Salary
$39.11 – $62.58 Hourly
$81,349 – $130,159 Annually
This position is a Pay Band C11
Posting Details
To learn more about the Office of the State Engineer, please visit our website: https://www.ose.state.nm.us/
The Interstate Stream Commission has broad powers to investigate, protect, conserve, and develop New Mexico’s waters including both interstate and intrastate stream systems. The eight unsalaried members of the Commission are appointed by the Governor. The ninth member is the State Engineer who under state law is the secretary of the Commission. The Interstate Stream Commission Director serves as the deputy state engineer.
The Commission’s authority under state law includes negotiating with other states to settle interstate stream controversies. New Mexico is a party to eight interstate stream basins. To ensure basin compliance, Interstate Stream Commission staff analyze, review, and implement projects in New Mexico and analyze streamflow, reservoir, and other data on the stream systems.
The Commission is also authorized by statute to investigate and develop the water supplies of the state and institute legal proceedings in the name of the state for planning, conservation, protection and development of public waters.
Why does the job exist?
The purpose of this position is to support the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission’s (NMISC) mission to protect, conserve, develop, and investigate the waters of the State. The position will focus on scientific, engineering, and project management support for numerous projects for the Rio Grande Bureau (RGB) of the NMISC. This requires knowledge and practice of hydrologic analysis, water-resource engineering, federal and state environmental compliance, river processes and geomorphology, habitat restoration planning, and construction management. The position will be working within a diverse stakeholder environment and will require flexible decision-making and the ability to work collaboratively. The position will assist with the development of scopes of work and may manage field investigations that involve a wide range of natural resource disciplines, including aquatic biology, geomorphology, agriculture, and engineering. The position will assist with preparing proposals, both individually and in a group, to obtain federal grants, New Mexico Water Trust Board funding, and other potential funding sources. The position requires an understanding of the history and administration of the Rio Grande Compact, as well as New Mexico’s water rights administration.
How does it get done?
1. Assist with projects pertaining to the Middle Rio Grande Biological Opinion and other multi-agency agreements, including oversight of the planning, design, and construction of large-scale river maintenance and habitat restoration project.
2. Project management of river and species-focused projects for the Rio Grande Bureau that includes knowledge of the ecosystem, geomorphology, biology, and hydrology. Write reports, memorandums, and presentations.
3. Represent the ISC on workgroups and meetings related to river management in the Middle Rio Grande among federal, state, and local agencies and other stakeholders, and actively engage in decision-making.
4. Operate modeling platforms as needed for projects, including integrated groundwater/surface water models, MODFLOW, HEC-RAC, and surface water routing models.
5. GIS-based project development and in-depth evaluation of river system functions.
6. Oversight of contractors, budgets, scheduling, and report and invoice reviews.
7. Assist ISC in working with environmental groups and land management entities to conduct research and monitoring within the Rio Grande to allow adaptive management of water resources. This may include writing proposals for grants and cooperative agreements.
Who are the customers?
This job will be done for the Office of the State Engineer/New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, the direct supervisor and Rio Grande Bureau Chief, and other staff at the agency. Often work will be done for submittal to other federal, state, and local agencies, collaborative teams, and for the public. When working with the Endangered Species Program deliverables will be to the designated workgroups and/or the Executive Committee.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate demonstrate some or all of the following:
1. A basic understanding of New Mexico water rights and water law, interstate stream compacts, and federal, state, and local environmental laws, including the Endangered Species Act.
2. Experience with project management, planning, mathematical and computational work, including spreadsheets.
3. Strong understanding of hydrology, geology, and natural sciences as well as engineering concepts.
4. Experience using GIS, numerical modeling, use of climatological data, programming, and database use.
5. Field experience such as stream gaging, well installation, vegetation transects, soil typing.
6. Experience or education in biological sciences, understands ecosystem dynamics.
7. Excellent interpersonal skills and experience speaking in public settings, and has good technical writing skills.
8. Enjoys team work, has strong leadership skills and is comfortable making decisions even under stressful conditions.
Minimum Qualification
Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture Science, Hydrology, Geology, Environmental Science, Water Resources, Watershed Management, Physics, Natural Science, Physical Science, Life Science, Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Forestry/Forest Science, Conservation Science, Wildlife Science, Emergency Management, or Engineering and four (4) years of relevant experience. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university in a related field and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling eight (8) years may substitute for the required education and experience.
Employment Requirements
Must possess and maintain a valid Driver’s License.
Working Conditions
Work is performed mostly in an office setting with exposure to visual/Video Display Terminal (VDT) and extensive personal computer, computer equipment and phone usage. Frequent travel is required for meetings, and occasional field work with exposure to inclement weather, and rough terrain. May be required to work at alternate work sites.
Supplemental Information
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Agency Contact Information: Grace Haggerty (505) 469-6963. Email
For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.
Bargaining Unit Position
This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
