Website State of Oregon Water Resources Department
Job Description:
Working Title: Well Inspector
Classification: Natural Resource Specialist 2 (NRS2)
Position Type: Permanent, Full Time
Representation: SEIU Represented
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt, eligible for overtime in the form of compensatory time with manager pre-approval
Monthly Compensation: Natural Resource Specialist 2, Salary Range 24, $4,662.00-$7,070.00 Before PERS* | $4,943.00-$7,562.00 After PERS*
Work Location: 231 SW Scalehouse Loop, Bend, Oregon 97702 field office. This position works primarily onsite, frequently in the field; with some hybrid/remote work options. Some in-state travel is required with infrequent overnight travel.
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.
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
The Bend OWRD office serves as the hub of water management for the Deschutes and Crooked Basins, bringing together a dedicated field team and agency specialists in hydrology, hydrogeology, policy, and legislation. Our office fosters a friendly and open culture, where collaboration is key. We often engage in casual, lively, open-office discussions to navigate the complexities of water management, drawing on the diverse expertise of our team to develop thoughtful and effective solutions.
Working within the Field Services Division provides the opportunity to:
- Pursue water use solutions to help protect public safety by ensuring wells are constructed to appropriate standards.
- Help modernize management of Oregon’s groundwater resources and secure Oregon’s water future in the face of increasing water scarcity and uncertainty.
- Find satisfaction in tackling complex water use issues by collecting detailed data, accurately documenting observations, and helping prepare enforcement documents to gain compliance.
- Support a sustainable water future for Oregon’s economy, environment, and communities.
- Join an organization with smart, driven co-workers who care about public service, water resources, and their co-workers, and who welcome new ideas.
- Collect data that will be used to help create policy, improve on laws and statutes, and assist in guiding OWRD as it manages this crucial resource for future generations.
About the Position
The Well Inspector position is within the Field Services Division and performs complex well inspections on water supply wells, monitoring wells, and geotechnical holes. The person in this position is expected to read, comprehend and enforce complicated statutes and rules regarding the construction, maintenance, conversion and abandonment of wells. These wells include drinking water wells, irrigation wells and monitoring wells.
This position follows-up on complaints, documents daily work activities, tries to achieve voluntary compliance from licensed well constructors, landowners constructing their own wells, municipalities, and businesses. In addition, the person in this position conducts investigations, documents violations, assembles case files and makes recommendations for formal enforcement action for the purpose of protecting the groundwater resource from contamination, loss of artesian pressure, and waste. The position provides professional guidance and training to Watermaster staff and other staff in conducting thorough well inspections and documenting evidence collected during inspections. Well inspectors will independently perform on site investigations, technical Well Report reviews, provide continuing education training, technical information and assistance, and verify information submitted by licensed well constructors, landowners and consultants.
This position will perform work with our core values in mind. The person in this position performs duties in a manner which promotes customer service and harmonious working relationships, including treating all persons courteously and respectfully; engages in effective team participation through a willingness to assist and support co-workers, supervisors, and other work related associations; develops good working relationships with division and agency staff through active participation in accomplishing the agency mission and resolving problems in a constructive manner; demonstrates openness to constructive feedback in an effort to strengthen work performance; and contributes to a positive, respectful, and productive work environment.
The Field Services Division seeks to promote a workplace culture that understands and appreciate differences among people, utilizes that understanding and appreciation to improve our services, and fosters a work culture that is welcoming and inclusive to all.
Minimum Qualifications – Natural Resource Specialist 2
Two years of experience related to natural resource management, and a Bachelor’s degree in Hydrology, Geology, Civil Engineering, or other natural resource area, or three additional years of pertinent experience;
OR
One year of experience in Hydrology, Geology, Civil Engineering, or other natural resource area, and a Master’s degree in Hydrology, Geology, Civil Engineering, or other natural resource area.
Pertinent experience must include activities such as:
Gathering and analyzing natural resource data and/or coordinating monitoring efforts for a natural resource program; and
Providing technical assistance to the public in a natural resource program explaining laws, rules, and regulations, answering questions, help the public navigate and comply with agency procedures.
Preferred Qualifications
- Technology – Experience using ArcGIS, SQL, Python, or other similar GIS, database, or programming languages and software is desirable but not required. Familiarity with field data collection, mobile GPS and tablets.
- Project management skills – You can keep track of project progress, timelines, deadlines, and deliverables, while also coordinating with project partners in a respectful, factual and clear way.
- Field Work and compliance- You have experience with overseeing well drilling and other water resource or natural resource contractors and can achieve compliance with reference to Oregon Water Law and basic safety measures in the field.
- Teamwork – You can work harmoniously and collaboratively with colleagues and partners, managing interpersonal conflicts, developing community relationships, broadening your learning and seeking professional development, as well as accepting direction by colleagues and supervisors to ensure the work is done well for the State of Oregon.
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. 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.
Working Conditions
This position will be in located in Bend, Oregon. Overnight travel will be required to address workload and complaints in more remote parts of the region or state. You may be eligible to work remotely on a schedule agreed upon by the manager and employee. There is an expectation that the selected candidate would be within a reasonable commute distance from the duty station listed above. Frequent office work. Occasional lifting up to 75 lbs; occasional contact with hostile or angry people; up to several months annually of field work in possible inclement weather, including below freezing conditions; rare overnight outdoor work in isolated rural environments; occasional work around large motors and heavy equipment. Driving long distances to remote field locations in all types of weather and road conditions.
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:
- Exceptional medical, vision and dental plans 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 the Public 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 the Oregon Savings Growth Plan, a deferred compensation program with a wide variety of investment options).
- The opportunity to receive loan forgiveness under the Public 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 NRS-2, Well Inspector 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.
Relocation Assistance
If applicable, this position may be eligible for relocation assistance. The final amount offered will vary based on the current location of the successful candidate.
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.
