Senior Water Resources Planner

Our New Mexico team is seeking an experienced Water Resources Planner to join our multidisciplinary team of integrated water management professionals. In this role, you will provide strategic, technically sound consulting services to local, regional, state, and federal clients while helping communities address complex water challenges. This position is ideal for a New Mexico-based water resources professional who enjoys engaging with clients and stakeholders, developing practical and resilient solutions, collaborating across diverse teams, and helping shape the future of water policy and management in New Mexico.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Through teamwork and collaboration, you will support all aspects of consulting: winning, doing, and managing.


• Win: Support marketing and business development efforts to grow Stantec’s water resources planning and management services in New Mexico.


• Identify trends and leverage your knowledge of the water industry, market, and clients.


• Engage our clients in meaningful discussions about their most critical issues and translate those discussions into opportunities to deliver solutions.


• Work with our marketing and business development team to support the pursuit and capture of projects within your area of expertise.


• Actively participate in regional and national industry groups to advance the Stantec brand and maximize exposure of Stantec’s subject matter experts.


• Do: Deliver high-quality water resources consulting services.


• Act as a project lead and/or project manager for projects in broad areas that draw on your water resources expertise.


• Apply your knowledge of and experience in New Mexico water resources which may include surface water, groundwater, and recycled water supplies; river systems; water-related infrastructure; applicable laws/policies/regulations/guidelines; and/or understanding of operations of major water systems.


• Participate in multi-disciplinary teams conducting water resources planning projects throughout New Mexico and the western U.S.


• Perform and/or lead technical evaluations supporting the planning and design of integrated water supply and infrastructure projects. This may include managing and/or supporting hydrologic, hydraulic, and hydrodynamic modeling studies, financial and economic analyses, environmental reviews, and/or interested party engagement efforts.


• Coordinate with project managers, project engineers and scientists, clients, communities, regulatory agencies, and subcontractors.


• Manage: Contribute to the development of our team of high-performing water resources professionals.


• Support professional development of our team through on-the-job training, exposure to various levels of responsibility and interaction with clients and stakeholders, and guidance on their participation in professional organizations and events.


• Supervise and mentor staff to support their personal career growth.


• Reinforce Stantec’s core values: we put people first, we do what is right, we are better together, and we are driven to achieve.

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, water resources engineering, hydrology, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred.


• 15 – 25 years of increasing responsibility in the execution of complex water resources planning and management projects for public/government sector clients; Areas of specialty may include integrated water resources management, water supply reliability, flood risk management; , and ecosystem and habitat enhancement.


• Experience with and understanding of New Mexico water policies, programs, regulations, and guidelines.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including ability to convey complex issues to a variety of audiences. Experience collaborating with stakeholders, the environmental community, and the public.


• Experience incorporating NEPA/NMED or other regulatory compliance processes into traditional planning processes and contributing to the preparation of environmental review documents.


• Familiarity with state and federal planning processes and requirements, such as federal feasibility studies.


• Experience communicating and working with local, state, and federal agency staff.


• Strong client relationships and experience with local/regional water management agencies.


• Geographically based in New Mexico or willingness to relocate. We have offices in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Roswell, and Silver City.

This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that may be required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may be assigned.

Stantec is a place where the best and brightest come to build on each other's talents, do exciting work, and make an impact on the world around us. At Stantec, we live our corporate values every day.

Stantec is the only engineering design firm that has been rated a Climate Leader with an A- score by CDP for the last three years.