DEPT OF WATER RESOURCES

HYDROGEOLOGIST 3 

(WATER POLICY ANALYST)

Water Planning Division/ Colorado River Section

WWW.AZWATER.GOV

 

Job Location:

Hybrid: remote and 1110 W. Washington St., Suite #310

Phoenix, AZ 85007

Posting Details:

Salary:

Hydrogeologist 3, Grade 23: $55,000- $75,000 

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Interested candidates should submit their Cover Letter and Resume to apply

Job Summary:

The Colorado River Management Section is responsible for supporting the agency Director as the designated Governor’s Representative managing Colorado River negotiations and issues within the basin.

The position will work closely with a small internal team as well as colleagues across the basin and the Bureau of Reclamation in managing data and performing quality control for a variety of Colorado River issues. The position’s duties overlap with the public policy pertaining to the future management of the Colorado River.

Ideal candidates will have a background in water accounting or agricultural economics. Additional relevant experience may include surface hydrology and climatology. The ability to translate data and scenarios into possible future management policy is an essential function of this position. The candidate will work closely with one Senior Hydrologist in ADWR’s Colorado River Section as well as ADWR leadership.

This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, and commissions, many State employees participate in the State’s Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

Job Duties:

This position works under the supervision of the Colorado River Section Manager. Depending on qualifications, the successful candidate may be closely monitored and mentored by the Senior Hydrogeologist. At full functionality, the person in this position will be responsible for:

• Preparing materials to support the agency Director’s participation in high level policy meetings and programs with the federal government, representatives of the seven Basin States.
• Developing and updating Arizona Colorado River water use projections, Arizona shortage operation data and modeling reservoir storage impacts of various Colorado River system operating alternatives using surface water modeling programs, such as the Colorado River System Simulation (CRSS) and Colorado River Mid-term Modeling System (CRMMS) RiverWare models.
• Assisting the Senior Hydrogeologist in analyzing, planning, coordinating, implementing, and/or directing the execution of complex, highly technical, sensitive projects and programs, including the Intentionally Created Surplus, Inadvertent Overrun and Payback Program, Article V Accounting Report, Unauthorized Users Federal Rule, Central AZ Projections and reallocations, Col. River Annual Operating Plan, 24-Month Study, and others.
• Participating in technical level meetings with stakeholders and other Basin States colleagues to model hydrologic and water use conditions for the future of the Colorado River.  Implementation of new storage and conservation program accounting following the adoption of post-2026 Guidelines. 
• Analyzing reservoir storage, management strategies, hydrologic conditions, and water use demands throughout the Colorado River Basin to determine the projected amount of Colorado River water available for use in Arizona and providing technical support for binational modeling and negotiations with Mexico.
• Responsible for reviewing Reclamation’s Annual Water Accounting Report data and making projections of water use by water type and by contractors and CAP subcontractors.
• Participating in technical level meetings with stakeholders and other Basin States colleagues to model hydrologic and water use conditions for the future of the Colorado River.  Implementation of new storage and conservation program accounting following the adoption of post-2026 Guidelines. 
• Responsible for coordination of the Recovery Planning Advisory Group, including managing meeting invitations, supporting policy decisions for the recovery of Long-Term Storage Credits with the Arizona Water Banking Authority and the Central Arizona Water Conservation District.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of:

• Hydrologic principles including Arizona hydrology.
• Colorado River supply and demand, Central Arizona Project; social-economic and ecological aspects of water supply and utilization.
• The laws, treaties, court decrees, rules/regulations, pertaining to water apportionment use and allocation, particularly Colorado River water across the Basin, including Indian Water Rights Settlements.
• Bureau of Reclamation methodology for water accounting.
• Considerable knowledge and skill in analyzing numerical groundwater flow models and data analysis.
• Climate change and climate modeling principles
• Water quality and salinity
• Comprehensive knowledge of standard and innovative techniques for solving a variety of groundwater problems including numerical and statistical analysis, database use and design, GIS, and a general overall skill using computers.
• Knowledge of the nature, occurrence and behavior surface water and groundwater, collection and analysis of data and the interpretation of hydrologic data and systems.

Skills in:

• Experience working with RiverWare software is highly desirable. If no prior experience in RiverWare, candidate must demonstrate ability to quickly learn new modeling software and manipulate rules within the model. Formal training will be provided for new hires.
• Advanced MS Excel skills are essential.
• Experience with GoldSim modeling software is highly desirable. Alternatively, ability to learn quickly how to use, manipulate, and build models using GoldSim.
• Advanced experience with MS PowerPoint.
• Negotiations and conflict resolution
• Verbal and written communications.
• Public policy analysis
• Project planning and organizing
• Maintaining effective working relationships.

Ability to:

• Coordinate with other governmental entities and the public.
• Understand complex water resources data and analyses and communicate effectively with other technical and policy staff.
• Coordinate with other governmental entities and the public.
• Understand complex water resources data and analyses and communicate effectively with other technical and policy staff.
• Provide technical assistance related to the Colorado River Program.
• Analyze water resources modeling programs and output from models such as RiverWare.
• Analyze, negotiate, and recommend changes and/or to point out issues that may adversely affect state interest.
• Prepare complex hydrological and hydraulic investigations studies.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public in general and with other entities.
• Maintain confidentiality.

Selective Preference(s):

Ability to learn quickly how to use, manipulate, and build models using GoldSim. Experience working with RiverWare software is highly desirable. The ideal candidate will have a background in surface hydrology, climatology, water accounting, or agricultural economics. Additional relevant experience may include meteorology, water accounting, and remote sensing.

This position requires possession of and ability to retain a current, valid state-issued driver’s license appropriate to the assignment.

Pre-Employment Requirements:

The ideal candidate should have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in hydrology, civil engineering, geology, watershed management, Physical science or a related field.

Hydrogeologist 3: Degree and five (5) years of hydrologic experience. Or a Master's degree and three (3) years of experience or Ph.D and one (1) year of experience.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).