The Idaho Department of Water Resources is offering an exciting opportunity for someone passionate about making an impact on Idaho’s water future. Join the Groundwater Unit within the Hydrology Section, where you’ll dive into exciting hydrogeologic investigations and tackle quantitative hydrogeologic analyses. This is your chance to play a key role in shaping the management of Idaho’s water resources—an impactful and rewarding challenge for anyone looking to make a meaningful contribution to the state’s environmental and resource management efforts.
There are two levels for this job opening – Staff Hydrogeologist and Technical Hydrogeologist. The Staff Hydrogeologist is the entry level for the Hydrogeologist classification. Through on-the-job training, classroom training, achievement of team and agency goals, and Professional Geologist licensure in Idaho, there will be opportunities for a Staff Hydrogeologist to progress to the Technical Hydrogeologist level in the Hydrogeologist career track. A Technical Hydrogeologist is expected to handle more difficult projects with little supervision.
Example of Duties
Staff Hydrogeologist Level
• Conduct hydrologic studies and evaluations, including field work, related to water occurrence, availability, use, flow, regulation, and administration
• Prepare written technical reports to document studies and analyses
• Perform or oversee water resource data collection following standard procedures
• Provide technical review and generate comments on the hydrologic aspects of technical reports and permit/license applications
• Develop water budgets and conceptual models of aquifer systems
• Participate on technical committees involved in developing solutions to water resource problems
• Make oral presentations to agency personnel and the public
Technical Hydrogeologist Level
• Apply intensive and diversified knowledge of hydrogeologic principles and practices within a specialty area
• Plan, conduct, and coordinate detailed phases of hydrogeologic work
• Provide technical assistance and make oral presentations to staff, other agencies, public officials, the general public, and industry, and represent the department in meetings
• Design and/or review groundwater monitoring networks
• Conduct analyses and report on large, complex water data sets for regulatory and management purposes
• Improve techniques and procedures for water resource evaluation, administration, and management
• Develop and implement program standards and regulations
• Testify in administrative hearings or legal proceedings
Minimum Qualifications
Staff Hydrogeologist Level
Good knowledge of:
• Principles, theories, and practices of groundwater hydrology or hydrogeology including those pertaining to groundwater flow
Experience:
• Collecting and analyzing data to evaluate groundwater characteristics and flow
Typically gained by a college degree in a physical science such as hydrology, hydrogeology, geology, water resources, environmental science, geophysics, soils, or engineering AND either successful completion of at least two, one-semester college courses in hydrology or hydrogeology or at least one year of directly related experience in hydrology or hydrogeology.
Technical Hydrogeologist Level
Experience:
• Designing and implementing statewide and/or regional operations and/or programs in one of the following hydrogeologic specialties: (1) groundwater flow and monitoring, (2) groundwater quality monitoring and protection or regional groundwater modeling; or (3) reviewing hydrogeologic analyses and making decisions relative to their merit
• Registration as a Professional Geologist is required as defined in Idaho Code Title 54, Chapter 28 (**Registration as a Professional Geologist is required within six months of hire)
Typically gained by at least four years of work experience as a hydrologist or hydrogeologist. A master’s degree in a related field such as hydrology, hydrogeology, geology, geosciences, water resources, environmental science, or engineering can qualify for one year of additional experience. A Ph.D. in one of the related fields can qualify for two years of experience.
Additional Qualifications
• Must possess a valid driver’s license
Desired Qualifications
Staff Hydrogeologist Level
• Knowledge and/or experience preparing aquifer water budgets and developing conceptual and/or computer models of aquifer systems
• Knowledge and/or experience applying Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Knowledge and/or experience working with hydrologic databases
• Experience writing and editing computer scripts and programs
• Experience providing technical assistance to an interdisciplinary team working on resource management issues
Technical Hydrogeologist Level
• Experience conducting analyses and writing and reviewing technical reports on large, complex water data sets for regulatory and/or management purposes
• Experience making oral presentations on scientific subjects to technical and non-technical audiences
• Experience participating in public and professional meetings or conferences
• Knowledge of water resource management related to state and federal laws and regulations
