Principal / Senior Principal Hydrogeologist

Grounded in safety, quality, and ethics, our experts lead their fields and guide our work with rigor, a creative spirit, and a vision for growth. We draw from more than 20 technical specialties worldwide and are committed to fostering an inclusive community of diverse talents, backgrounds, and expertise. We’re a place to apply your passion and collaborate with top environmental talents on work critical to our clients and the communities they support. Join a team that has the environment down to a science.

Your Opportunity 

We are looking for a highly motivated Principal / Senior Principal Hydrogeologist with a demonstrated ability to win work, grow client relationships, and lead high-performing teams in a seller-doer capacity. This leadership role will focus on expanding our hydrogeology, groundwater management, water resources, and site investigation and remediation services throughout Southern California by leveraging existing industry relationships, identifying emerging opportunities, and delivering innovative technical solutions that create value for our clients. The successful candidate will be expected to drive revenue growth, build a sustainable backlog, mentor staff, and serve as a visible leader within the Southern California groundwater and environmental consulting community while maintaining excellence in project execution and client satisfaction.

You will be joining a highly collaborative and client-focused team committed to technical excellence, business growth, and professional development. This position offers significant opportunities for career advancement, leadership development, and increased responsibility, along with the ability to shape the growth and direction of our Southern California hydrogeology practice.

Key Roles and Responsibilities
Business Development & Client Growth

• Develop, maintain, and expand relationships with existing and prospective clients, including water agencies, municipalities, groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs), regulatory agencies, and private-sector organizations throughout California. 
• Identify, qualify, and capture new business opportunities that align with Stantec’s strategic growth objectives.
• Lead proposal development, presentations, interviews, and contract negotiations to secure new work.
• Maintain accountability for annual sales goals, revenue growth, and backlog development through proactive business development activities.
• Represent Stantec in groundwater, environmental, and water resources industry organizations to enhance market visibility and generate new opportunities.
• Collaborate with regional and national practice leaders to pursue strategic opportunities and key client accounts as well as regional technical leaders to maintain connectivity between backlog and new opportunities.

Client Relationship and Account Management

• Leverage established relationships and exceptional project delivery to generate repeat business, build long-term client partnerships, and expand Stantec’s presence in the Southern California groundwater and environmental services market. 
• Serve as a trusted advisor to clients, providing strategic guidance and technical solutions that support client objectives.
• Understand client business drivers, regulatory challenges, and capital investment priorities to identify emerging opportunities.
• Lead key account planning and client engagement activities to increase market share and client satisfaction.

Technical and Project Leadership

• Provide senior-level technical oversight and strategic direction for complex hydrogeologic investigations, groundwater management and sustainability planning, basin management, managed aquifer recharge, water-supply evaluation, groundwater contamination assessment, and site investigation and remediation projects. Collaborate well with principal/senior technical leaders within the California hydrogeological practice.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with quality standards.
• Serve as a senior technical resource for project managers, technical staff, clients, and pursuit teams. 
• Review major deliverables, work plans, reports, and regulatory submissions to ensure technical excellence and defensibility.
• Support innovative solutions that address environmental, regulatory, redevelopment, and sustainability challenges.

Leadership, Collaboration & Team Development

• Support the continued growth of Stantec’s Southern California hydrogeology practice through recruitment, retention, staff development, and succession planning.
• Mentor and develop staff through coaching, technical guidance, and career development planning.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, safety, quality, and client service excellence.
• Build and lead multidisciplinary teams to pursue and execute strategic projects.

Financial Management

• Maintain accountability for the financial performance of projects and client portfolios.
• Support annual business planning, forecasting, and budgeting processes.
• Monitor project profitability, utilization, accounts receivable, and key business metrics.
• Collaborate with operational leadership to achieve revenue, backlog, and margin goals.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Demonstrated success as a growth-oriented seller-doer, including developing, winning, and executing significant groundwater, water resources, and environmental services projects. 
• Established Southern California client and industry relationships, with a proven history of generating repeat business and building a sustainable backlog of work. 
• Strong understanding of California groundwater systems, groundwater sustainability planning, hydrogeology, water resources planning, site investigation, remediation, and environmental regulatory programs. 
• Recognized technical leadership and credibility within the Southern California hydrogeology, groundwater, or environmental consulting marketplace preferred. 
• Excellent communication, leadership, negotiation, and business development skills.
• Proven ability to lead large, complex projects and multidisciplinary teams.
• Success in this role will be measured by revenue growth, client retention, new project wins, technical leadership, staff development, and overall contribution to the growth and profitability of the Southern California business.

 Your Capabilities and Credentials

• California Certified Hydrogeologist (CHG) preferred; California PG, PE, or other relevant professional registration will be considered.
• Established Southern California client relationships and demonstrated success winning work in the groundwater, water resources, or environmental services markets. 
• Experience with groundwater management, SGMA implementation, groundwater sustainability planning, managed aquifer recharge (MAR), groundwater banking, water supply projects, Water Supply Assessments (SB610), and related water resources planning efforts preferred.
• Experience with site investigation and remediation projects involving groundwater contamination assessment and corrective action preferred.
• Knowledge of groundwater modeling tools and applications, including MODFLOW-based platforms, IWFM, FEFLOW, or comparable software, preferred. 
• Extensive experience working with public agencies, municipalities, counties, water agencies, regulatory agencies, and private-sector clients within complex federal, state, and local regulatory frameworks.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and client management skills.
• Valid driver’s license and satisfactory driving record.

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in hydrogeology, geology, geological engineering, civil engineering, water resources engineering, or a related field.
Advanced degree such as an MS or PhD preferred.
Minimum 12 years of relevant professional experience required; 15 or more years preferred.
Demonstrated experience managing complex groundwater, water resources, and environmental projects and client portfolios.
Experience leading and mentoring multidisciplinary teams of hydrogeologists, geologists, engineers, and scientists.
Experience managing major projects or client portfolios with budgets exceeding $4 million or more.

This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee and other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice.

About Stantec

Stantec is a global leader in sustainable engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting. The diverse perspectives of our partners and interested parties drive us to think beyond what’s previously been done on critical issues like climate change, digital transformation, and future-proofing our cities and infrastructure. We innovate at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships to advance communities everywhere, so that together we can redefine what’s possible.
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