Salary: $170,913.60 - $218,753.60 Annually
Location : 5750 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, CA, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 02020-E
Division: Watersheds Operations and Maintenance
Unit: Operations and Maintenance Environmental Support
Opening Date: 09/18/2026
Closing Date: 9/28/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
Overview

Valley Water is recruiting for two Senior Water Resources Specialists to provide supervisory and technical leadership for environmental services supporting Watersheds Operations and Maintenance (O&M). Together, these positions will lead the environmental planning, permitting, biological support, and compliance work necessary to maintain more than 350 miles of streams while supporting flood protection, infrastructure reliability, environmental stewardship, and regulatory compliance.

Candidates may be considered for one or both assignments based on their experience and interests.

Environmental Planning and Compliance Lead

This position will lead Watersheds O&M environmental planning, administration, and compliance. Main areas include the Stream Maintenance Program (SMP), CEQA and environmental compliance, permit implementation and renewal, mitigation commitments, Notices of Proposed Work, Annual Summary Reports, agency coordination, and alignment of regulatory deliverables with annual maintenance schedules.

Biological Services and Compliance Lead

This position will lead biological service delivery for Watersheds O&M and supported Water Utility O&M work. Main areas include SMP and non-SMP, project screening, habitat and species assessments, preconstruction surveys, construction monitoring, technical determinations, biological incident response, mitigation monitoring and support, reporting requirements, Valley Habitat Plan packages, and implementation of permit and environmental document requirements.

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Supervise professional staff; establish priorities and work plans; assign and review work; provide technical guidance; develop employees; and complete performance evaluations.
• Coordinate with project managers, engineers, field crews, contractors, consultants, environmental staff, and regulatory agencies to resolve issues or delays.
• Manage high risk environmental work within narrow seasonal and regulatory work windows and provide clear, timely, and defensible direction.
• Oversee technical quality, documentation, data tracking, consultant work, and required environmental or regulatory reporting.

Ideal Candidate's Background Includes:

Applicants whose experience and background best match the ideal experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and education are considered ideal candidates for the position. To determine the top candidates, each applicant will be assessed based on the ideal candidate criteria as listed below.

Ideal Experience

• Six years of professional level experience in environmental permitting and compliance, mitigation of natural resource impacts, stream stewardship or maintenance, biological services, or related water resources work.
• Experience leading complex environmental programs or projects with multiple stakeholders, constrained schedules, regulatory risk, and interdependent deliverables.
• Experience supervising (desired not required) or leading professional environmental or biological staff and balancing planned, urgent, and emergency work.
• For the planning assignment: substantial experience with CEQA, permits, mitigation, regulatory reporting, program administration, and agency coordination.
• For the biological assignment: substantial experience with biological review, surveys, monitoring, protected species and habitats, avoidance measures, technical report writing, field decisions, and incident response.

Ideal Skills and Abilities

• Exercise sound independent judgment and translate complex requirements into clear direction for staff, project teams, and contractors.
• Lead and develop professional staff, manage competing priorities, maintain accountability, and provide timely technical quality control.
• Build productive working relationships and develop practical solutions with internal partners, regulators, consultants, and interested parties.
• Prepare and review clear, concise, accurate, and defensible technical documents, reports, correspondence, and recommendations.
• Plan and manage schedules, budgets, consultant contracts, program risks, data, and regulatory deliverables.

Ideal Knowledge

• CEQA and applicable federal, state, and local environmental laws and permits for stream, flood risk reduction, infrastructure, and O&M work.
• For the planning assignment: environmental review, permit administration, mitigation planning, regulatory reporting, and program management.
• For the biological assignment: Santa Clara County special-status species, nesting birds, general wildlife, fisheries, wetlands, riparian habitat, survey and monitoring methods, avoidance and minimization measures, Valley Habitat Plan, and biological documentation.

Ideal Training and Education

Graduation from an accredited four year college or university with major coursework in water resources management, natural resources management, planning, biology, ecology, environmental science, civil or other engineering, geology, physical sciences, earth sciences, natural sciences, or a field related to the assigned functional area.

Required License or Certificate

Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid California driver's license. Individuals who do not meet the driver's license requirement due to a disability will be considered for a reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.

To review the Classification Specification, please click

Operations & Maintenance Environmental Support Unit (Position Code 707 & 602)Valley Water Telework Program: Eligibility for telework will depend on the type of work performed, operational needs, and the ability for the employee to perform the essential functions of their job duties while teleworking. Employment with Valley Water requires employees to live within 150 miles of their primary physical work location located in San Jose, California by their start date.

This position is eligible for a hybrid telework schedule, typically working 40% remote and 60% onsite.
Selection Process
(1) The selection process may include one or more of the following: application review, application assessment, performance exercise, written exercise and/or interview.
(2) The Employment Application, Qualifying Information Questions and/or Supplemental Questions will be evaluated based on the ideal candidate criteria listed above. Resumes are highly recommended.

NOTE: Position and start date is subject to availability of funds. Valley Water retains the right to repost this position as deemed necessary.
Consideration may be given to existing applicant pools within the same classification.
The Santa Clara Valley Water District, now known as Valley Water, offers a comprehensive benefit package including, vacation, holidays, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, EAP, life and disability insurance. In addition, Valley Water participates in the California Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). To view a summary of benefits, click
01

I acknowledge that I have entered my Work Experience and Education on the employment application, and I am aware these are required fields. If they are not completed, the application is considered incomplete, and I will be disqualified as an applicant for the position.

• Yes
• No

02

Please answer the supplemental questions thoroughly, clearly, and concisely as the responses provided (along with the application) will be carefully reviewed to determine which candidates will move forward in the recruitment process. Responses that refer to attachments (e.g., "see resume") will not be considered. Each question must be answered in full to ensure a fair and complete evaluation. I have read this information and am aware of the importance of responses to the supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

03

Please list the highest level of education achieved.

• High school or equivalent
• Associate degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Graduate degree

04

Do you have six (6) years of professional level experience with responsibility for compliance with environmental permitting, water supply planning or distribution, groundwater management, mitigation of natural resource impacts, or hydrogeology.

• Yes
• No

05

For which assignment would you like to be considered? Select all that apply.

• Environmental Planning and Compliance Lead
• Biological Services and Compliance Lead
• Both assignments

06

How many years of experience do you have supervising, formally leading, or directing the day-to-day work of professional environmental or natural-resources staff? (desired not required)

• 0 - 2 years
• 2 plus years

07

Describe the education, training, and professional experience that qualify you for the assignment(s) you selected. Clearly identify your area of technical specialization and your leadership responsibilities.
08

Describe a complex environmental, stream maintenance, or natural-resources project or program that you led. What were your responsibilities, and what actions did you take to achieve the project or program objectives?
09

Describe a difficult technical or regulatory issue related to the assignment(s) you selected. How did you analyze the issue, provide direction, coordinate with others, and document the outcome?
10

Employment with Valley Water requires employees to take an Oath as a Disaster Service Worker within California and to live within 150 miles of Valley Water Headquarters in San Jose, California by the start date. Valley Water does not cover relocation costs. If you live further than 150 miles from Valley Water Headquarters, please discuss your willingness to relocate if offered the position. If this does not apply to you, write "N/A".
11

Please list the full name of the regular/permanent Valley Water employee who referred you to this position (only one name will be accepted, so if multiple are listed, the first name provided will be documented as the referring employee). If this does not apply to you, write "N/A".
Required Question