The Details

Position Type

Work for Water

Position Title

Net Zero Engineer

Position Description

About Net Zero Water
The Texas Triangle—the region between Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio and Houston–is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country. Meeting the water demands of this dizzying growth without starving downstream communities of water they rely on for agriculture, industry and environmental flows cannot be achieved through water conservation alone. We need investments in reliable water supplies that truly add new water to our state’s portfolio. Texas Water Trade believes this can be achieved if we look at growth as a source of water – not just a source of demand.

About the Position
The Net Zero Water Engineer (“Engineer”) will skillfully develop a program that balances the delivery of services to paying clients with collaborative efforts to scale water reuse across Texas.

The Engineer will launch and grow the organization’s first fee-for-service program, commercializing Texas Water Trade’s expertise in onsite water reuse, while building a mixed portfolio of paying clients and partners whose needs will be funded by philanthropic commitments. The Engineer should have sufficient experience in business development to be able to establish a book of clients from the for-profit, public and not-for-profit sectors. Texas Water Trade’s development team will support the Engineer in pursuing philanthropic resources for the program’s efforts aimed at systemic change (such as identification of policy tools to lower the barrier to entry for reuse statewide) or nonprofit partners. With sufficient fee-for-service income supplemented as needed by philanthropic resources, the Engineer will have the ability to build out TWT’s Net Zero Water Engineering team to add capacity for technical services over time.

The Engineer will also work collaboratively with other program leads at Texas Water Trade to identify and pursue cross-sectoral solutions generated by onsite reuse. For example, the Engineer will work with Coastal Program staff to assess opportunities for onsite water to enhance freshwater inflows into riverine and estuarine systems with depleted natural flows.

This person will be expected to work well in a dynamic team environment and to manage the diverse demands of stakeholders including clients, funders and program partners. Technical acumen and communications skills will be equally important, as the Engineer will need to perform tasks with specialized knowledge while also representing Texas Water Trade to the outside world.

Position Salary

$120,000+

Position Notes

-

Position Minimum Experience

Qualifications
Texas Water Trade will seek candidates who are diligent and results-driven, with demonstrated team orientation and an interest in water resilience.

Required Qualifications:
• A college degree with a concentration in engineering. A Master’s degree is strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 10-15 years’ experience working in a team environment.
• Experience designing and/or permitting onsite water reuse systems.
• Familiarity with the regulatory program development and/or management for water reuse in Texas.
• Experience pursuing contracts above and below competitive procurement levels.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Professional Engineer License from the Texas Board of Professional Engineers
• Familiarity with standards such as those created by the National Blue Ribbon Commission on Onsite Non-potable Water Reuse.
• Interest in Texas springs, rivers, bays and estuaries, the future of urban water supplies, market-based conservation and transformative technology for clean water access.

Location:
• This is a hybrid position with in-person requirements for staff in the Austin region.
• There is a strong preference for the Net Zero Water Engineer to be based in Texas. Remote candidates must have the ability to travel to Texas frequently. There will be occasional events after work hours.
• Currently, staff members within 40 miles of the TWT office in Austin are required to work from the office three days a week.

Qualifications

Preferred Education

Master's Degree

Scope of Responsibilities

About You
The position will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer and will work in concert with the entire TWT team. Responsibilities and their estimated time allocation will include:

Technical Service Delivery (50%):
• Support clients in evaluating the water reuse potential of their projects, including calculating water balances, selecting optimal onsite water sources and end uses, determining appropriate water treatment standards, and selecting water treatment and monitoring technologies.
• Guide clients and collaborators through the process of permitting water reuse systems, including where needed, facilitating conversations with regulators at the state and local level.
• Assist utilities, counties and cities in developing incentives and requirements for onsite water reuse.
• Collaborate as opportunities arise with other TWT program teams to develop multi-benefit water reuse concepts to advance TWT’s overall mission.

Business Development (35%):
• Coordinate with the TWT CEO and Founder to cultivate potential clients from the for-profit, public and not-for-profit sectors including but not limited to master planned community developers, commercial developers, Fortune 1000 corporates siting facilities in the Texas Triangle, iconic Texas-based brands with significant real estate footprints, universities, hospitals, counties and cities.
• Develop contracts to work alongside project developers’ existing design and engineering teams to identify and refine water reuse opportunities.
• Pursue and secure competitive and sole-source procurement opportunities with public entities to support their water reuse permitting or planning needs.
• Aim to grow the book of business to support team expansion over time.

Shaping Reuse Statewide (5%):
• Educate stakeholders on the importance of risk-based design standards for onsite water reuse systems.
• Interface with stakeholders advancing onsite water management certification programs to build a skilled workforce across Texas.
• Share knowledge with legislators, municipal officials, utility commissions and directors to help them understand the role onsite water reuse can play in Texas.
• Represent Texas Water Trade at events for water, land development and policy decision makers to expand awareness of onsite water reuse.
• Provide value to members of the water reuse ecosystem (e.g., water reuse service companies, project developers and regulators) while maintaining Texas Water Trade’s reputation as a knowledgeable neutral party.

Program Management (10%):
• Build the Net Zero Water program budget in close coordination with management and administrative staff.
• Review quarterly financial performance of the program and adapt as necessary to build a sustainable program.
• Help development and administrative staff maintain compliance with grants requirements and facilitate fundraising efforts in coordination with the CEO and Development team.

While these are the core responsibilities, as with any small organization, flexibility is key.

Application Closing Date

April 27, 2024

Application Instructions

To Apply
Please submit inquiries, cover letter and résumé including three professional references to Sharlene Leurig, Chief Executive Officer, at leurig@texaswatertrade.org. Résumés will be reviewed on receipt until April 28, 2024 with a targeted start date in May 2024.