Two of these positions are modified.
At DNRC we are passionate about ensuring that Montana’s land and water resources remain a benefit today and for future generations. We are actively seeking a New Appropriations Program Specialist who values the vast resources in our treasure state as much as we do.
The DNRC believes employees are their most important asset. The DNRC empowers employees to exercise professional judgment in carrying out their duties. Employees are provided with the training and tools necessary to achieve the mission. Both team effort and individual employee expertise are supported and sustained.
Work Unit Overview: The Water Rights Bureau administers the Montana Water Use Act under Title 85, Chapter 2, Montana Codes Annotated. This act provides for the adjudication of pre-July 1, 1973, water rights, permitting for new water rights and changing existing water rights, and a centralized water right record system. TheNew Appropriations Program encompasses permitting new water rights, changing existing water rights, closure of highly appropriated basins, establishment of controlled groundwater areas, administration of water reservations, administration of federal reserved water right compacts, and verification and certification of new appropriations.
Job Overview: There are 3 positions available, one of these positions will specialize as a “CT Coordinator”, guiding the New Appropriations functions typically performed by Compliance Technicians (CTs) in our central and regional offices. These functions include the processing of exempt groundwater filings, ownership updates, and other duties as assigned. If Applicants are interested in this specialized role, we ask that they indicate such in their cover letter.
The New Appropriations Specialist is assigned a variety of program administrative and technical responsibilities associated with the New Appropriations Program. The position has the authority and discretion to ensure appropriate application by staff of policy, rules, and laws pertinent to the New Appropriations Program. Evaluates the work of regional offices in terms of how it relates to statewide program administration and consistent implementation (i.e., contrasts regional office needs, concerns, and problems with statewide needs and statutory responsibilities, and formulates new approaches, methods and policies to solve problems and better meet the needs of constituents and other affected parties). Conducts research and analysis and develops recommendations regarding changes to improve the New Appropriations Program. Coordinates training for regional office personnel on new appropriation matters and provides technical guidance for processing water rights.
Essential Functions (Major Duties or Responsibilities): These job functions are the essential duties of the position and are not all-inclusive of all the duties that may be assigned to the incumbent.
New Appropriation Program Implementation:
- Provides oversight and technical assistance to regional office managers and staff to ensure the New Appropriations Program is carried out in an efficient and consistent manner and that statutory and administrative requirements are met.
- Works in concert with the New Appropriations Program Manager to evaluate and prioritize statewide needs and issues focusing on program enhancement and consistency. This involves receiving and evaluating concerns and suggestions from regional staff, consideration of agency management goals, incorporation of department legal staff opinions and recommendations, and identifying needed revisions to statutes, rules, policies, and procedures.
- Evaluates overall New Appropriations Program implementation by overseeing and reviewing regional office work products to assess effectiveness and ensure statewide compliance, consistency and appropriate interpretation and application of policies, procedures, administrative rules and laws.
- Provides technical assistance and training to regional office and Water Rights Bureau staff in the development, interpretation, and use of new and existing manuals, policies and approaches.
- Assists in coordinating and implementing information and education programs to ensure that regional office staff, the public, and other interested and affected parties have accurate information about the New Appropriations Program. Coordinates publication projects to ensure accurate, timely, and cost-effective dissemination of information to various parties.
- Conducts research and analysis to develop recommendations on new appropriation precedents and problems to provide guidance on recurring situations to support decisions.
New Appropriation Technical Support:
- Processes or coordinates the processing of new appropriation documents.
- Oversee city, county, federal, and conservation district water reservations including 10-year review, and department obligation to provide management of conservation district water right records (detailed development plans) and department process for change applications received on conservation district water right records.
- Conduct “correct and complete” determination of objections to permit and change applications. This involves reviewing objections to permits applications and authorizations to change applications to determine if each objection meets the legal definition of “correct and complete.” An objector must submit facts tending to indicate that the criteria required to issue a permit or authorization to change have not been met. If the incumbent identifies the objection is not “correct and complete,” the objector is given an opportunity to submit additional information. This process determines if an objector has legal standing in an administrative contested case proceeding.
- Assists Regional Offices with processing all additional new appropriations forms including but not limited to: Application for Beneficial Water Use Permits, Applications to Change existing rights, Notices of Completion, Ownership Updates, Petitions, etc. on an as-needed basis. This may include attending or conducting Pre-Application or other meetings with applicants, consultants, or attorneys.
- Revises and develops program forms, checklists and instructions. Solicits suggestions from regional staff for form improvements, reviews suggestions, and develops the form revisions. Works with graphic arts staff to develop forms and format. There are approximately eighty-five forms/checklists/instruction sets associated with water right new appropriations. Over time, this position works with the review, revision and development of all of these items.
- Prepares provisional permits and authorizations to change for water right applications received from the administrative hearings unit. This involves reviewing final order to determine the appropriate information to enter into the water rights database. Coordinates review and issuance of the permit or change authorization with the appropriate regional office and hearings examiner.
- Implement and coordinate activities needed for new legislation as assigned.
- Compiles and manages a new appropriations ‘question and answer’ bank. This involves working with regional office and bureau staff to identify important issues and questions, coordinating acquisition of appropriate resolutions, and disseminating pertinent information.
- Review Regional Office work products including but not limited to technical reports, deficiency letters, and decision documents. Provide feedback to water resource specialist, hydrologists, and regional managers regarding compliance with MCA, ARM, and guiding policy. Coordinate and report findings and grievances to management and participate in discussions/meetings to resolve violations in a timely and organized fashion.
Other Duties as Assigned: Performs a variety of professional research, analysis and public relations activities as assigned by the program manager and bureau chief in support of the DNRC mission and division objectives. This includes representing the department at conferences and meetings, directing special projects, and attending on-going education and training as directed. Performs related work as necessary including participating in recruitment, budgeting, and legislative activities.
Supervision: *It is not expected that this position will supervise staff.
APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS: The DNRC may include the following factors in determining whether an applicant meets the qualifications of a position vacancy by: State of MT application form, cover letter, current resume, educational requirements, structured interview, a performance test, job-related reference checks, job-related work experience, job-related past and current performance.
REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS FOR THIS POSITION ARE:
- Resume
- Cover Letter: Please remember to indicate your interest in the specialized CT Coordinator role as instructed in the “job overview”, if that position interests you.
- References
- Supplemental Questions
Please answer the following supplemental questions in a separate document and attach:
1. Describe how your education and experience qualify you for the essential duties of this position.
2. This position does not supervise subordinates; however it provides program assistance to staff throughout the state and monitors work products for accuracy and consistency. What experience do you have providing guidance or training to co-workers, staff, or others, that pertains to explaining regulations and processing requirements?
3. You will be required to correspond in writing to the public, other department staff, and other agencies. What is your education and experience in technical writing? Please attach two examples of letters, documents, or other information written by you.
TIP: When attaching your resume, cover letter and other material, you must mark the attachments as “relevant”
If you have any questions regarding this position, please email Kellie Richetti at KRichetti@mt.gov
Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience): The required knowledge, skills and abilities are typically acquired through a combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in a resource management, or natural science field and a minimum of four years’ experience with resources management. Course work or experience in physical sciences, engineering, hydrology, natural sciences, or computer science is desirable.
Required knowledge, skills:
- Extensive knowledge of the Montana Water Use Act,
- Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of program management, water resource management; administrative rules, and water rights programs; water use practices; and field procedures; and irrigation and water management practices.
- Working knowledge and experience in investigative methodologies; record keeping; data processing, surface and groundwater hydrology, survey methods and techniques; and research methods.
- Program implementation skills; effective written and verbal communication with people of varied technical levels; and motivating, planning, organizing, and negotiating.
- Operation of personal computers and use of Word, Excel and Access or closely related software.
- Project management, public presentation, and training.
- Ability to conduct legal research and reading technical data and reports.
- Capable of becoming proficient in GIS applications (ArcPro) and accessing and manipulating data in a computer database environment.
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and be able to quickly respond to a shift in priorities while still meeting internal deadlines.
- Analyze scientific and legal information to develop defensible solutions to problems.
Special Information: Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States. A valid driver’s license is required with less than 12 conviction points in the most recent completed 36 months.
Eligibility to Work: In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act, the person selected must produce within three days of hire documents that show authorization to work in the United States. Examples of such documentation include a birth certificate or Social Security card along with a driver’s license or other picture I.D., or a U.S. passport, or a “green card”.
Applicant Pool Statement: If another department vacancy occurs in this job title within six months, the same applicant pool may be used for the selection. Training Assignment: This agency may use a training assignment. Employees in training assignments may be paid below the base pay established by the agency pay rules. Conditions of the training assignment will be stated in writing at the time of hire.
Salary: $ 29.05 – 29.05 Hourly
Telework Eligibility: Telework Eligible (Full-time telework is not available. Telework schedule must be supervisor approved.)
Benefits Package Eligibility: Health Insurance, Paid Leave & Holidays, Retirement Plan
Number of Openings: 3
Employee Status: Regular
Schedule: Full-Time
Shift: Day Job
Travel: Yes, 5 % of the Time
Primary Location: Helena
Agency: Department of Natural Resources & Conservation Union: 000 – None
Posting Date: May 17, 2023, 6:41:16 PM
Closing Date (based on your computer’s timezone): Jun 8, 2023, 7:59:00 AM
Required Application Materials: Cover Letter, Resume, References, Supplemental Questions (Refer to Job Posting)
Contact Name: kellie l richetti | Contact Email: krichetti@mt.gov | Contact Phone: 4064440513 The State of Montana has a decentralized human resources (HR) system. Each agency is responsible for its own recruitment and selection. Anyone who needs a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the agency’s HR staff identified on the job listing or by dialing the Montana Relay at 711. Montana Job Service Offices also offer services including assistance with submitting an online application.
State government does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, creed, political beliefs or affiliation, veteran status, military service, retaliation, or any other factor not related to merit and qualifications of an employee or applicant.
