How to Keep Your Water Industry Talent Pipeline Flowing

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Numerous factors are impacting the trajectory of the water industry, including population growth and urbanization, climate change and water scarcity, stricter environmental regulations, aging water infrastructure, technological innovations, industrial and agricultural demand, sustainability initiatives, and public and private infrastructure investments. This growth will drive the need for a more strategic and long-term approach to sourcing talent to remain competitive. By devising a plan now that incorporates investments in your employer brand and consistent opportunities to grow and nurture your network, you can position yourself as a top-of-mind employer of choice when talent needs arise. Here are some recommendations for accelerating your talent pipeline.

Seek Out Professional Association Speaker Opportunities

Many professional associations seek out keynote speakers and panelists for conferences, special interest group meetings, educational webinars, and panel discussions. Presenting to a professional association is an effective way to reach a large portion of your target audience quickly. Below are some of the industry associations and who they serve.

American Water Works Association (AWWA). Drinking water professionals, engineers, and utility managers
Water Environment Federation (WEF). Wastewater, stormwater, and water quality professionals
National Ground Water Association (NGWA). Hydrogeologists, well drillers, and groundwater professionals
US Water Alliance Sustainability advocates, One Water professionals, and policymakers
Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA). Regulatory professionals, and state and local water administrators
Water Reuse Association (WateReuse). Water reuse and desalination professionals
International Water Association (IWA). Global water professionals, researchers, and academics
Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS). Ecologists, hydrologists, and conservationists

Join a Professional Association Board

As a board member, you will help shape the association’s mission, including programming, educational opportunities, and fundraising efforts. Working alongside fellow board members, you will have the opportunity for ongoing networking, relationship building, and sharing of best practices. You will serve as a strategic partner to companies and vendors, enabling you to establish relationships with industry leaders. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to become familiar with the association membership and continue to expand your network.

Build Brand Equity by Entering Best Place to Work Competitions

Organizations that recognize outstanding workplaces through annual awards and certifications provide a valuable vehicle for showcasing your employer brand and attracting interest from talent. There are competitions with varying company sizes and industry verticals, making these contests accessible to a diverse range of employers. Some of the most prominent competitions are:

Ramp Up Your Social Media Outreach Strategy

The water industry is facing the silver tsunami with predictions that nearly one-third of water sector employees are eligible to retire in the next decade. To engage the next generation of industry leaders, companies must be present on multiple social media platforms, including YouTube, LinkedIn, X, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Media campaigns demonstrating innovation and impact, facility virtual tours, videos depicting the employee experience, and even humor and interactive games help build engagement and cultivate interest in water industry careers. Water industry companies that are using social media effectively include:

DC Water
Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD)
BC Hydro
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)

Leverage Technology to Identify Industry Talent

Enter industry hashtags into the search box on social media sites to identify industry influencers and thought leaders that might be strong candidates for your organization or be connected to others who are. Utilize these same hashtags on the search tab for LinkedIn Groups to join groups with like-minded professionals who might be a fit for your organization. Top water industry hashtags include:

General Water Industry

#WaterIndustry
#WaterSector
#WaterManagement
#WaterInfrastructure
#WaterUtilities
#WaterSolutions

Environmental & Sustainability

#WaterSustainability
#WaterConservation
#SustainableWater
#SaveWater
#WaterForTheFuture
#ClimateAndWater
#WaterResilience

Drinking Water & Sanitation

#SafeDrinkingWater
#CleanWaterForAll
#WaterSanitation
#WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene)
#SDG6 (Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water & Sanitation)
#WaterEquity

Water Technology & Innovation

#WaterTech
#SmartWater
#WaterInnovation
#WaterFiltration
#Desalination

Wastewater & Treatment

#WastewaterTreatment
#WaterRecycling
#StormwaterManagement
#SewageTreatment
#GreywaterRecycling

Water Professionals & Industry Events

#WaterProfessionals
#WaterLeaders
#WaterConference
#WaterExperts
#H2OIndustry

Create Visibility at Affinity Organizations

Professional organizations attract members based on their affinity to an industry or functional area of expertise, but employers can improve their outreach to qualified professionals by making inroads into organizations aligned by other affinities such as gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Women, in particular, are underrepresented in the water industry, especially in technical and leadership roles, but there are professional associations catering to women members that can be leveraged to help companies unearth talent. A few examples include:

Black Water Professionals Alliance (BWPA)
Society for Women Engineers (SWE)
Leading Hispanics in STEM (SPHE)
Society of Asian Scientists & Engineers (SASE)
Out to Innovate (NOGLSTP)

Participate in Academic Collaborations

Strategic partnerships with colleges and high schools can fuel interest in water industry careers and help companies cultivate emerging talent. Successful alliances include:

Hire a Recruiting Firm With Industry Expertise

For your most senior roles, and particularly for sourcing that “needle in the haystack” candidate, consider partnering with a search firm where you can leverage their deep networks and industry connections to find talent that meets your unique requirements.

By applying a well-thought-out plan for identifying, sourcing, and cultivating candidates, you will have a robust pipeline of talent “on tap” when you need to fill your mission-critical roles.

About Human Capital Solutions

Human Capital Solutions (HCS) is a high-touch, boutique consulting firm specializing in Retained Executive Search, Professional Recruiting, and Professional Coaching. Our team of subject matter experts partners with organizations across the U.S. to engage and deploy human capital to achieve desired business outcomes. HCS specializes in Private Equity, Technology, Hospitality, Industrials, Life Sciences, and Healthcare executive search.