Water Workforce and Leadership Library

The Water Workforce and Leadership Library highlights inspiring, forward-looking examples of training, recruitment, and retention programs that are shifting business-as-usual workforce development practices in the water sector. By collecting and sharing these models, we hope to connect organizations to others working on similar challenges, creating opportunities for workforce programs nationwide to be replicated, refined, and/or scaled.

These programs were submitted following a national call for examples of water workforce apprenticeship, internship, leadership development, and regional collaborative programs that could serve as replicable models.

Leadership Development Programs

As the water sector navigates a period of generational transition, leadership development programs are becoming more essential for maintaining and transforming institutional knowledge, advancing innovation, and solving industry challenges.

Apprenticeship Programs

Apprenticeships are an investment in both individuals and organizations. For participating individuals, apprenticeships provide paid, on-the-job training and industry-recognized credentials. For organizations, apprenticeships serve as a strategic solution to workforce challenges, helping address talent shortages and strengthen succession planning.

Internship Programs

Internship programs combine academic learning and real-world experience, equipping participants with practical skills, industry exposure, and professional connections that shape their career trajectories. For employers, internships create a pipeline of emerging talent, support succession planning, and bring fresh perspectives into the workplace.

Regional Collaboratives

Regional collaboratives unite diverse stakeholders—including employers, education and training providers, community-based organizations, labor unions, and local governments—around a shared vision to address regional workforce needs through collective action. By coordinating efforts, these partnerships expand access to high-quality career pathways, support local economic development, and strengthen organizational resilience across the water sector.