What are the responsibilities and job description for the Public Service Representative 4 position at Water Resources Department?
Initial Posting Date:
12/20/2024
Application Deadline:
01/06/2025
Agency:
Water Resources Department
Salary Range:
$3,948 - $5,483
Position Type:
Employee
Position Title:
Public Service Representative 4
Job Description:
We're looking for an enthusiastic and dedicated Customer Service Representative to join our dynamic Water Right Services Division! In this exciting role, you'll be the front-line support for walk-in customers, email inquiries, and phone calls, while playing a key role in assisting with water right applications, transfers, and various water-related programs. If you're passionate about customer service, teamwork, and contributing to a meaningful mission, we’d love to have you on board! This is a great opportunity to grow and make a positive impact in an essential, fast-paced sector.
Working Title: Public Service Representative 4
Classification: Public Service Representative 4
Position Type: Employee
Representation: SEIU
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt, eligible for overtime and compensatory time
Monthly Compensation: The monthly salary range before PERS* will be $3,948-$5,483 | after PERS* will be $ 4,222-$5,861. This is salary range 20.
- Note: this position will receive a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase of 6.55% which is not reflected in the salary listed in this posting. The effective date of the increase is January 1, 2025, for February 1, 2025, paychecks.
Work Location: North Mall Office Building, 725 Summer St. NE Suite A, Salem Oregon 97301.
Hybrid/Remote Work: Not available.
About the
Oregon Water Resources Department
The Oregon Water Resources Department is committed to creating a workplace culture that understands and appreciates differences among people and is welcoming and inclusive to all. By fostering fairness and equity in its work culture, the Department strives to improve services for all Oregonians. We acknowledge that not all people have experienced equitable opportunities or fair treatment. We are committed to increasing our awareness and understanding of historic injustices and building a foundation for meaningful change. We value a wide range of professional and lived experiences, and people of underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Our Vision
The vision of the Oregon Water Resources Department is to assure sufficient and sustainable water supplies are available to meet current and future needs.
Core Values
- Integrity – We are accountable for all that we do. We act with honesty and promote transparency.
- Service – We are dedicated to providing outstanding service and treating everyone equitably in our management and stewardship of state resources.
- Technical Excellence – We base our resource decisions on law, science, and expertise.
- Teamwork – We are united in our mission, relying on one another and working together with the communities we serve.
- Forward-Looking – We seek innovative and practical solutions to the water challenges of today and tomorrow.
2019-2024 Strategic Plan
The Oregon Water Resources Department’s strategic priorities for 2019-2024 are to:
- Modernize our management of Oregon’s surface water and groundwater resources to meet instream and out-of-stream uses
- Work to secure Oregon’s instream and out-of-stream water future in the face of increasing water scarcity
- Foster a forward-looking team dedicated to serving Oregonians with integrity and excellence
About our Team
Our Water Right Services Division is a dedicated and collaborative team at the heart of evaluating and managing water rights, transfers, allocations, and various water-related programs. We oversee crucial initiatives like water right certification, permit cancellation, hydroelectric licensing, and the adjudication of pre-1909 vested water rights. Our work ensures coordination with local governments, state, and federal agencies, addressing public inquiries, comments, and protests related to proposed water uses. With a focus on policy development and legal compliance, our team plays a key role in shaping and safeguarding water rights, making a significant impact on environmental and legal outcomes.
About the Position
This exciting, permanent position in Salem, represented by the Service Employees International Union, is crucial to the success of the Water Right Services Division. In this role, you’ll be the go-to resource for a diverse range of customers—from water right applicants and engineers to real estate professionals and government agencies—providing expert guidance on water right applications, beneficial use claims, and water use inquiries. Your responsibilities will include reviewing applications, managing ownership updates, and advising on deficiencies. You’ll also help maintain FAQ content, streamline customer service processes, and ensure everything runs smoothly at the front counter. If you’re looking to play a key part in the dynamic world of water rights and make a tangible impact, this is the role for you!
Minimum Qualifications
We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may not meet every one of our listed preferred qualifications. Lived experience may count towards the preferred qualifications. If you are excited about this position, we encourage you to apply. If you are unsure as to whether you meet the preferred qualifications of this position, please contact us to discuss your application.
- Three years of experience performing public contact and/or customer service duties comparable to the work of a Public Service Representative.
- At least two years of this experience must include dealing with the public in-person or by phone providing information about services and programs; explaining rules, programs, and procedures; and/or providing assistance, explaining requirements, and gaining compliance.
Preference may be given for experience providing service in an area of specialization specific to the position opening.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with water rights or interpreting maps.
- Ability to deal with the public in a positive, timely, and accurate manner with patience and courtesy.
- Clear and concise communication skills.
- Experience using databases to enter or retrieve information.
- Customer service experience in person or by phone/email.
We are most interested in finding the most qualified candidate for the job, and that candidate may not meet every one of our listed preferred qualifications. Paid and unpaid experience may count towards the preferred qualifications. If you are excited about this position, we encourage you to apply. If you are unsure as to whether you meet the preferred qualifications of this position, please contact us to discuss your application.
Working Conditions
This position does not offer itself to telework and is an in-office position at our Salem office from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday, with a one-hour lunch break from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm. This position will require operating a computer terminal, meeting customers at the front counter, sorting mail and packages (up to 20 lbs.), scanning/printing/copying documents, and retrieving paper files on the same floor (1st floor). About 50% of the time will be spent operating a computer terminal.
What’s in it for you?
In addition to offering a culture of care and inclusivity and working among a highly skilled team to dive into meaningful work, we also offer a
competitive benefits package
that includes:- Exceptionalmedical, vision and dentalplans with employees paying 1 to 5% of the total premium.
- Leave accrual starting at 8 hours of sick and 8 hours of vacation leave per month, with your vacation leave accruals increasing every 5 years.
- Access to an additional four days of discretionary leave - 3 days of personal business leave and one day of Governor’s Leave each year.
- Eleven paid holidays per year.
- Membership in thePublic Employees Retirement System (PERS)including a pension and employer contributions to the Individual Account Program.
- Optional benefits (such as term life insurance, long-term and short-term disability, long-term care, health and dependent care flexible spending accounts, enrollment in theOregon Savings Growth Plan, a deferred compensation program with a wide variety of investment options).
- The opportunity to receive loan forgiveness under thePublic Service Loan Forgiveness Program(must qualify).
Application Requirements
Please ensure to provide your resume and cover letter for full consideration.
- Provide a brief (no more than 1 page) cover letter indicating why you are interested in, and a good candidate for, the Public Service Representative 4 position at the Oregon Water Resources Department.
- Provide a brief (no more than 2 page) resume indicating your experience pertinent to the required and desired qualifications in this announcement.
Please monitor both your email and Workday account for updates regarding this recruitment. You may be asked to submit additional information after initial application. If you have questions about this job posting, please contact Human Resources at
WRD_DL_HR@water.oregon.gov
.
Current State of Oregon employees must apply through your employee Workday account.
Important Information
PERS Salary Information
NON-PERS ELIGIBLE (Includes most new hires to state government. Employees typically gain PERS eligibility after six months of state service. PERS ELIGIBLE (Typically current or former employees of Oregon state or local government, public schools, universities, etc.) The salary listed will state base monthly salary, which is BEFORE PERS.
Accommodations
If you need assistance to participate in the application process, including an accommodation request under the American with Disabilities Act, we invite you to contact the recruiter for accommodation requests under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), application questions or job-specific questions please contact our HR team at wrd_dl_hr@water.oregon.gov.
Future Vacancies
This applicant pool may be used to fill additional vacancies as they occur over the next three (3) months.
Work Authorization
The Oregon Water Resources Department does not offer visa sponsorships. Within three days of hire, all applicants will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States.
Veterans
If you are an eligible veteran and you meet the qualifications, veterans’ preference points will be added to your score. For more information on veterans’ preference points visit
www.oregonjobs.org
and select Veterans resources under Resources. Please do not attach veteran documentation to your initial application, after you have applied you will be sent a task in your Workday account to provide your veteran documentation at that time.
Application Review Process
In addition to your related work experience and education, we will use both the minimum and desired qualifications above to determine whom to interview. Please make sure all your relevant qualifications are clearly demonstrated in your application materials. Your application materials may be evaluated on spelling, grammar, punctuation, attention to detail, and presentation.
The Oregon Water Resources Department is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer Committed to Workforce Diversity.
Salary : $4,222 - $5,861