Senior Public Affairs Representative Kimberlyn Velasquez and intern Sierra Stewart at the Poway Unified School District Career Fair at Mt. Carmel High School.Water Authority Ramps Up Workforce Development
Job opportunities in the water industry are plentiful and growing. That’s why the San Diego County Water Authority is making workforce development a priority, preparing the next generation of job seekers to pursue careers in this vital and often overlooked field.
The Water Authority is participating in career fairs and work panels around the county to highlight the various career paths, educational requirements, starting salaries and job growth potential in the water world.
“More than half of our workforce will be eligible to retire in the next five years,” said Cristina Lever-Santos, Principal Human Resources Analyst with the Water Authority “This will create new opportunities for meaningful careers in the water industry. Engaging our community to develop robust workforce development opportunities will help to fill critical skills and knowledge gaps, ensure operational business continuity, and create a pipeline of top talent.”
2025 Workforce Development Efforts
Water Authority employees are connecting with high school and college students, transitioning service members, veterans, and diverse immigrant communities at various events.
The goal is to showcase the wide array of jobs needed to keep water flowing to the taps. Career opportunities range from engineering, finance and public affairs roles that require college degrees, to skilled trade jobs – such as surveyors and operators, that call for a high school diploma and special certifications at differing levels.
Introductions to water careers are made at a variety of career fairs and industry events throughout the year. These include high school and college career fairs, the East County Economic Development Council Manufacturing Expo, as well as military and apprenticeship-focused fairs.
Cristina Lever-Santos and intern Lily Winesett at the East County EDC Manufacturing Expo at Cuyamaca College.
Students and prospective job candidates stop by the agency’s booth to learn about water industry career paths, internship programs, and the skills and education needed to enter and thrive in the water industry. Fun promotional materials and interactive demos also engage participants.
The agency is also partnering with the newly formed San Diego County Water Workforce Collaborative to bring together educators and industry professionals to highlight the water industry and build a future water workforce.
Plans for the Future
To inspire the next generation of water professionals, the Water Authority is also expanding its work with partners at the college and high school levels as well as collaborating with water agencies throughout the region. Programs such as the apprenticeship initiative with Cuyamaca College’s Center for Water Studies allow students to rotate through technical roles to gain practical experience in treatment and operations.
Supporting Veterans and Career Growth
The Water Authority provides training opportunities to military veterans looking for new careers in public service as part of the SkillBridge Program. The program helps military veterans transition to career-track training opportunities, including work in the water and wastewater industry. More than 30,000 service members separate from the military each year in California, and more than half are transitioning out of active duty in the San Diego region.
Learn More About a Career in Water
Senior Human Resources Analyst Patty Duran at the Camp Pendleton Career Exploration & Hiring Event.
San Diego County Water Authority and its 22 member agencies launched SanDiegoWaterWorks.org, serving as a one-stop shop for regional water and wastewater industry careers. It provides the first comprehensive list of job openings across the San Diego region in a convenient location. The site features:
- Current water and wastewater job postings in the San Diego region
- Career advice and resources on training, education and internship programs
- Stories featuring rewarding careers in the water industry
- Resources and information on special training programs and internships for military veterans
In addition, the California Urban Water Agencies career ladders offer valuable resources by highlighting career paths, requirements, and salaries within the water sector – from entry-level positions to advanced technical and executive leadership roles.
For more information about careers in water, visit sdcwa.org/careers or sandiegowaterworks.org
