Job Description

Department Information

This posting is open to both residents and non-residents of the State of Colorado.

However, if you are selected and accept the position, you will be required to establish

residence in the State of Colorado by your start date.

Are you interested in investing in a career that makes a difference?

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 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:



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.

This work unit exists to distribute and manage surface and ground water in the Rio Grande Basin according to the State's water rights system and in compliance with interstate compacts and decrees.

Description of Job

This posting is open to both residents and non-residents of the State of Colorado.

However, if you are selected and accept the position, you will be required to establish

residence in the State of Colorado by your start date.


The purpose of this position is to assist the Division Engineer in performing such functions and duties as specified by state statute and to carry out duties and orders of the State Engineer within the geographical area of Water Division Three.
This position exists to provide operational support to the Division 3 engineering group. This includes assisting the public with water court applications and cases, assisting other Division 3 engineering positions in the analyses of water court, SWSP, and EQIP applications, and in the recommendation of the position that DWR should take in these cases; assist with enforcing compliance with decrees, statutes, permits, rules and regulations, and compacts; assist with resolving disputes concerning water rights and use; review technical studies related to water resources engineering and water rights administration; and inform, disseminate information to, and assist water users, professionals and staff regarding water use, water rights, water allocation and state statutes pertaining to water use.



Specific job duties include but are not limited to:

• Works with other Engineers to interpret and enforce statutes, decrees, interstate compacts, permits, rules and regulations and court decisions by conducting field investigations and drafting studies and reports; by drafting opinions to the water court regarding filings for water rights; by recommending the issuance of orders regulating and controlling water use; and by recommending and implementing legal enforcement actions to secure compliance.
• Coordinate with other DWR staff to determine that all required measuring and recording devices are installed and accurate in accordance with water court decree terms and conditions in order for a water user to operate under the decree.
• Using knowledge of surface and ground water hydrology, geology, advanced computer programs, and Colorado water law, analyze Water Court applications, engineering reports, and proposed decrees to ensure compliance with law, sound engineering principles, and guidelines of the Division.
• With oversight and direction by the Division Engineer, devise and implement data collection and monitoring of groundwater/surface water interactions with respect to individual water rights, Subdistricts, and replacement plan operations.
• Investigate, compile, research, analyze and interpret court decrees, statutes, interstate compacts, real-time and historic stream flows, trans-mountain diversions, well permits and reservoir operations.
• Reviews and determines if reporting and technical documents submitted by water users in accordance with water court decrees, such as Lawn Irrigation Return Flows (LIRF), Municipal Return Flow (MRF), municipal base flow determinations, etc., are in accordance with water court decrees.
• Research hydrologic variations, proposed replacement systems, and legal and administrative constraints on individual water structures or groups of interrelated systems.
• Research stream transit losses and devise methods to test and evaluate loss rates to evaluate and recommend changes to operations to address losses in exchange capability and releases for augmentation purposes.
• Assist in the investigation/study of the operations of the Costilla Creek and Rio Grande Compacts.

Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

This posting is open to both residents and non-residents of the State of Colorado.

However, if you are selected and accept the position, you will be required to establish

residence in the State of Colorado by your start date.

Minimum Qualifications:

Current enrollment as an Engineer Intern by the Colorado State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors.

OR
Current, valid licensure as a Professional Engineer from the Colorado State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors will substitute for the enrollment as an Engineer Intern.

OR
Current valid licensure as a Professional Engineer in the United States that can be transferred under the State of Colorado Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors within three (3) months of hire.

OR
Must be enrolled with the Colorado State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors as an Engineer Intern within three (3) months of hire.


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 law.
• Knowledge and experience with water resource engineering.
• Water administration experience.
• Water measurement experience.
• Experience managing programs and projects.
• Excellent public service skills.
• Knowledge and experience with Colorado water rights.
• Proficiency with Google and Microsoft suites.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and/or Google Sheets.
• 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)

• Hybrid: To be determined with supervisor after initial training period with a combination of work from home, field time, and reporting to the Division Office.

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 valid State of Colorado Driver's License.
• Current enrollment as an Engineer Intern or current valid license as a Professional Engineer by the Colorado State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors, or to enroll within three (3) months of hire.
• Must be a resident of Colorado by the start date if not already.
• Must gain and maintain valid licensure as a Professional Engineer with the Colorado State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors within seven (7) years of hire.

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.

Supplemental Information

The Assessment Process

• 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.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

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. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

The Department of Natural Resources is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, at [email protected].

ADAAA Accommodations

Any person with a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided a reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an employment assessment. To request an accommodation, please contact our ADAAA Coordinator at [email protected] at least five business days before the date that any accommodation will be required to allow us to evaluate your request and prepare for the accommodation. You may be asked to provide additional information, including medical documentation, regarding functional limitations and type of accommodation needed. Please ensure that you have this information available well in advance of the assessment date.

E-Verify

The Department of Natural Resources participates in E-Verify in accordance with the program's Right to Work for all newly-hired employees. Employees are queried through the electronic system established by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to verify identity and employment eligibility. You may complete section 1 of the I-9 form upon your acceptance of a job offer letter, but no later than your first day of employment and in addition, on your first day, but no later than the third day, you are required to submit original documents to verify your eligibility to work in the U.S. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

Toll–Free Applicant Support - Technical Help

If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV at 855-524-5627, Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). The Human Resources Office will be unable to assist with technical issues. Helpful hints: If you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application, ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and close the document before you attempt to upload it.

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.

Job Tags

Remote job, Holiday work, Full time, Temporary work, Part time, Work experience placement, Internship, Work from home, Flexible hours,

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