCRCD board of directors
o Provide support and guidance to staff on all aspects of project management.
• Provide supervision for monitoring of physical and biological attributes associated with MCRCD’s projects such as:
o stream and aquatic habitat inventories and other monitoring to describe site characteristics and to identify natural resource concerns related to watershed health.
o groundwater elevation monitoring and groundwater quality testing.
o invasive aquatic species monitoring.
• Organizational Management
• Represent MCRCD to build partnerships with landowners, Indigenous Tribes, and regional, state and federal agencies such as Russian River Confluence, Great Redwood Trail, and North Coast Resource Partnership.
• Assist in the development of educational and outreach materials for the MCRCD website, social media, and other venues.

Required Qualifications (Significant relevant experience may substitute for a qualification on a case-by-case basis)

• Bachelor of Science degree in aquatic ecology, hydrology, water resources, or a related natural resources subject, or a project management or engineering degree, or related certificate showing substantial experience in public works project management.
• Field experience working on natural resource-related projects.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Experience and expertise in complex Project Management.
• Excellent ability and experience in writing clear, accurate, and effective reports and grants.
• Proficiency with spatial analysis and mapping software such as ArcGIS.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office suite including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Proficiency with building and managing program and project budgets using Excel.
• Management experience with knowledge of basic human resource principles, preferably in a government setting.
• Valid California Driver's license.

Desired Qualifications
• Experience working with Native American Tribes in Mendocino County.
• Spanish language proficiency.
• Experience conducting sampling and monitoring of aquatic habitats and biological resources.
• Familiarity with the operations of grant-funded organizations.
• Experience driving off-road vehicles.
• Project Management (PMI) certifications.
• Experience managing public works projects.
• Knowledge and experience in soliciting public works projects for public bidding.
• Knowledge of prevailing wage principles and experience working with the California Department of Industrial Relations.
• Familiarity with watersheds in Mendocino County.
• Experience working with diverse communities.

Physical Requirements
This position requires the ability to talk, listen, observe, stoop, reach, sit, stand, move, climb and descend stairs, use repetitive motions, and traverse uneven terrain. The position requires the ability to operate a telephone, computer keyboard, copier, other typical office equipment, and motor vehicle, vision to read materials and a computer screen, and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. Work requires lifting or moving up to 25 pounds and the ability to safely use landscaping hand tools and power tools, and operation of off-road vehicles. Work requires strenuous hiking. When necessary, the position requires the ability to work unusual shifts, including weekends. Once the employee is established in the organization (as determined by the Executive Director), regular remote work is permitted for office duties. Video conferencing capability and an ergonomic set up is required for remote office locations.

MCRCD is an equal opportunity employer and we do not discriminate against any employee or job applicant because of age, race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability.

Applications accepted on rolling basis. First review - January 16th, 2026