Flood Recovery & Water Resource Specialist

Southern Tier Central Regional Planning and Development Board (STC) is growing and seeking a Senior Flood Recovery & Water Resources Specialist to lead highly technical flood recovery, flood mitigation, and water resource programming across a three-county region.

This senior-level position plays a regional leadership role in flood recovery planning, watershed management, hazard mitigation, and grant-funded infrastructure and resilience programs. The Specialist will work closely with counties, municipalities, state and federal agencies, and partner organizations to develop, implement, and coordinate complex flood recovery and risk-reduction efforts.

This is a full-time civil service position, with a civil service exam to be administered at a later date. Regular attendance at evening meetings is required (average two per month).

Expected Salary Range: $65,000 to $90,000

About the Role

STC seeks a highly experienced and technically skilled professional with demonstrated expertise in floodplain management, flood recovery, water resources, environmental planning, and intergovernmental coordination. This role requires the ability to exercise independent judgment, manage complex regulatory and grant requirements, and serve as a technical resource and mentor within a multidisciplinary planning organization.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as STC's technical lead for flood recovery, flood mitigation, and water resource planning
• Collaborate with local, state, and federal partners to identify, evaluate, and prioritize flood recovery and mitigation projects
• Compile, manage, and analyze flood, hydrologic, environmental, and spatial data, and prepare technical documentation, statistics, plans, maps, and reports
• Develop written and oral materials explaining flood recovery strategies, flood risk management approaches, and mitigation best practices
• Engage with water quality groups concerned with the Finger Lakes, the Upper Susquehanna River, and Chesapeake Bay watershed and associated tributaries
• Provide high-level technical assistance to counties, municipalities, water quality groups, and environmental organizations
• Review and provide expert input on floodplain-related studies, plans, and projects initiated by FEMA, NYS agencies, federal partners, non-profits, and consultants
• Lead grant seeking, writing, administration, and compliance for flood recovery, flood mitigation, water quality, and resilience funding programs
• Monitor and interpret federal and state regulations and policy related to flooding, wetlands, levees, stormwater, and water quality
• Deliver training, outreach, and public presentations on floodplain management, flood recovery, hazard mitigation, and stream processes
• Coordinate with emergency management, land use, and public works partners to assist in updating flood recovery plans, mitigation strategies, warning systems, and response procedures
• Provide technical planning input on drainage improvements, flood protection infrastructure, floodplain restoration, and resilience projects

Qualifications

A bachelor's or master's degree in planning, environmental studies, geography, public administration, engineering, or a related field, along with relevant professional experience of 2 or more years.

This is a highly technical role. Strong candidates will demonstrate experience in:

• Advanced knowledge of floodplain management, flood recovery, and hazard mitigation (CFM or close alignment with ASFPM standards)
• Technical experience working with FEMA, NYS DHSES, Army Corps of Engineers, and other federal and state agencies
• Extensive experience with federal and state grant programs, including writing, budgeting, reporting, and compliance
• Proficiency with GIS, spatial analysis, and flood-related mapping
• Familiarity with hydrology, geomorphology, watershed processes, and flood risk modeling concepts
• Strong data analysis, problem-solving, and technical writing skills
• Proven ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously
• Skilled public speaker with experience presenting technical concepts to non-technical audiences
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while also leading collaborative, multi-partner efforts
• Experience stepping into a technical leadership role within an organization or program

Preferred Certifications & Technical Skills:

• Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM)
• Advanced GIS expertise (ArcGIS, geodatabases, spatial analysis)
• Experience with hazard mitigation plans, flood recovery action plans, or watershed implementation plans
• Familiarity with environmental permitting and regulatory coordination
• Experience supporting Climate Resilience, CDBG-MIT, HMGP, BRIC, or similar programs

Work Environment

STC is a small friendly team of professionals who work closely together to meet the needs of the region. The collaborative office environment provides a flexible 35-hour work week and extensive benefits including NYS Retirement System, 457 plans, and platinum-level health insurance. Policies allowing for a 4-day work week exist and an accommodating family-friendly flexible schedule is allowed.

How to Apply

Please apply by submitting a resume, relevant work samples, and a cover letter to Chelsea Robertson, Executive Director, at crobertson@stcplanning.org.