Water Resources Specialist I/Ii/Iii/Iv

Description

WHAT WE OFFER

The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package that includes:

• A General Salary Increaseof 3.5% effective December 22, 2024.

• Merit Increases:New employees are eligible for an initial 5% merit increase within the pay range upon completion of at least 1,040 hours (approximately 6 months) assuming work meets satisfactory standards. Subsequent merit increases within the pay range will be upon completion of each additional 2,080 hours (approximately one year) from the initial merit increase.

• Educational Incentive:An educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associate degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's degree OR 5% for completion of a graduate degree.

• Bilingual Incentive:Based on agency need,proficiency levels by exam are $.69 per hour (Level I), $1.00 per hour (Level II) or $1.32 per hour (Level III).

• Flexible Workweek/Telework Schedule: We support work/life balance by offering compressed work (e.g., 9/80 or 4/10 workweek) and remote hybrid telework schedules for some positions subject to organizational needs and satisfactory performance.

• Vacation Accrual:New regular, full-time employees shall accrue approximately 14 days of vacation a year for the first 10,400 hours or 5 years of service; vacation accruals increase at 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 20 years of service topping out at 26 days a year and 400 hours of vacation hours banked.

• Annual Leave Redemption: After 14,560 hours of continuous County service an employee may elect to "cash-in" or redeem up to 80 hours of vacation accrued in the same year after using 80 hours of vacation in the preceding 12 months.

• Sick Leave: Full-time regular employees accrue 3.08 hours of sick leave per bi-weekly pay period with an advance at hire of 40.04 hours which will be balanced at the completion of 13 bi-weekly pay periods.

• Deferred Compensation: Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3.00% match on your 401(k) contributions.

• Health Plans:Full-time employees are given a flexible credit allowance of up to $23,530 annually to offset the purchase of medical, dental and/or vision insurance for you and your dependents.

• Employee only: $502 per biweekly pay period

• Employee plus one dependent: $730 per biweekly pay period

• Employee plus family: $905 per biweekly pay period

Flexible Spending Accounts: Pre-tax benefit towards eligible medical, dental and vision care and/or dependent care expenses.Pension Plan: Participation in the County's defined pension plan, which has reciprocity with CalPERS.Holidays:12 paid days per year which includes a scheduled floating holiday.Additional Benefits:Tuition Reimbursement, Disability Plans, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Wellness Program.

The PUBLIC WORKS AGENCY,Watershed Protection Districtoperates and maintains 216 miles of improved channels, 55 dams, 4 coastal pump stations and 148 rain and stream gauges with a $2.7B current replacement value; and is responsible for planning, design (hydrology and hydraulic and structural), and construction of flood conveyance assets, and permitting authority for 950 miles of jurisdictional watercourses. The Department also provides staff to the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency.

THE POSITIONS

Under general supervision (I) or direction (II, III, IV), performs technical hydrographic/water quality office and/or field activities including monitoring, collecting, analyzing, and evaluating hydrologic/water quality data that is used in studies and for the purpose of planning, hydraulic design, flood control implementation, water resources programs and regulatory compliance. In addition, the Water Resource Specialist (WRS) IV coordinates and leads activities of lower level WRS; and performs the most complex technical duties. There are currently three (3) Regular vacancies: one (1) Water Resources Specialist II(Groundwater); one (1) Water Resources Specialist III(Groundwater); and one (1) Water Resources Specialist III/IV (Water Quality).

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES

The successful candidates not only possess the minimum requirements of the positions but also possess a demonstrated knowledge of the principles and practices used in watershed management; and hydrology and water quality/quantity data collection. The successful candidates also possess some experience working with various equipment, instrumentation and tools relating to watershed management/hydrology; conducting data analysis and writing reports; are proficient in applications and software used in hydrology, water quality monitoring, and/or mapping (GIS) such as Microsoft Word and Excel, Teledyne Isco Flowlink, Bentley FlowMaster and/or Hydstra; are detail-oriented and can work independently and in a team environment; and havestrong communication skills, both written and verbal.

APPROXIMATE SALARIES

Water Resources Specialist I: $26.73 - $37.48/hourly

Water Resources Specialist II: $30.03 - $42.12/hourly

Water Resources Specialist III: $33.00 - $46.29/hourly

Water Resources Specialist IV: $37.53 - $52.65/hourly

Examples Of Duties

Depth and breadth of assignments increase at the higher level and may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Assesses, programs, monitors, maintains, calibrates and/or operates (I), designs, fabricates, installs, programs, monitors, maintains, calibrates and operates(II/III/IV) water quality and quantity instrumentation on a daily basis as per regulatory requirements and/or for planning purposes.

• Collects water quality and quantity data from multiple sources/samples (field, office, etc.), creates and appends databases, validates and analyzes data, writes reports on a daily basis as per regulatory requirements and/or for planning purposes. May write annual reports.

• Creates and utilizes datasets and maps using GIS software as needed as per regulatory requirements and/or for planning purposes.

• May assist (I), participates (II) and/or leads (III/IV) in special projects (including water quality and quantity studies), may produce and present related reports as per regulatory requirements and/or at the direction of management.

• May assist in disseminating (I) or disseminates (II/III/IV) water quality and quantity information to the public and consultants via the County website, direct contact, and/or other means.

• May serve (I/II) or serves (III) on and/or may lead (IV) technical, regulatory, organizational, scientific and/or management committees, as needed.

• Estimates costs of staff time and equipment for budgetary purposes on an on-going basis (III/IV).

• Researches service providers and equipment, and prepares purchase requisitions, as needed (III/IV).

• Orders, tracks, and signs for all section-related equipment and supplies (IV).

• Assists with the development of the annual budget (IV).

• Performs other duties as required.

If assigned to Fox Canyon, duties in addition to the above include:

• Calculates groundwater estimates for billing when data is incomplete.

• Interfaces with the public regarding questions relating to groundwater extractions, AMI and well permits.

• Reviews flowmeter photo submissions (multipliers, rollovers, digital vs. analog) and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) data (IV).

If assigned to Surface Water, duties in addition to the above include:

• Maintains the ALERT (Automated Local Evaluation in Real-Time) and/or GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) telemetry equipment.

• Reports (I/II) and/or monitors (III/IV) stream conditions during flood flows to law enforcement/fire service/news media to address problems; identifies potential problems in advance of a storm.

• Installs and operates lake level recorders or dam strain gauges.

• Assesses burn areas for damage to equipment and/or infrastructure and determines potential for sediment and debris collection for analysis.

• Assists with training lower-level Water Resources Specialists.

If assigned to Water Quality, duties in addition to the above may include:

• Provides public outreach including developing and writing articles, attending public events, and delivering presentations, etc.

• Develops contracts including writing RFPs, analyzes responses, makes recommendations and writes lab, consultant and construction contracts.

• Coordinates water quality analysis with labs, regulatory agencies, public/private citizens.

• Researches, writes and submits grant applications.

• Responds to complaints from the public (e.g., sources of illicit discharges).

• Plans for monitoring events including weather tracking and equipment monitoring and determines run-off impact (IV).

• Collects water quality samples in the field (IV).

• Analyzes voltage, level, velocity, flowrate, temperature, rainfall, and radio signal strength data sets (IV).

• Develops/refines theoretical stage/discharge rating tables for streams, pipes and channels (IV).

Water Resources Specialists are represented by the Service Employees International Union(SEIU)and are eligible for overtime compensation.

Typical Qualifications

These are entrance requirements to the exam process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING and EXPERIENCE

Any combination of experience and education that would likely produce the required knowledge, skills and abilities of the respective classification.

Water Resources Specialist I

Some experience in hydrography or water quality analysis which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge, skills and abilities. This can be obtained by at least one (1) year of technical field and/or office experience in the specialty area.