Water Resources Specialist Associate - Adjudications

The Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) serves as the technical advisor to the to the Superior Court in the Arizona General Adjudication as described in Arizona Revised Statutes 45-256(A). This position will serve as a team lead for all processes associated with analyzing water right claims and completing technical reports to assist in the Gila and Little Colorado River Adjudications and Indian Water Settlements.

This position is responsible for defining goals and directing efforts on complex hydrological studies and reports. Individuals in this position will often assist in leading and supporting an investigative team by reviewing technical work, developing standard processes, and instructing peers on procedures and techniques to be used.

Individuals in this position must develop a comprehensive understanding of applicable laws, rules, statutes, policies, and procedures pertinent to ADWR activities, including but not limited to, knowledge of the Arizona General Stream Adjudications, the Groundwater Code, and surface water law.

The ideal candidate will enjoy working collaboratively with fellow team members, have excellent writing and speaking skills, be able to communicate complex technical matters to a variety of audiences, help set and meet project timelines, and have a sharp eye for detail and nuance. The candidate will also be responsible for gathering data that will be used directly or indirectly in legal proceedings and may serve as an expert witness in Court.

A hybrid work schedule (some work in the office and some work from home) is available for this position.

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.

The person in this position will be responsible for providing technical support associated with the Adjudications Division. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Serving as a team lead by assisting in defining objectives and directing efforts on complex hydrologic studies and reports.
• Understanding complex hydrological principles and applying them to practical situations.
• Conducting studies and making proposals that result in appropriate modeling of groundwater and surface water interactions.
• Researching landownership changes and water uses independently to support investigations.
• Producing maps, drafting technical reports, preparing summaries, and exchanging correspondence.
• Participating in investigatory projects of a complex, sensitive, and visible nature that require multi-disciplinary expertise.
• Interacting with the public, other governmental entities, and other ADWR staff in a professional manner.

Knowledge of:

• Hydrological principles, particularly those related to surface water.
• ADWR's policies and procedures, the statutes and rules governing Arizona's General Stream Adjudications, and the legal process to determine water rights.
• Concepts, principles, information sources, research methods, and techniques utilized in WATER RESOURCES management and the nature, occurrence, and behavior of surface water and groundwater.
• Principles of physical geography, hydrology, and/or hydrogeology and the ability to analyze and quantify cultural water demands including agricultural, municipal, and industrial uses.
• GIS mapping software including ESRI ArcGIS/ArcPro, mapping tools, cartographic principles, geographic projections, data sources and formats, information analysis, relational databases, and geodatabases.

Skills in:

• Analyzing and evaluating detailed hydrological data and/or reports including water level elevation maps, well logs, groundwater flow models, geologic interpretations, water budgets, and aquifer test analyses.
• Analyzing and interpreting water resource management data, maps and drawings based on field data, aerial imagery, land surveys, and other information sources.
• Process improvement and problem-solving identification utilizing LEAN principles.
• Conveying technical subjects to a non-technical audience and presenting a concept in a concise and organized fashion in both written and oral formats. 

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively and present technical data to a variety of audiences.
• Work well under pressure and produce detailed technical reports involving complex subject matter within Court directed time frames.
• Understand, effectively interpret, and communicate complex statutes and ADWR rules, policies, and procedures.
• Collaborate with Legal Division staff and represent ADWR in Court.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage diverse technical projects.

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

Candidate should have: at least ten years of professional level water resource management experience, or Bachelor's degree and eight years professional experience in water resource management, or a Master's degree and six years professional experience in water resource management or PhD and four year experience.