Water Resources Specialist 2 - Phoenix Arizona

Hybrid: remote and 1110 W. Washington St., Suite #310 - Phoenix, AZ 85007

Salary: $50,000 - $65,000

Grade: 22

Closing Date: Open Until filled 

This position is responsible for conducting investigations, audits, and inspections of potential violations of the Department's statutes, rules, permits, orders, and management plans. This position will assist other department personnel in conducting site inspections and investigations. The position will require research and compiling information needed to complete tasks. The position will be responsible for producing inspection reports and investigation summaries. The position may serve as the Department's witness in compliance actions before the Arizona Office of Administrative Hearings and in court.

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. A minimum of two days on-site at the ADWR office per week is required.

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.

• Conducting research and detailed reviews of information related to potential violations and investigations, to include field inspections and audits.
• Drafting documents related to violations and suspected violations of the Department's statutes, rules, permits, orders, and management plans, including correspondence, and notices.
• Responding to complaints and inquiries submitted by members of the public.
• Assisting other employees in conducting site inspections and audits.
• Serving as the Department's witness in compliance actions before the Arizona Office of Administrative Hearings and court as needed.

Knowledge of:

• The requirements for site inspections and audits.
• Public complaint procedures outlined in policy, rule, and statute and water resources policy and history.
• Statewide water resource management issues
• History of Western Water laws
• Information sources and research methods and techniques utilized in water resources management
• ADWR policies/direction regarding managing the state's water resources
• GIS software and applications

Skills in:

• Establishing and maintaining effective working relations with department personnel, regulated entities, governmental officials, community leaders and the public
• Conducting site inspections and audits and analyzing compliance with the department's statutes, rules, permits, orders, and management plans, including compliance with reporting requirements and well drilling requirements
• Using a variety of computer software, including Microsoft Suites programs and databases applications and analyzing and interpreting water use and water conservation data and file/records database information input and retrieval
• Analyzing legal documents, rules, and statutes and following and documenting processes and procedures
• Effective written and verbal communication
• Analyzing legal documents, rules, and statutes and following and documenting processes and procedures
• Researching, reading, analyzing, and evaluating documents
• MS Office Suite and Google Suite
• Process improvement, process streamlining and problem solving.

Ability to:

• Work well within a team environment, including establishing and maintaining effective working relationships within ADWR, other governmental entities, private and public sectors
• Prepare and analyze technical and administrative reports, statements, and correspondence
• Interpret/explain and ensure compliance with the department's statutes, rules, permits management plans and orders.
• Maintain organized files of compliance cases
• Testify in a credible and professional manner at hearings.
• Conduct site inspections independently statewide
• Handle multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines
• Identify problems, assess situations and make well thought-out recommendations on the resolution of problems
• Independently gather and synthesize appropriate information from documents or through subject matter experts to support the decision-making process

The ideal candidate should have compliance experience and experience with Information sources and research methods and techniques utilized in determining violations of law, rules and permits.

The preferred candidate should have:

Four (4) years of professional level water resource management experience OR Bachelor’s degree and two (2) years OR Master’s degree in a related field

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).

The State of Arizona provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package including:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans
• Sick Leave
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Deferred compensation plan
• Credit union membership
• Wellness plan
• LinkedIn Learning membership 
• Tuition Reimbursement 
• Employee Discounts

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement system (ASRS). Please note, enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment. The current contribution rate is 12.00%.