DWR - Physical Sci/Research Scientist - Team 2,3,7 (PSRS I)

Consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. It’s our mission to manage and conserve Colorado’s natural resources for the benefit of people today – and tomorrow. That means we have to balance development with conservation so the state we all love provides similar opportunities for our children and their children.
 
We invite you to explore our website at https://dnr.colorado.gov/ to find out more about the work we do to manage Colorado’s natural resources for today – and tomorrow.
 
The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply.
 
In addition to offering rewarding, meaningful work, we offer:
 

• Medical and Dental plans
• Strong, flexible retirement plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus pre-tax 401K and 457 plans
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Employee Wellness programs
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Accounts
• 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave
• Flexible work schedule options and remote-work options
• Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system

Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to: https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/pslfFlow.action#!/pslf/launch

Division of Water Resources (DWR):

State Engineer's Office

Our mission is to administer the waters of the State to maximize lawful beneficial use, ensure that dams and water wells are properly constructed and safe, and provide information about water resources to the public. Division of Water Resources.

The Water Supply work unit exists to serve the needs of the public and to conserve, protect, develop, and maximize the beneficial use of the State’s present and future water supplies by conducting the engineering studies and analyses needed to support the decisions of the State Engineer and the Division Engineers in administering water in the areas of issuing well permits, subdivision water supply plan reviews, water court resume reviews, water court case evaluations, negotiations and trials, substitute water supply plan evaluations, water administration, and public assistance.

This position exists to provide support to maximize the beneficial use of waters of the state and facilitate the above by conducting engineering and hydrologic investigations pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes, rules, regulations, and policies of the State Engineer and Colorado Ground Water Commission.  Responsibilities include evaluation of non-exempt well permit applications for Divisions 2, 3 and 7 (Arkansas, Rio Grande, and San Juan and Dolores River Basins) and some exempt well permit application review for these same Divisions; resume review for Divisions 2, 3 and 7; and providing the general public with information and data regarding wells, water rights, water diversions, and the water right priority system, by receiving and responding to phone calls and emails from the general public.  This position has historically been primarily responsible for the review of geothermal well permit applications in the state and the certification/permitting process for installation of geoexchange systems.

Specific job duties include but are not limited to:

• Conducts engineering, hydrologic, and geologic analysis and evaluation of applications to construct and use small-capacity/exempt wells and large-capacity/non-exempt wells pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes, rules, regulations, and the policies of the State Engineer and Ground Water Commission.
• Evaluates potential for injury to vested water rights or other wells and composes conditions of approval.
• Responsible for the certification and issuance of annual permits for installers of geoexchange systems.
• Reviews and evaluates applications for adjudication of rights to surface water, groundwater, and claims for diligence in the monthly water court resume to ensure applications are consistent with previous decrees and permits, and locations of structures are accurately identified.
• Reviews, provides analysis, and drafts the State Engineer’s opinion to counties regarding the adequacy and potential injury to other water rights of proposed subdivision water supply plans by reviewing applicable statutes, rules, regulations, and policies, and evaluating groundwater hydrology, performing engineering analyses, researching water rights, evaluating site specific data.
•  Reviews county land use actions that do not meet the statutory definition of a subdivision and provides comments on any water-related issues identified.
• Provide (written and verbal) information, assistance, and advisement to the general public, water users, attorneys, engineers and private organizations on water issues, Colorado Revised Statutes, State Engineer and Ground Water Commission Rules, regulations, and guidelines, policies, general geology and hydrology, and availability of groundwater. 
• Conducts research or works on special projects which may be assigned periodically.  Research could include collection and analysis of data, performing engineering calculations, and presenting results, which may be applied to recommend policies, guidelines, or procedures for the agency.

Other duties as assigned. Experience Only:
Five (5) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position
OR
Education and Experience:
A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to five (5) years

(Relevant experience would include experience in a related field with demonstratable expertise in areas such as regulation, policy, or rule compliance, experience working with water court applications and attorneys representing applicants; experience reviewing and providing comments on documents filed with the court; or other experience closely related to the work assignments.)

Please note: The required experience must be substantiated within the work experience section of your application. Your resume will not be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications; only the work experience section of your application will be reviewed to determine this. “See Resume” statements on the application will not be accepted. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.


Preferred Qualifications:

• Current or former State experience relevant to this position.
• Knowledge and experience with Colorado water rights. 
• Water administration experience. 
• Knowledge and/or experience with Colorado Water Law.
• Water measurement experience.
• Knowledge and/or experience interpreting legal documents.
• Excellent public service skills. 
• Proficient at explaining technical information in a clear and understandable manner for audiences of all levels of understanding. 
• Excellent oral and written communication. 
• Other experience relevant to the use or management of water resources.

The current work arrangement for this position is as follows:
 (Please note, this arrangement can be subject to change)

Flexible workplace - working from a home/remote office, with mandatory in-office training currently twice a month and occasional in-state travel for presentations or offsite meetings.

Flexible schedule - may work four ten-hour days, five eight-hour days, or other schedule acceptable to supervisor that meets business needs. 

Conditions of Employment: 

• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify their application from the current position.  (Please Note: Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with DNR). 
• Must be willing and able to possess and maintain a State of Colorado Driver's License.

APPEAL RIGHTS:
It is recommended that you contact the Human Resources Specialist listed below to resolve issues related to your possession of minimum qualifications. However, if you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.
 
An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email, US Mail, faxed or hand delivered within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.
 
For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board go to spb.colorado.gov or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

• All applications received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed by an HR Specialist against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. 

• Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process. Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position will be a structured application review by Subject Matter Experts.

• Resumes, cover letters and other attachments are not considered as part of initial reviews, therefore, it is important to document in your application your education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications as outlined in the job announcement. 

• Please thoroughly answer all supplemental questions (if listed) since question responses may be evaluated for content, writing ability, spelling, grammar, and effective communication. 

• This recruitment may involve additional testing and/or exams to arrive at the top group for interviews.

• This recruitment may be used to fill more than one vacancy at this level and reporting location. 

Former State Employees
Former employees of the Colorado Department of Transportation System or any other State of Colorado Department or Agency, who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination, must disclose this information on his/her application.

Salary : $5,639 - $8,330