Director / Program Leader – Water Quality & NPDES Permitting (California)
About The Position
Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm. We plan, design, permit, mitigate, and restore for projects across our communities, infrastructure systems, open spaces, and wildlands. We are 50 years strong in 21 offices across California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Southeastern United States. ESA is looking for a Water Quality & NPDES Program Leader to join our team in our Southern CA. The ideal candidate is responsible for leading, growing, and delivering a portfolio of water quality compliance, permitting, and regulatory advisory services across California. This role combines deep technical expertise in NPDES permitting and stormwater/wastewater regulation with client development and team building. The Program Leader serves as a technical authority and strategic advisor to public and private clients while driving market growth, operational excellence, and cross-disciplinary integration.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s or Master’s in Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, or Environmental Science
- 20+ years of experience in water quality and NPDES permitting
- Deep knowledge of: Clean Water Act / NPDES framework, California Porter-Cologne Act, MS4 permits, TMDLs, and stormwater regulations
- Demonstrated experience leading large programs or practices
- Strong client relationships in California water/wastewater/stormwater market
Nice To Haves
- Experience with NPDES Permits and Programs
- Track record of winning and delivering projects
- Familiarity with data systems, compliance tracking, or water tech solutions
Responsibilities
- Build and lead a statewide water quality/NPDES program, including strategy, staffing
- Develop and execute growth plans across MS4, industrial, and construction stormwater markets
- Drive revenue growth, backlog, and profitability targets
- Identify and pursue key pursuits, IDIQ/MSA contracts, and long-term programmatic work
- Serve as Principal Scientist / Client Manager for key accounts
- Serve as a subject matter expert in: Stormwater NPDES permitting (MS4, Industrial General Permit, Construction General Permit), Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs), TMDLs and watershed-based compliance, Stormwater Quality Management Plans
- Provide senior technical oversight on complex compliance and permitting programs
- Interpret and apply federal Clean Water Act and California regulations (e.g., Porter-Cologne)
- Guide regulatory strategy, permitting pathways, and compliance risk mitigation
- Lead major programs such as: MS4 compliance programs, Industrial facility compliance audits, Watershed planning and TMDL implementation, Stormwater capture, reuse, and green infrastructure programs
- Act as a trusted advisor to municipalities, utilities, and regulated industries
- Lead multi-disciplinary teams (engineering, environmental science, planning, data/tech)
- Oversee technical quality, risk management, and client satisfaction
- Represent clients and/or firm in: Regulatory negotiations, Public meetings and hearings, Policy and rulemaking discussions
- Build and mentor a team of engineers, scientists, and compliance specialists
- Recruit key talent to scale the practice
- Establish technical standards, tools, and best practices
- Foster a culture of collaboration and cross-selling across service lines
- Lead proposal strategy, positioning, and capture for major pursuits
- Expand relationships across: Municipal clients (MS4 programs), Industrial clients (manufacturing, energy, data centers), Transportation and infrastructure agencies, including ports
- Identify emerging opportunities (e.g., water reuse, ESG compliance, climate resilience)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Number of Employees
251-500 employees
