Water Conservation Section Manager

State of Utah•Salt Lake City, UT

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Utah Division of Water Resources is seeking a dedicated, creative, and detail-oriented Water Conservation Section Manager to lead its water conservation section and guide a team of six employees. The role oversees statewide rebate, incentive, and grant programs, including the Landscape Incentive Program, Smart Controller Rebates, and Transparent Water Billing Grants. The section also reviews municipal water conservation plans submitted every five years, assists with statewide secondary metering initiatives, and leads the division’s educational outreach efforts throughout Utah. The manager leads and supervises the team, directs water conservation and education initiatives, and evaluates division operations, programs, and processes to improve efficiency, quality, and measurable impact. The role also serves as a subject matter expert, offering strategic guidance and technical support to management, staff, and external stakeholders. The position is based in Salt Lake City and is hybrid. It is full-time and eligible for a full benefits package.

Requirements

At least five years of professional experience in water conservation.
Proven ability to manage complex projects from planning through execution, including grant administration, incentive or rebate programs, and/or public outreach campaigns.
Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with experience engaging public audiences, media, and regional partner organizations.
Strong analytical skills and experience evaluating program effectiveness, developing strategic plans, and optimizing operational workflows.

Nice To Haves

A bachelor’s degree or higher in Environmental Science, Soil and Water Conservation, Natural Resources, Public Relations, Communication, or a directly related field.
Experience supervising direct reports, managing team workloads, and leading recruitment and professional development.
Familiarity with Utah’s water challenges, water sources, supply needs, geography, and growth demographics.
High proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace tools, including Word, Docs, Excel, and Sheets, and with database technology.

Responsibilities

Lead and supervise a six-person team, including workload allocation, hiring, talent development, performance reviews, and daily project execution.
Direct water conservation and education initiatives, including program development, strategic planning, and collaborative partnerships.
Evaluate and optimize division operations, programs, and processes to improve efficiency, quality, and measurable impact.
Provide strategic guidance and technical support as a subject matter expert to management, staff, and external stakeholders.
Oversee statewide rebate, incentive, and grant programs, including the Landscape Incentive Program, Smart Controller Rebates, and Transparent Water Billing Grants.
Review municipal water conservation plans submitted every five years.
Assist with statewide secondary metering initiatives.
Lead the division’s educational outreach efforts throughout Utah.