Compliance Specialist 3 (57076,57069)

State of Montana•Helena, MT

About The Position

What if your next role lets you drive statewide water rights quality, train and mentor experts across Montana, and safeguard one of the state’s most vital natural resources every single day? The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) Water Resources Division is recruiting two Compliance Specialist 3 positions to champion statewide water rights quality control and ensure consistent program implementation for the Adjudication, Enforcement, & Distribution team. If you are a detail ‑ driven natural resources professional who loves turning complex law and data into clear guidance, enjoys coaching others, and wants your work to matter far beyond your desk, this position offers the chance to leave a lasting mark on how Montana’s water is administered. Why You Should Make the Move Lead statewide water rights Serve as the Division’s go‑to expert for water rights quality control, ensuring accurate, consistent implementation of the Montana Water Use Act across regional offices and programs. Create and manage a statewide quality review process that strengthens trust in DNRC’s water rights records and decisions. Be the trainer, coach, and connector Design and deliver training for regional staff, supervisors, and managers on statutes, rules, database tools, and GIS mapping. Update and maintain guidance manuals, onboard new staff, and help others grow their skills through mentoring and targeted remedial training. Turn complex law into practical acti Interpret laws, policies, court orders, and program requirements, then translate them into solutions staff and the public can actually use. Develop and implement public information campaigns, newsletters, and presentations to increase awareness of water right requirements. Shape systems, not just tasks Help design and test improvements to the statewide water rights database and GIS tools, ensuring they work in the real world. Spot inconsistencies, identify policy gaps, and recommend new procedures that improve efficiency and fairness across the state. Core Values of DNRC Water Resources Division Value People Stewardship Service Credibility Engagement The selected candidate may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement. This position is eligible for a $1.00/hour base pay increase effective July 2026. This position is generally based in Helena, but alternative DNRC work locations within Montana may be considered and approved on a case ‑ by ‑ case basis .

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences, natural resource management, or a related field.
Experience in water resource administration, including water rights, teaching/training, database structure and development, analysis and testing, program evaluation, and policy development
Advanced knowledge of natural resource management and program administration, Montana water rights adjudication, the Montana Water Use Act, Supreme Court claim examination rules, and related court orders.
Knowledge of Montana Code Annotated and Administrative Rules of Montana related to water rights, examination methodologies, procedures, and comparison standards.
Familiarity with water use practices in Montana (domestic, irrigation, stock, mining, municipal, commercial, hydropower).
Strong understanding of GIS technology, water right database structure and applications, document storage and retrieval systems, and common software applications.
Skill in composing and editing policies, reports, and guidance; reading and interpreting maps, plats, and aerial photographs; and applying math to compute flow rates, volumes, and surface areas.
Ability to communicate complex technical and legal information clearly, both verbally and in writing, to a wide range of audiences.
Ability to train, guide, and oversee the work of others; organize workloads; establish schedules and deadlines; and work independently within program goals.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, managers, the Water Court, stakeholders, and the public.
Capacity to interpret and implement statutes, rules, laws, and policies and to research and analyze facts to develop procedures for resolving controversial issues.

Responsibilities

Provide technical assistance and training to regional staff, supervisors, managers, and bureau leadership on statutes, policies, procedures, GIS mapping, and water right database tools, ensuring consistent and accurate work products that comply with law, rule, court orders, and policy.
Develop, deliver, and update program guidance, training, and manuals; monitor work across regional offices; and maintain a quality control review plan and schedule that tracks progress toward bureau goals.
Identify data, policy, and procedural issues; recommend and implement solutions (including remedial training and process changes); and serve on database teams to improve systems, test enhancements, and support staff in using updated tools.
Lead public information and outreach efforts through newsletters, presentations, and other communication tools to increase understanding of water rights requirements and support timely, consistent responses to complex inquiries.
Perform special projects, assist with budgeting and bureau planning, represent the program at meetings and conferences, and provide back ‑ up to the Program Supervisor on assigned management duties.

Benefits

Live and work in Helena, Montana , which offers a unique blend of opportunities and natural beauty, situated between Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks.
Montana offers abundant recreational opportunities , including camping, fishing, hunting, mountain biking, and hiking.
Work/life balance with flexible schedules and telework eligibility.
Generous paid leave (vacation, sick, holidays), with vacation leave increasing with service.
Longevity pay with continued state service.
Health, dental, vision, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts.
Access to free employee medical clinics and telehealth.
Retirement plans ( Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution plus an optional 457(b) Plan ).
Public Service Loan Forgiveness - may qualify you for student loan forgiveness.
Career progression, professional development, and state employee discounts.
Up to 15 days of military leave with full pay.