- Salary: $39.02 – $58.61 Hourly
- Location: Salt Lake County, UT
- Job Type: Full Time
- Job Number: 47141
- Agency: 560 Department of Natural Resources
- Unit: 1320 DNR FFSL LANDS ADMIN & PLANNING
- Opening Date: 11/25/2025
- Closing Date: 12/18/2025 11:59 PM Mountain
- FLSA: Exempt
- Recruiter: Christa Rowland, 801-538-4826
- # of Openings: 1
- Schedule Code: TL – Time Limited – This is a career service exempt at will position.
- Background Check: You must successfully pass a criminal history check.
- Benefits: This position is eligible for a full benefits package. See benefits tab below for details.
- Driver License Requirements: Employees hired for this recruitment will be subject to the Driver Eligibility standards found at the following link: https://adminrules.utah.gov/public/search/driver%20eligibility/Current%20Rules
- EEO Statement: The State of Utah is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.
Job Description
Job Title: Water Rights Specialist
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
*Time-limited position
Job Description:
Join the Sovereign Lands team at the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands (FFSL) as the Water Rights Specialist. In this role, you will report directly to the Deputy Director and take charge of the entire FFSL Water Rights portfolio. A primary focus will be on Great Salt Lake water rights, including preparing and filing necessary change applications, and monitoring and accounting for water dedicated to the lake.
The Agency:
For more information about working for the Department of Natural Resources please click here.
Responsibilities
- Manage FFSL water rights portfolio.
- Coordinate, prepare, and file necessary change applications associated with water dedicated to Great Salt Lake.
- Monitor, report, and account of Great Salt Lake water rights in conformance with the Great Salt Lake Distribution Management
- Plan and the corresponding Great Salt Lake Distribution Accounting Tool.
- Monitor, report, and account for water that is dedicated to Great Salt Lake from (upstream tributaries and in situ) in conformance with the Great Salt Lake Distribution Management .
- Plan and the corresponding Great Salt Lake Distribution Accounting Tool.
- Coordinate with water users, Division of Water Rights (“DWRI”) staff, and river commissioners of upstream tributaries to account for water that has been dedicated and delivered to Great Salt Lake.
- Prepare an annual report for the State Engineer and FFSL.
- Coordinate with the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Trust and Great Salt Lake Commissioner’s Office.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
- Knowledge of agency objectives, organization, structure and mission.
- Ability to use/operate a PC and work effectively with spreadsheet, word processing software at an intermediate to advanced level.
- Ability to research and incorporate data from internet sources as part of the required reporting.
- FFSL and DWRi will provide any specialized training necessary.
- The applicant must be dependable, willing to learn and to master the aspects of the position.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Knowledge of water rights, water system control, measurement methods and calculations.
- Competence in mathematical calculations and detailed accounting.
- Ability speak clearly, concisely and effectively; listen to, and understand, information and ideas as presented verbally.
- Possess strong organizational skills.
Supplemental Information
- Generally the best qualified individuals for this job will have obtained advanced training, education or experience in a specific area of natural resource management.
- Risks which require the use of special safety precautions and/or equipment, e.g., working around operating machines, working with contagious diseases or hazardous chemicals, etc.
- Work requires physical exertion. May require the ability to stand; walk over rough surfaces; bend, crouch, stoop, stretch, reach, lift moderately heavy items (up to 50 lbs.) in a recurring manner and/or for long periods of time.
Why You Should Join Our Team:
In this position you will work with a highly motivated team on land management and water right issues that are some of the most complex, challenging, diverse, and rewarding projects you will ever encounter. Specifically, this position will focus on water rights benefiting Great Salt Lake. In addition, the generous paid time off and great health benefits help ensure that you can spend quality time with the ones you care about most.
Employer: State of Utah
Address: 4315 S. 2700 W., Suite 2100, Taylorsville, Utah, 84129
