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Director Floodplain Management Jobs in Rio Rancho, NM

Director Floodplain Management information

What are some common challenges faced by a Director of Floodplain Management, and how can they be addressed?

A Director of Floodplain Management often encounters challenges such as balancing community development with flood risk mitigation, navigating complex regulatory requirements, and coordinating among multiple stakeholders including local government, engineers, and the public. To address these challenges, strong project management skills, up-to-date knowledge of FEMA guidelines, and effective communication are essential. Building collaborative relationships and staying proactive with community education can also help in fostering compliance and resilience.

What does a Director of Floodplain Management do?

A Director of Floodplain Management oversees programs and policies related to the management and regulation of floodplains to minimize flood risks and ensure public safety. They coordinate with local, state, and federal agencies to implement floodplain regulations, manage flood mitigation projects, and provide guidance on land use and development within flood-prone areas. Their responsibilities often include supervising staff, ensuring compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and educating the community about flood risks and preparedness.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director Floodplain Management, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director Floodplain Management, you need expertise in hydrology, floodplain regulations, urban planning, and typically a degree in civil engineering or environmental science. Familiarity with GIS mapping software, flood modeling tools, and FEMA standards is commonly required, along with relevant certifications like Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM). Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills are crucial for managing teams and collaborating with government agencies and the public. These competencies are vital for ensuring effective flood risk mitigation, regulatory compliance, and community resilience.
What job categories do people searching Director Floodplain Management jobs in Rio Rancho, NM look for? The top searched job categories for Director Floodplain Management jobs in Rio Rancho, NM are:
Water Resources Project Manager

Water Resources Project Manager

Tetra Tech, Inc.

Albuquerque, NM • On-site

Full-time

Posted yesterday

New


Tetra Tech rating

5.8

Company rating: 5.8 out of 10

Based on 40 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

347th of 367 rated engineering


Job description

The Opportunity:
Tetra Techis adding aWater Resources Project Manager to our Central South team based in Albuquerque, NM. This role is ideal for an experienced engineering professional who wants to lead technically complex work, shape project strategy, mentor junior engineers, and serve as a trusted advisor to public-sector clients.
Why Tetra Tech:
At Tetra Tech, we areLeading with Scienceto solve the world's most complex challenges.Our industry-leading expertsin engineering and consultingare committed to driving positive change in communities around the world.For 60 years, wehavebeen at the forefront of innovation and sustainability.Today we stand as a market leader, offeringcutting-edgesolutions in water, environment, energy, and international development.Our work has improved more than625million lives around the world.
Your Impact:
Join Tetra Tech to make a real difference.Our workleveragescutting-edgetechnologies, advanced analytics, and theexpertiseof world-class scientists and engineers to create meaningful change around the world. Discover your full potential - join us to advance your career while leavinga lasting legacy.
Position Summary:
We are seeking a Water Resources Project Manager withexpertise in hydraulics, hydrology, and water resources design and proven project management skills. This role offers a unique opportunity to lead and deliver innovative projects focused on riverine, floodplain, and watershed management for municipal, state, and federal clients. As a client-facing technical lead, you will split your time between business development and project delivery-building client relationships, leading pursuits, managing interdisciplinary teams to develop creative solutions, and ensuring successful delivery of impactful projects.
Essential Job Functions:
The following duties are essential to this role. Reasonable accommodation will be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.
  • Lead and manage preparation of engineering plans, specifications, and cost estimates for water resources and flood management projects, including dams, levees, stormwater, channels, culverts/bridges, spillways, levee setbacks, grade controls, and bio engineered in stream and floodplain restoration features.

  • Lead business development efforts by coordinating with local clients, supporting proposal development, preparing scopes and estimates, leading and participating in client meetings, and marketing team capabilities.

  • Serve as a technical lead for hydrologic and hydraulic analyses and modeling related to surface water, watershed assessment, open channel hydraulics, water/dam operations, storm water and fluvial geomorphology to support design and permitting decisions.

  • Perform and direct sediment transport and scour analyses to support water resources projects.

  • Plan, participate in, and oversee field data collection and reconnaissance activities (hydrographic and topographic surveys, sediment sampling, geomorphic assessments) to develop project baselines and validate hydraulic models.

  • Coordinate and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams - geomorphologists, biologists, ecologists, planners, and other engineers - to integrate ecological, geomorphic, and regulatory requirements into designs.

  • Supervise, mentor, and delegate technical tasks to junior engineers and support staff; review their work products and manage deliverable schedules for complex design packages.

  • Provide senior QA/QC oversight of engineering analyses, drawings, specifications, and reports to ensure technical accuracy, constructability, and compliance with standards and permits.

RequiredQualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a related field.

  • A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in water resources engineering, including floodplain and riverine projects.

  • Proven project management and business development experience - demonstrated success leading project teams and pursuits, preparing proposals, cultivating client relationships, and supporting capture objectives.

  • Registered Professional Engineering license in New Mexico or have NCEES record to obtain NM PE license within 2 months.

  • Experience with 1D steady and unsteady hydraulic modeling (e.g., HEC-RAS or equivalent) and familiarity with hydrologic modeling tools (HEC-HMS, SWMM) and flow record statistical analysis.

  • Proven technical writing, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills for preparing reports, proposals, and client briefings.

  • Experience managing project budgets, schedules, scopes, and supervising junior staff.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Master's degree in civil engineering or related field.
  • Certified Floodplain Manager certification.

  • Familiarity with sediment transport and scour modeling (e.g., HEC RAS sediment transport, HEC 6T, SIAM) is a plus.

  • Experience with 2D hydraulic/mapping models (e.g., RAS 2D, FLO 2D, ADH, SRH 2D or similar) for detailed floodplain and inundation analyses is a plus.

  • Proficiency with AutoCAD and Civil 3D for preparation of engineering drawings and construction documents is a plus.

Physical Requirements:
  • Ability to travel as needed for client and public meetings, with travel anticipated to be up to 5% annually, including occasional overnight travel.

  • Ability and willingness to work outdoors for extended periods in a variety of weather conditions, including heat, rain, wind, and cold.

  • Ability to work in lakes and rivers, including wading in water and wearing waders as required. Swiftwater training will be provided where necessary.

  • Ability to work at a computer workstation for extended periods, up to 8 hours per day, with additional time as project demands require.

  • Manual dexterity to operate a computer, mouse, keyboard, and other standard office equipment and tools.

  • Visual acuity to read and interpret detailed drawings and technical documents, including topographic and site surveys, construction document plan sets, and reports.

  • Ability to communicate effectively in person and through electronic means with colleagues, clients, and project stakeholders.

Additional Information:
  • For this role, we are open to hybrid work schedules in our Albuquerque, NM office.

  • This role requires collaboration with team members across multiple time zones.

  • This position is scheduled for full-time work (40 hours/week) with a typical schedule of 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday. Additional hours may be required based on project needs.

Life at Tetra Tech:
Theperksof working at Tetra Tech include:
  • Comprehensive and market-competitivebenefits.

  • Merit-based financial rewards.

  • Flexibility and company-wide commitment to work/life balance.

  • Collaborative team atmosphere that values the contributions of all employees.

  • Learning and development opportunitiesfor ongoingprofessional growth.

About Tetra Tech:
Tetra Tech is the leader in water, environment,and sustainable infrastructure, providing high-end consulting and engineering services for projects worldwide. With25,000 employees working together, Tetra Tech provides clear solutions to complex problems byLeading with Science®to address the entire water cycle, protect and restore the environment, design sustainable and resilient infrastructure, and support the clean energy transition.
Tetra Techis proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.Allqualified candidates will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability,sex, marital or familial status,status as a protected veteran,orany other characteristic protectedbylaw.
Tetra Tech is a VEVRAA federalcontractorand we request priority referral of veterans.
We inviteapplicationsfrom all interested parties.
Explore our open positions at https://www.tetratech.com/careers. Follow us on social media to learn more about our people, culture, and opportunities:
LinkedIn: @TetraTechCareers
X (Twitter): @TetraTechJobs
We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.
Please no phone calls or agencies.

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