Natural Resource Specialist 4 (Senior Hydrogeologist)

Initial Posting Date:

04/29/2024

Application Deadline:

05/13/2024

Agency:

Water Resources Department

Salary Range:

$6,034 - $9,275

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Natural Resource Specialist 4 (Senior Hydrogeologist)

Job Description:

Our Vision

The vision of the Oregon Water Resources Department is to assure sufficient and sustainable water supplies are available to meet current and future needs.

Core Values

• Integrity

• We are accountable for all that we do. We act with honesty and promote transparency.

• Service

• We are dedicated to providing outstanding service and treating everyone equitably in our management and stewardship of state resources.

• Technical Excellence

• We base our resource decisions on law, science, and expertise.

• Teamwork

• We are united in our mission, relying on one another and working together with the communities we serve.

• Forward-Looking

• We seek innovative and practical solutions to the water challenges of today and tomorrow.
  2019-2024 Strategic Plan

The Oregon Water Resources Department's strategic priorities for 2019-2024 are to:

• Modernize our management of Oregon's surface water and groundwater resources to meet instream and out-of-stream uses

• Work to secure Oregon's instream and out-of-stream water future in the face of increasing water scarcity

• Foster a forward-looking team dedicated to serving Oregonians with integrity and excellence

Position Information

This position is a full-time, permanent position, located in Salem, with remote option flexibility.

This position is also represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

The Oregon Water Resources Department is committed to creating a workplace culture that understands and appreciates differences among people and is welcoming and inclusive to all. By fostering fairness and equity in its work culture, the Department strives to improve services for all Oregonians. We acknowledge that not all people have experienced equitable opportunities or fair treatment. We are committed to increasing our awareness and understanding of historic injustices and building a foundation for meaningful change. We value a wide range of professional and lived experiences, and people of underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Job Description:

Program Information

The Groundwater Section is the primary entity responsible for collecting groundwater data statewide, organizing and interpreting that data, and applying that data and information to support groundwater right transactions, the distribution and regulation of groundwater, and planning efforts to meet future groundwater needs.

What you will do

As a Senior Hydrogeologist, you will play a critical role in understanding the state's groundwater resources, applying that understanding to the core functions of the Department, and communicating your expertise to a wide range of stakeholders. As an agency expert in groundwater hydrology, you will:

• Design and execute a groundwater data collection program for one or more areas of the state.

• Independently analyze quantitative hydrogeologic data.

• Apply data and professional interpretations to support groundwater rights transactions, the distribution and regulation of groundwater, and planning efforts to meet future groundwater needs.

• Coordinate with technical staff in other local, state, and federal agencies to perform comprehensive groundwater basin evaluations.

• Draft technical specifications for observation well installations and other contracting work related to groundwater data collection. Direct consultants and contractors in the field to execute this work.

• Provide technical input to develop or amend administrative rules through the agency's schedule for rulemaking, prepare for and testify in legal cases as an expert witness, and lead development and implementation of policies, projects, and programs.

• Mentor early to mid-level groundwater staff.

Many of the duties and responsibilities of this position require the incumbent to apply hydrogeologic, geologic and other scientific principles constituting the public practice of geology. Therefore, the successful candidate should be recognized by the Oregon State Board of Geologist Examiners as a Registered Geologist or provide evidence of the ability to obtain registration within six months of hire.

Minimum Qualifications

• Natural Resource Specialist 4

We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may not meet every one of our listed preferred qualifications. Lived experience may count towards the preferred qualifications. If you are excited about this position, we encourage you to apply. If you are unsure as to whether you meet the preferred qualifications of this position, please contact us to discuss your application.

• Four years of experience in groundwater resource management at a technical or professional level performing activities in natural resources such as researching and analyzing data, conducting investigations, applying pertinent laws and regulations, or coordinating and monitoring project activities AND;

• A Bachelor's degree in Water Resources, Geology, Engineering, or related field with coursework in quantitative hydrogeology. AND;

• Registered Geologist

• You are licensed by the Oregon State Board of Geologist Examiners or hold registration in another ASBOG state that can be converted to a cooperative registration in Oregon, or hold qualifications to sit for the ASBOG fundamentals and practice exams within 6 months of employment.

Preferred Qualifications

One or more of these preferred qualifications will make you a more competitive candidate for this position:

• Technical computing skills

• You have experience using ArcGIS, SQL, Python, R, or other similar GIS, database, or programming languages and software.

• Project management skills

• You have experience managing projects and overseeing drilling and professional service contractors.

• Critical thinking skills

• You can identify connections and generate ideas for navigating complex problems.

• Equity and environmental justice

• You are informed and engaged with issues of equity and environmental justice and seek to continue to learn and grow in these areas.

• Self-starter and team player

• You possess the ability to work both independently and as part of a team to move projects forward.

• Effective Communication

• You can communicate with a wide variety of audiences and be able to accurately distill highly technical and complex information (law, policy, and science).

Note: In addition to your related work experience and education, we will use both the minimum and desired qualifications above to determine whom to interview. Please make sure all your relevant qualifications are clearly demonstrated in your application materials. Your application materials may be evaluated on spelling, grammar, punctuation, attention to detail, and presentation.

Working Conditions

This role involves a combination of office work and occasional remote work, with the schedule determined by mutual agreement between the manager and employee. Responsibilities include occasional lifting (up to 50 pounds) and handling interactions with occasionally hostile or angry customers. A valid driver's license and a clean driving record are required as this position entails overnight travel for field data collection, meetings, and engaging with groundwater stakeholders. Fieldwork is conducted year-round, sometimes in challenging weather conditions like below freezing temperatures, and may occasionally involve overnight stays in rural areas, including the rare overnight outdoor work in isolated rural environments. There will also be occasional work around heavy equipment and motors, as well as driving long distances to remote field sites in varied weather and road conditions.

SALARY INFORMATION

The table below shows the monthly salary ranges for each classification level included in this posting.

NON-PERS ELIGIBLE (Includes most new hires to state government. Employees typically gain PERS eligibility after six months of state service.

NRS4 $ 6,034 - $ 9,275 Monthly

PERS ELIGIBLE (Typically current or former employees of Oregon state or local government, public schools, universities, etc.)

NRS4 $ 6,454 - $ 9,919 Monthly

Other Benefits

• We offer a competitive benefits package that includes:

• Exceptional medical, vision and dental plans with employees paying 1 to 5% of the total premium.

• Leave accrual starting at 8 hours of sick and 8 hours of vacation leave per month, with your vacation leave accruals increasing every 5 years.

• Access to an additional four days of discretionary leave

• 3 days of personal business leave and one day of Governor's Leave each year.

• Eleven paid holidays per year.

• Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) including a pension and employer contributions to the Individual Account Program.

• Optional benefits (such as term life insurance, long-term and short-term disability, long-term care, health and dependent care flexible spending accounts, enrollment in the Oregon Savings Growth Plan, a deferred compensation program with a wide variety of investment options).

• The opportunity to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (must qualify).

How to Apply:

Please ensure to provide your resume and cover letter for full consideration.

• Provide a brief (no more than 1 page) cover letter indicating why you are interested in, and a good candidate for, the Senior Physical Hydrogeologist position at the Oregon Water Resources Department.

• Provide a brief (no more than 2 page) resume clearly indicating your experience pertinent to the required and desired qualifications in this announcement.

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Important

Please monitor both your email and Workday account for updates regarding this recruitment. You may be asked to submit additional information after initial application. If you have questions about this job posting, please contact Human Resources at WRD_DL_HR@water.oregon.gov.

Current State of Oregon employees must apply through your employee Workday account.

Work Authorization

The Oregon Water Resources Department does not offer visa sponsorships. Within three days of hire, all applicants will be required to complete the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States.

Veterans

If you are an eligible veteran and you meet the qualifications, veterans' preference points will be added to your score. For more information on veterans' preference points visit www.oregonjobs.org and select Veterans resources under Resources. Please do not attach veteran documentation to your initial application, after you have applied you will be sent a task in your Workday account to provide your veteran documentation at that time.

The Oregon Water Resources Department is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer Committed to Workforce Diversity.