Water Resources Engineer – Full Time Year Round

The District is seeking a talented, organized, and self-motivated Water Resources Engineer to fill a new position in the Planning section of the District’s Engineering Department. This position will be responsible for a broad and varied range of projects, initiatives, and activities related to strategic, long-term water resources planning, management, and development.

The core job duties for this position will include water supply planning, water rights protection and development, regional collaboration and negotiations, policy development and implementation, project management, and technical design and evaluation of water supply projects.

The ideal candidate must possess knowledge and technical skills relating to water resources engineering, hydrologic modeling, and water rights engineering and administration. Candidate must be able to apply technical, management, and leadership skills as a technical project lead, project manager, or subject matter expert depending on the circumstance. The position may also represent the District while working collaboratively with diverse groups of stakeholders internally and externally, on local and regional water supply and watershed management studies, water conservation studies, and planning efforts.

Why work for us? The work you will do as a Water Resources Engineer will be critical to long term water supply and environmental planning for our community. This is a great opportunity to chart your own course and be the in house water resources expert. Not to mention our excellent benefits, housing program and opportunities for training, certification and development.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

WATER RESOURCES: This role will be primarily responsible for water resource planning, modeling, analysis, and forecasting. Manages water resource projects, studies, and initiatives including scoping, planning, permitting, design, scheduling, budgeting, and consultant or contractor procurement and management. Coordination and preparation of strategic water resource and water rights planning studies as assigned;

COLLABORATE: Management of outside consultants developing water resource planning models, and ongoing operation and maintenance of the models. Participates on assignments with local, regional and statewide committees and work groups as a District representative. Coordinates activities with Water Counsel.

EXPERTISE: Provides technical analysis and subject matter expertise on water rights cases and water rights issues. Provides engineering support for District projects or initiatives in the areas of water resources policy, hydrologic analyses, water supply development, water demand management, environmental permitting, water rights accounting, and drought planning;

INFORM: Provides informational reports and updates to the Engineering Manager, General Manager, Legal Counsel, and Board of Directors.

EVERYTHING ELSE: Follows all District safety and security policies and wear Personal Protective Equipment as required by the job duties. Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

The minimum degree requirement for this position is a Bachelor of Science in an engineering, science, or planning related discipline from an accredited institution. A Master of Science Degree in engineering, water resources, natural resource management, watershed science, hydrology, civil engineering, or directly related field is highly desirable.

Specific coursework relating to water or utility policy, engineering economics, hydrologic and/or water system modeling, geographic information systems, groundwater or surface water hydrology, Colorado water rights law, or other related subject areas is also desirable.

Candidates should have a minimum four years of related working experience in a water resources related discipline.

Ideal candidates will have four to eight years of direct experience with: water resource planning and analysis; Colorado water rights and/or prior appropriations based western water law; water rights administration and accounting; hydrologic modeling; development and negotiation of agreements; project management; and other relevant subject areas.

Experience working for utility, agricultural, or industrial water users with specific water resource experience in Colorado or the Rocky Mountain West is favorable.

For Candidates with an engineering education or background, registration as a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Colorado, or ability to obtain license within one year of hire, is strongly preferred. For candidates with a science or planning related education or background, professional registration/licensure (e.g. Professional Hydrologist, Registered Environmental Manager, Professional Geologist, etc.) is highly preferred.

The ability to clearly and effectively present complex information, data, and concepts in both written and verbal format to upper management, public groups, and governing boards in public settings is essential.

Excellent written and verbal communications skills are essential.

Candidate must have the ability to work closely with internal District Departments, and external stakeholders including local, state, and federal government agencies; non-governmental organizations; contractors; engineers and other consultants.

The ideal candidate should have experience with database/spreadsheet applications, statistical programs, programming languages, water resource models, Geographical Information Systems, and word processing applications.

Must obtain CPR/First Aid Certification within the first six (6) months of employment.

Required to follow all District safety and security policies and wear Personal Protective Equipment as required by the job duties

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Job will primarily involve sedentary physical work requiring ability to lift a maximum of 10 pounds, and occasional walking and standing. The employee may occasionally be required to perform light to moderate physical activity (e.g. walking, hiking, lifting, bending over, etc.). Specific vision abilities necessary to read and interpret reports and other written documents. Travel may occasionally be required to attend meetings, conduct field work in the watershed, or to participate in regional committees or work groups.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; and toxic or caustic chemicals. The noise level in the work environment may occasionally be very loud. These conditions would be encountered during on-site visits to operational facilities or construction sites.

All District employees must submit to a pre-employment drug screen and extensive background check.

For a full job description, email erwsdjobs@erwsd.org

All applicants must apply online at www.erwsd.org in order to be considered.

The application window for this position will close February 27.