Local recruitment: Interstate Water Engineer (Arkansas River) - Water Management

Kansas Department of Agriculture

Various, KS, USA 🇺🇸

About the Position:

  • Who can apply: Anyone
  •  Classified/Unclassified Service: Unclassified
  • Full/Part-time: Full-Time
  • Work Schedule: Days (8am to 5pm)
  • Eligible to Receive Benefits: Yes
  • Veteran Preference Eligible: Yes
  • Disability Preference Eligible: Yes

Compensation:

  • Annual Salary Range: $85,000 – $90,000 per year
  • Hourly Pay Range: $40.87 – $43.27 per hour

* Salary can vary depending upon education, experience, or qualifications.


Employment Benefits:

  • Comprehensive medical, mental, dental, vision, and additional coverage
  • Sick & Vacation leave
  • Work-Life Balance programs: parental leave, military leave, jury leave, funeral leave
  • Paid State Holidays (designated by the Governor annually)
  • Fitness Centers in select locations
  • Employee discounts with the STAR Program
  • Retirement and deferred compensation programs

Visit the Employee Benefits page for more information…


This position will remain posted until filled.                

Location: This position is located at the Garden City Field Office in Finney County, Kansas

Position Overview:

The Division of Water Resources is seeking a full-time Interstate Water Engineer to join our team. Did you know that Kansas is a party to four interstate river compacts? Would you like a career that revolves around a vitally important natural resource? Are you a challenge seeker or problem solver? Do you like to create and take ownership of projects? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then come join our team! This position will work with other Kansas DWR team members to carry out the operational and compliance aspects of the KansasColorado Arkansas River Compact (Compact). There’s a wide variety of tasks that will allow both the opportunity to work independently and in conjunction with other team members. We look forward to adding YOU to the team.

As Interstate Water Engineer, you will become an expert on the Arkansas River Compact, related agreements, decrees, and operational documents between the States of Kansas and Colorado, and the Kansas irrigation ditch system. This position includes gaining an understanding of Colorado monthly operational accounting and reservoir accounting to monitor, analyze, and protect the Kansas supply from the Arkansas River. There will be meetings and field work in both Colorado and Kansas.

Job Summary:

Specific job duties include, but are not limited to:

  • Participate in planning, development, implementation, and monitoring of operational policies and guidelines related to the Compact, including U.S. Supreme Court decrees and various agreements between Kansas and Colorado, to protect Kansas’ interests in its Arkansas River water supply.
  • Monitor and analyze Colorado operations, including reviewing Colorado ditch diversion accounting using Colorado’s real-time streamflow data and accounting. Review water accounting related to various Colorado regulatory requirements. Review water accounting in John Martin Reservoir. 
  • Identify any issues, engage the Kansas team, and work with Kansas, Colorado, and/or federal officials as necessary to timely resolve such issues. 
  • Participate in regular meetings with federal agency representatives responsible for federal facilities and structures that measure, control, or impact water supply available to Kansas. 
  • Participate in Colorado operational meetings including water conservancy districts, winter water storage program, water augmentation program, Colorado Division 2 officials, Arkansas River Forum, and other meeting relevant to the Compact and the Arkansas River Basin in Colorado and Kansas.
  • Aid in the performance of the duties generated by the Arkansas River Compact Administration including reviewing meeting transcripts, preparing data, drafting and reviewing reports, and other administrative duties as may be required.

The Hydrologic-Institutional (H-I) Model determines Colorado’s compliance with the Compact – job duties supporting this model are listed below, but are not limited to:

  • Support the review and evaluation of H-I Model updates, help implement enhancements and refinements to the H-I Model and help the Kansas team work toward better data-driven decision models in Kansas. 
  • Perform field verification of Colorado irrigated acres and trans-mountain, groundwater, and surface water diversions to help Kansas manage water in times of shortage, excess flows, and poor water quality.

This position has the opportunity to telework per guidelines of the Telework Policy of the Kansas Department of Agriculture KDA after one year of service.


Minimum Qualifications:

Preferred Qualifications (Not Required):

  • Knowledge of agriculture, water systems and Kansas Water Law and regulations. 
  • Experience with water rights administration, hydrologic analysis, and water management is preferred.
  • Technical experience in conducting hydrologic studies or investigations and reporting results is preferred.
  • Courses or work experience in water resources, hydrology, and hydraulics is preferred.

Post-Offer/Pre-employment Requirements:

Kansas Tax Clearance Certificate required in accordance with Executive Order 2004-03. Each applicant (even non-residents) who is selected for a State of Kansas job vacancy must apply for a Tax Clearance Certificate within 10 days from the date of the offer letter by accessing the Kansas Department of Revenue’s (KDOR) website at www.kdor.ks.gov/apps/taxclearance/Default.aspx 


If you need assistance with the tax clearance, please contact KDOR at (785) 296-3199 or by email at kdor_specialprojects@ks.gov


Recruiter Contact Information:

  • Name: Alyssa Satterthwaite
  • Email:  Alyssa.Satterthwaite@ks.gov 
  • Phone: (785) 564-6713
  • Fax: (785) 564-6777
  • Mailing Address: 1320 Research Park Drive, Manhattan, KS 66502

Required Documents for this Application to be Complete:

  • On the My Job Applications page, verify these documents are present and valid. Upload or delete and replace if needed.
    • DD214 (if you are claiming Veteran’s Preference)
  • Inside your Job Application, upload the these documents:
    • Resume (or choose existing resume if you have one)
    • Cover Letter

Job Application Process

  • Sign in to your existing account or Register for a new account.
  • Review and complete your contact information on the My Contact Information page.
  • Upload documents listed in the Required Documents section of this job posting to the appropriate location.
  • Complete and Submit your application.
  • Check your email and My Job Notifications for written communications from the Recruiter.
    • Email – the email listed on the Careers>My Contact Information page.
    • Notifications – view the Careers>My Job Notifications page.

See the helpful links below to assist in completing your application:


How to Claim Veterans Preference

Veterans’ Preference Eligible (VPE): Former military personnel or their spouse that have been verified as a “veteran”; under K.S.A. 73-201 will receive an interview if they meet the minimum competency factors of the position.  The veterans’ preference laws do not guarantee the veteran a job.  Positions are filled with the best qualified candidate as determine by the hiring manager.

Learn more about claiming Veteran’s Preference


How to Claim Disability Hiring Preference

Applicants that have physical, cognitive and/or mental disabilities may claim an employment preference when applying for positions. If they are qualified to meet the performance standards of the position, with or without a reasonable accommodation, they will receive an interview for the position. The preference does not guarantee an applicant the job, as positions are filled with the best qualified candidate as determined by the hiring manager.

Learn more about claiming Disability Hiring Preference

PLEASE NOTE: The documentation verifying a person’s eligibility for use of this preference should not be sent along with other application materials to the hiring agency but should be sent directly to OPS. These documents should be sent either by fax to (785)296-7712, scanned and emailed to Gustavo.Victoriano@ks.gov, or can be mailed/delivered in person to:

ATTN: Disability Hiring Preference Coordinator
Office of Personnel Services
Landon State Office Building
900 SW Jackson, Rm 401
Topeka, KS 66612


Equal Employment Opportunity

The State of Kansas is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We value diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential elements that create and foster a welcoming workplace.  All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, political affiliation, disability or any other factor unrelated to the essential functions of the job.

If you wish to identify yourself as a qualified person with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and would like to request an accommodation, please address the request to the agency recruiter.


POSITION TYPE

ORGANIZATION TYPE

EXPERIENCE-LEVEL

DEGREE REQUIRED

IHE Delft - MSc in Water and Sustainable Development