Initial Posting Date: 05/14/2025

Application Deadline: 06/03/2025

Agency: Water Resources Department

Salary Range: $6,123 – $9,409

Position Type: Employee

Position Title: Senior Hydrographer (Natural Resource Specialist 4)

Job Description:

Working Title: Senior Hydrographer

Classification: Natural Resource Specialist 4

Position Type: Full-time, permanent

Representation: This position is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU)

FLSA Status: Exempt, not eligible for overtime or compensatory time

Monthly Compensation: The monthly salary range will be $ 6,123.00-$ 9,409.00 Before PERS* | $ 6,549.00 -$ 10,066.00 After PERS* 

Work Location: Salem, Pendleton, Medford, Baker City, Canyon City, and Klamath Falls. 

Hybrid/Remote Work: Hybrid Eligible; in-office work weekly with travel monthly. Minimal travel required (2-3 days/month).

About the Oregon Water Resources Department  

The Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) 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. 

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 .

About our Section

The Surface Water Hydrology (SWH) Section provides technical expertise regarding surface water supplies, water use, and stream and water diversion data, including the analyses and interpretation of these data, within the Department and for the public. The SWH Section participates in projects such as basin studies investigating surface water-groundwater relationships, development and implementation of analysis to support water distribution and regulation, and the evaluation of drought conditions. Through coordination with others in the agency, SWH provides data and analyses critical for responsible water management. A major focus for the 2023-2029 period is to work with the other divisions in the department and a technical peer review team to update the Department’s Surface Water Availability Model. 

About our Team

Hydrographics ensures that the state collects high-quality surface water measurements that are consistent, reliable, and accessible. The Hydrographics Team at SWH works closely with the Field Services Division to operate over 260 stream and canal gages in nearly every county in Oregon. The team collects and processes data on streamflow, water temperature, and other hydrologic variables across the state. These surface water data support planning, research, and management within the Department, as well as by other state and federal agencies. They are essential for regulation, water use assessments, and hydrologic studies, particularly those impacting irrigators and other water users.

Hydrographics staff also manage quality control, training, and standards for streamflow measurement, gage operations, and data production. They analyze hydrographic data to develop streamflow statistics and summaries, and they maintain the necessary databases, software, and tools to support this work.

About the Position

This position’s primary purpose is to co-lead stream and canal gage data review and publication. In this position, you will work directly with the team’s lead worker to direct a team of seven additional positions in reviewing and publishing stream and canal flow data, including addressing a backlog of data needed to serve the water availability model update project.  Additionally, the team will oversee implementation of an improved training program for the Department, including topics related to surface water data collection and handling.  

Your leadership, teamwork, relationship-building skills, and service orientation will contribute to maintaining a resilient and engaged hydrographics workgroup. Finally, your ability to triage problems as they arise and address or delegate them with efficient systems will be central to this position’s success as you navigate a variety of engaged internal and external customers. If you join the team, you will be a member of the Technical Services Division, reporting to the Manager of the Surface Water Section. Consider joining our team and advancing our mission to practice and promote responsible water management in Oregon! Learn more about the Department.

Key functions of this role are:

• Work with a similar position in the Hydrographics program to oversee the generation of streamflow data. Most of this position’s time is spent developing and maintaining systems for triaging and delegating work for the team, as well as directing and reviewing the work of others to produce highly technical measurement data and instrumentation output as well as coordinating with the section management team to achieve the work of the Surface Water section.
• Develop and document quality control standards for the review of measurements, review of stream gage and miscellaneous measurement sites, and computation and publication of streamflow data.
• Oversee development, application, and training of staff in regards to quality assurance standards for the collection of streamflow, water temperature, and specific conductance data.
• Plan, lead, and implement hydrographic program special projects.
• Serve as an expert and external point of contact for information regarding streamflow data.

You can learn more about the position here.

Minimum required qualifications:  

Four years of experience collecting and assessing natural resources data sets, at least one of which is at a technical or professional level performing activities in natural resources, AND a Bachelor’s degree in Water Resources, Geology, Engineering, Environmental Science, or similar field, OR three additional years of related (pertinent) experience.

Note: A Master’s degree in a natural resource area will substitute for up to one year of the required experience. A Doctorate degree in a natural resource area will substitute for up to two years of the required experience.

Pertinent experience could include hydrologic data collection and record keeping, database maintenance or management for complex natural resources data, stream gage maintenance and management, or natural resource fieldwork and data management.

Preferred Qualifications  

• Program Leadership and Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to lead, coordinate, and support technical teams, including delegating work, overseeing performance, and maintaining a collaborative, resilient work environment, with a focus on teamwork, relationship-building skills, and service to the team.
• Technical Expertise in Streamgage Operations: Strong, hands-on experience with and  understanding of stream and canal gaging, streamflow data computation and publication, and the instrumentation and standards involved in surface water monitoring.
• Data Management and Analysis: Proficient at using databases, programming tools, and complex software to manage and analyze large, technical datasets.
• Training and Communication Skills: Experience developing, delivering, and coaching others in providing effective technical trainings.
• Problem Solving and Systems Thinking. Skilled in triaging complex technical and organizational issues, implementing efficient workflows, and using sound judgment and effective communication skills to resolve or escalate problems in a fast-paced, service-oriented environment.
• Quality and Performance Under Pressure: Experience developing and applying quality standards for hydrologic data, consistently producing accurate work under tight deadlines and challenging conditions.

Working Conditions

This position requires monthly day trip and overnight travel on average 2-3 days a month to support work of position and therefore requires a valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record. Must tolerate wading in swift, cold streams and work in environments with noxious weeds, insects, and varying climates. Depending on territory job may occasionally involve the use of snowshoes, cross country skis, all-terrain vehicles or other field equipment.  Occasionally conduct stream discharge measurements during flood conditions from bridges or stream banks.  Is often alone in remote areas with little to no supervision.  This position may occasionally lift up to 75 pounds. 

How to apply 

• Provide a brief (no more than 1 page) cover letter indicating why you are interested and a good candidate for the position.
• Provide a brief (no more than 2 page) resume indicating your experience pertinent to the required qualifications and desired attributes in this announcement.

What’s in it for you? 

In addition to offering a culture of care and inclusivity and working among a highly skilled team to engage in meaningful work, we also offer a competitive benefits package that includes:   

• Exceptional insurance with PEBB, 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). 

Important Information  

PERS Salary Information   

* NON-PERS ELIGIBLE (Includes most new hires to state government. Employees typically gain PERS eligibility after six months of state service. PERS ELIGIBLE (Typically current or former employees of Oregon state or local government, public schools, universities, etc.) The salary listed in Workday will state base monthly salary, which is BEFORE PERS contributions.   

Accommodations 

If you need assistance to participate in the application process, including an accommodation request under the American with Disabilities Act, we invite you to contact the recruiter for accommodation requests under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), application questions or job-specific questions please contact our HR team at wrd_dl_hr@water.oregon.gov. 

Future Vacancies

This applicant pool may be used to fill additional vacancies as they occur over the next three (3) months.   

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 US 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.   

Application Review Process 

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. 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage

The use of outside resources such as Artificial Intelligence software during the application process (cover letter and resume) and applicant skill assessments, examinations, and/or interviews is prohibited unless otherwise stated by the hiring agency. Unauthorized use of outside resources during the hiring process will result in immediate disqualification.

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