Water Resources Project Manager

JOB LOCATION

15151 E Alameda Pkwy Aurora, Colorado 80012-1555

City of Aurora, Colorado

It is an exciting time to work for the City of Aurora, we're growing and looking for dedicated and collaborative individuals to join our team of talented and valued employees. Excellent organizations have a set of principles, or core values, that are used to implement their mission and vision. Those values represent the touchstone for the organization, guiding the decisions of the individuals and the organization. At the City of Aurora, we demonstrate our excellence by modeling the CORE 4 Values of: Integrity, Respect, Professionalism, and Customer Service, and we welcome all who share these values to apply.
 
Why Work for Aurora?

• Make a difference in the lives of real people every day
• Diverse community
• Competitive total compensation package
• Well-Funded General Employees Retirement Plan
• Light rail station minutes away
• On-site fitness center and overall employee well-being programs Internal educational programs to assist with career advancement
• Access to innovation workspaces

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Salary to be commensurate with experience

The hiring range for this position is $104,704 - $130,880 annually.

The deadline to submit applications is July 22nd, 2026. Please note, The City of Aurora will conduct ongoing screenings of applications on a first come, first-serve basis; as soon as we determine to have a qualified pool of applicants, this position may close quickly and without notice.

Overview of Position / Department:

Aurora Water is responsible for enhancing and protecting the quality of life for Aurora citizens by providing quality water, sewer, and stormwater services in a manner that balances social, environmental, and economic needs. Responsibilities and roles within the organization include: operation and maintenance of the water, sewer, and stormwater systems; water purification and reuse water treatment; utility financial monitoring, planning, customer billing, and revenue collection; infrastructure planning and engineering, inspections, and management of the capital improvement program; public information and water conservation; water resources planning, acquisition, and development; permitting, watershed protection, and water and wastewater regulatory compliance; and administration. 

The Water Resources Project Manager performs advanced professional water resources planning, project management, permitting, and technical analysis related to the development and protection of the City of Aurora's raw water supply, water rights, watersheds, and storage facilities.  

 Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Project management including planning, design, construction management, budget and schedule management for each project. 
• Ensure compliance with design and government regulations. 
• Work with consulting engineers, contractors, and other agencies to explain, interpret, and create City's project requirements, codes, and specifications. 
• Provide professional/technical assistance and project updates to citizens, other departments, management, and City Council. 
• Evaluate proposals and conduct interviews for consultant selection. 
• Coordinate with all City departments and all other stakeholders in the scheduling, development, and completion of Aurora Water projects. 
• Manage assigned projects to achieve established scope, schedule, budget, and quality objectives. 
• Manage planning activities for complex and interrelated water delivery and storage infrastructure such as pipelines, gravel reservoirs, dams and diversions. 
• Responsible for planning, administering and completing assigned projects which may cross several other functional areas, such as facilities, operations, construction, engineering, program applications, marketing or administration. 
• Provide direction to project teams including assignment of individual responsibilities, tasks and technical functions. 
• Identify needs and allocate the appropriate resources to meet the timely completion of specific project tasks. 
• Write or direct technical studies of new water supply, water resources development, storage development, watershed protection or existing structure rehabilitation projects. 
• Lead and conduct water resources, water rights and water supply related analyses, engineering, research, studies and investigations.  
• Negotiate the acquisition of water rights. 
• Develop project scopes of work and objectives. 
• Assure contract compliance and that completed projects meet established quality standards. 
• Create work plans, schedules, project estimates, resource plans, and status reports for assigned projects.  
• Gather field data or research data for assigned projects. 
• Lead land management projects. 
• Coordinate and provide support for interactions with other governmental agencies, stakeholder groups, and water providers. 
• Research emerging technologies, industry practices, and regulatory developments and provides recommendations regarding their applicability to Aurora Waste. 
• Coordinate and direct the activities of professional consultants engaged in water resources-related studies and investigations. 
• Lead NEPA and 1041 permitting work associated with water resources development projects. 
• Identify and implement state, local and federal compliance activities for water supply projects. 
• May work with City's Purchasing and Contracts Division in publishing requests for proposals and in selecting consultants and contractors for capital projects. 
• May negotiate scopes, fees, and project schedules. 
• Perform other related duties as assigned.  

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & WORKING CONDITIONS

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that demonstrates required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.  

  

Education:    

• Bachelor’s degree in water resources, water resource management, watershed science, hydrology, geohydrology, geology, civil engineering, environmental sciences, natural resources, or directly related field. 

  

Experience:      

• Six (6) years of progressively responsible professional experience in water resources, water rights, hydrology, engineering, water policy, watershed management, project management, or a closely related field. 

Preferred Experience: 

•  Eight (8) years of progressively responsible water resources project management experience is preferred.  

Licenses and Certifications Required:    

• Valid Colorado driver’s license and ability to operate a city vehicle, or otherwise demonstrate ability to meet the transportation requirements of the position 

Preferred Licenses and Certifications: 

• Professional Engineer (PE) license or Project Manager Professional Certification preferred.  

  

Knowledge:  

• Knowledge of water resources principles, practices, theories, and techniques related to water resources program and project implementation. 
• Knowledge of current planning. engineering design, and construction principles and practices applicable to public utilities engineering projects. 
• Knowledge of local, state and federal laws and regulations related to water supply. 
• Knowledge of capital project delivery methods and project management principles. 
• Knowledge of water rights acquisition, permitting, and regulatory compliance. 
• Knowledge of contract administration and consultant management. 
• Knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning practices. 
• Knowledge of NEPA, 1041 permitting, and environmental review processes. 

  

Skills:  

   

• Skill in negotiating agreements, contracts, and water rights transactions. 
• Skill in project management and leading complex multi-year capital projects. 
• Skill in facilitating stakeholder engagement and consensus building. 
• Skill in preparing and presenting technical information to executive leadership and elected officials. 
• Skill in professional verbal and written communication.  

  

Abilities:  

   

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, all levels of management including executive staff, citizens, and elected officials.  
• Ability to handle sensitive situations with tact and diplomacy.  
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing and synthesize complex information into a more useful format for decision-makers.  
• Ability to prepare requests for proposals and qualifications for design, construction and planning projects.  
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously. 
• Ability to evaluate technical, financial, regulatory, and operational impacts of proposed projects. 
• Ability to influence decision-making among diverse stakeholders. 
• Ability to interpret and apply complex legal and regulatory requirements. 

WORKING CONDITIONS   

  

Essential Personnel:   

• When a local announcement of emergency or disaster is declared by the city, all City of Aurora employees may be required to work as essential personnel.  

  

Physical Demands:   

• Light physical work that involves moving no more than 20 pounds at a time with or without assistance 
• Occasional lifting, carrying, walking, standing, bending and stooping 
• Ability to review and interpret reports and other written documents with or without reasonable accommodation 
• Ability to communicate with employees, contractors, and residents in field environments, with or without reasonable accommodation 

Work Environment:   

• Works primarily in an office environment. 
• Occasional off-site work may occur in a noisy environment, with exposure to dust, chemicals, odors, fumes, and all types of weather conditions. 

Equipment Used:   

• Uses standard office equipment including personal computer and common office software such as email, internet, Word, Excel. 
• This position may require the incumbent to occasionally use personal equipment (e.g. vehicle, cell phone, tools, etc.) in the course of their employment. 

The city of Aurora will implement furlough days (unpaid days off) for most employees in 2026. The scheduled furlough dates are January 16, April 10, July 2, and December 24.

For Veterans preference:  Please show all of your employment history, including military service and related documentation (DD214) on the application.
           
The City of Aurora is an equal opportunity employer.  We are required by state and federal agencies to keep certain statistical records on applicants.  It will not be used in any way to discriminate against you because of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, creed, national origin, disability or military status, gender identity, unless related to a bona fide occupational qualification as defined by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunity Commission.
                                         
Despite the changes in Colorado law, the City of Aurora maintains a drug-free workplace.  A positive test of marijuana is grounds for disqualification and ineligibility for employment with the city for one year or termination once hired.
 

Drug Testing, Thorough Criminal Background Check, and Employment References:
As a condition of employment, all applicants selected for employment with the City of Aurora must undergo a thorough criminal background check. 

Applicants selected for safety-sensitive positions are required to complete and pass a drug screening as a condition of employment. Safety sensitive positions include Civil Service positions within Police and Fire Departments and positions where their job responsibilities have direct and substantial responsibility that would impact the health and safety of others.  

Employment references will be conducted on finalists for City of Aurora vacancies.