Description/Duties
First review of applications will be Monday, August 4, 2025, and weekly thereafter.
A Water Resources Planning Advisor is a professional classification assisting in developing high-level policy advice; performing administrative work in maintaining an active liaison with all organizations having water related interests; advising the Water Resources Department and City management regarding water policy matters that ensures a sustainable supply of water resources; and assuring comprehensive representation of the City of Mesa’s interests in intergovernmental agreements and protecting the City’s investments in joint ventures. Duties include: Representing the City and serving as a liaison to local and regional water resource groups and agencies, regulatory bodies, and other government agencies; oversight and administration of Mesa’s various agreements (Val Vista, Gila River Indian Community (GRIC), Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC), Greenfield Water Reclamation Plant (GWRP), Salt River Project (SRP), and Central Arizona Project (CAP)); interacting and eliciting information from other City departments in order to carry out the City’s objectives relating to water resource management; advising the Water Resources Department and City management regarding water policy matters; assuring comprehensive representation of the City of Mesa’s interests; providing direction and monitoring Operations Maintenance (O/M) and 5-year Capital Improvement Project (CIP); coordinating with water operation staff to ensure compliance with the Arizona Groundwater Management Act; assisting the Water Resources Advisor in short- and long-range water planning activities including research, analysis, issue identification, projections, and related tasks; leading and negotiating Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs) with outside entities (Joint Exercise of Power Agreement (JEPA), Apache Junction, Greenfield, Val Vista, Tempe, Gilbert); providing highly technical and strategic planning assistance and recommendations on use of groundwater, surface water, and reclaimed water; interpreting, applying, and ensuring compliance with the provisions of water resources regulations and other applicable federal, state, and local codes, laws, rules, regulations, etc.; and assisting with the development and administration of the City’s water resource master plan.
The incumbent also serves as a technical analyst that maintains and analyzes data for water resource planning and contract compliance; prepares various reports and applications for state regulatory bodies, including the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) annual water use reports; administration of recovery wells, water storage permits, and long-term storage credit (LTSC) accounting; provides information and technical assistance in the development and implementation of the City’s water resource program, including working with local and regional water resource agencies, other City agencies, the public, and water system customers and users; assists in researching issues related to the City’s water rights, water supply and demand, and effluent supply and demand; produces technical reports and analysis on water use and supply; develops and maintains water production and consumption information files and databases; assists in the review, approval, and monitoring of sustainable water service projects in accordance with City ordinance and demand ceilings; and performs related duties as required.
The Water Resources Planning Advisor provides independent, highly complex support for water resource programs and is required to exercise extensive initiative and judgment to coordinate information and provide accurate data based upon research and information at hand to assist in policy development. This classification is supervised by the Water Resources Advisor through meetings, conferences, reports, and results achieved. This class is FLSA exempt-administrative.
Please refer to the link below for the full job description and additional information regarding assignments, preferred qualifications, and essential functions.
Qualifications & Requirements
Employee Values: All employees of the City of Mesa are expected to uphold and exhibit the City’s shared employee values of Knowledge, Respect, and Integrity.
Minimum Qualifications Required. Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Planning, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field. Considerable (3 – 5 years) full-time work experience in the field of water resources, water law, water quality, policy analysis, or environmental quality.
Special Requirements. Must possess a valid Class D Arizona Driver’s License by hire or promotion date.
Preferred/Desirable Qualifications. Master’s Degree is preferred.
Link to Job Description
http://apps.mesaaz.gov/jobdescriptions/Documents/JobDescriptions/cs4929.pdf (Download PDF reader)
