Colorado residents: DWR - Well Commissioner (EPST II)

• Salary: $5,370.00 – $7,933.00 Monthly
• Location: Alamosa, CO
• Job Type: Full Time
• Job Number: PEA 00302 07/24
• Department: Department of Natural Resources
• Division: Division of Water Resources
• Opening Date: 07/25/2024
• Closing Date: 8/11/2024 11:59 PM Mountain
• FLSA: Determined by Position
• Type of Announcement: This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
• Primary Physical Work Address: 301 Murphy Drive, Alamosa CO 81101
• Hiring Pay Rate: Employees new to State Government will be paid on a bi-weekly basis.
• FLSA Status: Non-Exempt; position is eligible for overtime compensation.
• Department Contact Information: Catie.Weber@state.co.us
• Salary Note: Although the full salary range for this position is provided, appointments are typically made at or near the range minimum.
• How To Apply: Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

Department Information

OPEN ONLY TO CURRENT RESIDENTS OF COLORADOAre you interested in investing in a career that makes a difference?

Consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. It’s our mission to manage and conserve Colorado’s natural resources for the benefit of people today – and tomorrow. That means we have to balance development with conservation so the state we all love provides similar opportunities for our children and their children.

We invite you to explore our website at https://dnr.colorado.gov/ to find out more about the work we do to manage Colorado’s natural resources for today – and tomorrow.

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply.

In addition to offering rewarding, meaningful work, we offer:

• Medical and Dental plans
• Strong, flexible retirement plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus pre-tax 401K and 457 plans
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Employee Wellness programs
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Accounts
• 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave
• Flexible work schedule options and remote-work options
• Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system

 Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to: https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/pslfFlow.action#!/pslf/launch

Division of Water Resources (DWR):

State Engineer’s Office

Our mission is to administer the waters of the State to maximize lawful beneficial use, ensure that dams and water wells are properly constructed and safe, and provide information about water resources to the public. Division of Water Resources

This work unit exists to serve the needs of the public and to distribute, preserve, protect, develop and maximize the beneficial use of present and future water supplies of the Rio Grande River Basin, and to insure continued economic growth and quality of life for the people of the State of Colorado through the use of our most valuable natural resource; WATER.

Description of Job

OPEN ONLY TO CURRENT RESIDENTS OF COLORADO 
This position exists to evaluate well permit applications and appropriately condition new well permits, to supply the public, staff and government entities with information and facts about Colorado groundwater law, to instruct the public in proper completion of well permit applications, to provide assistance concerning water availability for homes, businesses, farms and ranches in Division 3, to function as the lead information source on groundwater permitting, to conduct comprehensive field investigations of groundwater uses and to write concise investigation reports which include recommendations for appropriate action, to provide input into the historic use of a given water right.

Specific job duties include but are not limited to:

• Responsible for determining whether illegally drilled exempt type wells can be permitted or should be plugged and abandoned.
• Recommends denial of well permits applications when hydraulic, statutory, and other information shows that the well will injure senior water rights.
• Decide whether information provided by an applicant is accurate and determine if the well permit can be issued, based on a review of hydrologic, statutory and regulatory data.
• Serves as a collaborative resource for Division Engineer office staff and water
  commissioners on interpreting groundwater statutes, policies, construction, and abandonment rules, and permitting procedures.
• Must have a firm understanding of the history, evolution, and present status of water law, rules and regulations, and policy concerning groundwater, as well as understanding engineering analysis of groundwater to inform internal/external customers as needed.
• Determine the legality of groundwater diversions, as well as limitations and conditions for the approval of exempt groundwater permits based on statutory and regulatory data, acreage, beneficial use type, augmentation availability and county parcel information.
• Conducts and/or directs others to conduct comprehensive field investigations and write concise reports which include recommendations for appropriate action.
• Summarizes and presents information to landowners, Realtors and government agencies regarding Senate Bill 35 and other legislative enactments, State Engineer’s policies and county regulations on water supply availability for divisions of land.
• Assists landowners in the partitioning of larger parcels to maximize legal well locations, and provides recommendations and comments to County Planning entities on proposed land use and subdivision changes.
• Utilizes GPS units, topographic software and well permitting software to transfer and plot land parcels in the evaluation of well permit applications.

Other duties as assigned. 

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

OPEN TO STATE OF COLORADO RESIDENTS ONLY

Minimum Qualifications:Education/Licensure/Certification/Experience:
High school diploma or General Education Diploma (GED).
AND
Five (5) years of experience in an occupational field related to the work assigned to the position.

Substitutions
Additional appropriate education will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

(Experience in permitting for governmental or non-governmental agencies, in groundwater use, administration, and/or permitting, working with GIS/GPS systems, evaluation of property records, county assessor records, or state statutes, or in related water administration and/or water court processes will be considered relevant experience.)  

Please note: The required experience MUST be substantiated within the work experience section of your application. Your resume will not be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications; only the work experience section of your application will be reviewed to determine this. “See Resume” statements on the application will not be accepted. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.

If you are using a degree to substitute for the required experience, you may be required to provide copies of your educational transcripts for verification of your qualifications if requested.  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Current or former State experience relevant to this position.
• Knowledge and experience with Colorado water rights. 
• Water administration experience. 
• Experience with permitting.
• Knowledge of Colorado Water Statutes.
• Experience with groundwater and/or wells.
• Excellent written and oral communication.
• Excellent public service skills. 
• Proficiency with Google and Microsoft suites. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and/or Google Sheets. 
• Other experience relevant to the use or management of groundwater resources.

The current work arrangement for this position is as follows: 
(Please note, this arrangement can be subject to change)

• Working in the main Division Office in Alamosa during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, except when conducting field investigations.  

 (The ideal candidate would be willing to live within sixty (60) minutes’ driving time, under normal weather conditions, of where the work station and/or equipment is located.) 

Conditions of Employment: 

• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify their application from the current position.  (Please Note: Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with DNR). 
• Must be willing and able to possess and maintain a State of Colorado Driver’s License
• Must have the ability to independently access remote locations to complete work assignments within the district.
• Must be willing and able to work overtime.
• Must be willing and able to work outdoors as needed for field inspections.
• Must be prepared to defend and support actions and records in depositions or court testimony.
• Must be able to address frequent and detailed inquiries from realtors, homeowners, well owners, well drillers, attorneys, and professional engineers and hydrologists from government and private agencies.

APPEAL RIGHTS:
It is recommended that you contact the Human Resources Specialist listed below to resolve issues related to your possession of minimum qualifications. However, if you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email, US Mail, faxed or hand delivered within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board go to spb.colorado.gov or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director’s Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

Supplemental Information

The Assessment Process 

• All applications received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed by an HR Specialist against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. 
• Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process. Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position will be a structured application review by Subject Matter Experts.
• Resumes, cover letters and other attachments are not considered as part of initial reviews, therefore, it is important to document in your application your education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications as outlined in the job announcement. 
• Please thoroughly answer all supplemental questions (if listed) since question responses may be evaluated for content, writing ability, spelling, grammar, and effective communication. 
• This recruitment may involve additional testing and/or exams to arrive at the top group for interviews.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

The Department of Natural Resources is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, at dnr_hr_employeebenefits@state.co.us.

ADAAA Accommodations

Any person with a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided a reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an employment assessment. To request an accommodation, please contact our ADAAA Coordinator at dnr_hr_employeebenefits@state.co.us at least five business days before the date that any accommodation will be required to allow us to evaluate your request and prepare for the accommodation. You may be asked to provide additional information, including medical documentation, regarding functional limitations and type of accommodation needed. Please ensure that you have this information available well in advance of the assessment date.

E-Verify

The Department of Natural Resources participates in E-Verify in accordance with the program’s Right to Work for all newly-hired employees. Employees are queried through the electronic system established by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to verify identity and employment eligibility. You may complete section 1 of the I-9 form upon your acceptance of a job offer letter, but no later than your first day of employment and in addition, on your first day, but no later than the third day, you are required to submit original documents to verify your eligibility to work in the U.S. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

Toll–Free Applicant Support – Technical Help

If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV at 855-524-5627, Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). The Human Resources Office will be unable to assist with technical issues.   Helpful hints: If you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application, ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and close the document before you attempt to upload it.

Agency: State of Colorado

Address: See the full announcement by clicking the “Printer” icon located above the job title Location varies by announcement, Colorado, —

Website: https://careers.colorado.gov/