Irrigation Manager

Position Summary

The Irrigation Manager is responsible for the operation, maintenance, water management, and regulatory compliance of irrigation systems across the Billingsley portfolio. This role oversees irrigation contractors, water-use efficiency programs, pump stations, wells, controllers, and landscape water budgets, and provides direct support to the Director of Landscape Management on department initiatives and special projects. Reports to Director of Landscape Management.

Irrigation Operations & Water Management

• Monitor and maintain all landscape irrigation systems, including controllers, valves, piping, pumps, wells, flow sensors, and irrigation heads.

• Develop irrigation schedules based on weather, seasonal demand, and water-use objectives; manage lake levels and pond fountain/aeration systems.

• Track and analyze water consumption; file required water-use reports with the City of Dallas, North Texas Groundwater Conservation District, and Billingsley Accounting.

• Develop drought response and water conservation plans; research alternative water sources (effluent reuse, condensate) for new projects.

• Estimate future irrigation water and storage requirements for new projects.

Pump Stations, Controls & Technology

• Oversee pump stations, wells, and associated electrical/control systems; respond to alerts and coordinate repairs.

• Manage smart irrigation controllers, flow monitoring systems, and remote communication platforms.

• Use AI-enabled irrigation and data platforms (e.g., predictive scheduling, anomaly detection, remote diagnostics) to improve water efficiency and reduce response time to system issues.

Project, Construction & Contractor Oversight

• Review landscape and irrigation plans during development and construction for compliance with company standards and applicable regulations.

• Coordinate with engineers, contractors, developers, and landscape architects; inspect new installations and renovations.

• Manage irrigation contractors and vendors, including bid/proposal review and verification of completed work against specifications and budget.

Compliance, Budget & Direct Support

• Ensure compliance with local ordinances, water district regulations, and irrigation licensing requirements; maintain inspection, repair, and water-use records.

• Develop annual operating and capital budgets; track expenditures and report on water usage, maintenance costs, and system performance.

• Provide direct support to the Director of Landscape Management on department priorities, reporting, and cross-functional projects as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Irrigation Technology, Landscape Management, Horticulture, Agricultural Engineering, or Water Resources Management — or an equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible irrigation management experience.

• 5–10 years of commercial irrigation experience, including 3+ years in a supervisory/management role.

• Experience with large-scale commercial, municipal, HOA, or mixed-use developments, including pump station and water distribution management.

• Working knowledge of smart controllers (Weathermatic, Hunter, Rain Bird, Toro), flow monitoring/leak detection, irrigation water auditing, and water conservation strategies.

Licenses & Certifications (Preferred)

• Texas Licensed Irrigator (LI); Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor (CLIA); Certified Irrigation Contractor (CIC); Backflow Prevention Certification; valid Texas Driver's License.

Key Competencies

• Water management expertise, technical troubleshooting, budget management, and regulatory compliance.

• Project and contract management with strong communication and stakeholder coordination.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to inspect field conditions and construction sites, work outdoors in varying weather, and lift up to 50 pounds.

• Occasional after-hours response for irrigation failures, pump station outages, or emergency repairs.

Transportation

Position requires reliable personal transportation. Compensation includes a monthly vehicle allowance, targeted near break-even for standard usage (benchmarked around $450/month).