Water Resources Engineer IV

SGM•Grand Junction, CO

About The Position

SGM is seeking a Water Resources Engineer IV to reside in the Grand Junction, or Glenwood Springs, Colorado office. This position will require engineering and technical analytical support for a wide variety of water resource and water rights projects and to maintain strong working relationships with our clients and other SGM disciplines to ensure timely execution of other civil, drinking water, and wastewater projects, as needed. Work could include project planning to collect various types of water resources and water rights data in the field or managing junior staff to inform project outcomes. This position will also be responsible for processing data and interpreting the results to guide and inform project outcomes; developing or directing ArcGIS mapping; preparing technical reports summarizing project findings; and managing projects ranging in size from $5,000 – $500,000. Work could also entail writing proposals, designing data collection programs, providing regulatory permitting support, conducting water rights analysis, supporting the planning, development, and adjudication of groundwater and surface water supplies, overseeing project construction, supporting project assets management, and writing grant applications and/or providing project financial planning input to clients. The overarching expectations for this position are to plan, develop, and manage projects of all sizes with limited external direction. This position will also have responsibilities with winning new work with existing or new clients and supporting existing work with clients through responsive service, experience, expertise, presence, and valued opinions. This position may be responsible for mentoring and directing work of, and may supervise, junior staff members. Demonstrated leadership in one or more areas of business development, client service management, or technical specialization is also an essential aspect of succeeding in this position. Some travel within Colorado may be required to support project execution. SGM offers a generous benefits package to full-time employees including medical, dental, vision coverage, employer paid STD/LTD/Life, HSA/FSA plans, 401k employer match, parental leave, vacation & sick leave, 8 paid holidays, and incentive compensation bonuses. Benefits may be prorated for part-time employees. This position will be posted until filled but no sooner than two days from now. Listed salary range is based on a 40-hour work week.

Requirements

10+ years of experience in water resource consulting and management including watershed management, water supply planning, floodplain and hydrology modeling, water rights, and water quality services
Bachelor’s degree required and Master’s degree preferred, ideally in engineering, hydrology, hydrogeology, water resources, or other related science discipline
Demonstrated knowledge of Colorado water rights and water resource management, including local, state, and federal drinking water, wastewater, ground and surface water rules and regulations
A strong technical understanding of the principles of hydrology and ability to independently plan and conduct complex hydrology investigations
Strong technical written and verbal communication skills
Demonstrates initiative to meet task deliverables and to learn new skills and software relevant to projects
Ability to communicate with staff including project leadership and communication of client needs
Ability to meet and interact with a wide variety of people
Leadership abilities and capable of working on a team
Project planning and management experience is preferred including water resource management, regulatory permitting, project construction, project assets management, grant applications and/or project financial planning
Familiarity with CDSS tools and Hydrobase, StateCU, IDS AWAS, Glover Analyses, AutoCAD Civil 3D, HEC-RAS, EPA SWMM, HY-8, FlowMaster, StormCAD, Hydraflow, and ArcGIS/ArcMap
Proficient with Microsoft Excel, including tracking, sorting, filtering, and manipulating complex datasets; using high level formulas to concisely summarize data (VLOOKUP, SUMIF, etc.); creating user-friendly tables and charts to visually display complex data
Licensed Professional Engineer, preferably in Colorado
Valid Driver’s License

Nice To Haves

Experience with permitting and Clean Water Act compliance is preferred but not essential

Responsibilities

Support the technical needs and execution of projects associated with SGM’s water resource services including water supply planning and development, groundwater and surface water development, and water quality needs
Manage projects, budgets, and client relationships, and provide quality control review, for projects such as the following:
Technical support for Water Court applications (SWSPs, Augmentation Plans, etc.)
Water supply planning studies
Hydrologic and water rights yield investigations
Stream depletion analyses such as crop consumptive use, net depletions, and evaluation of potential injury to other water users
Water budget models for discrete systems and for river basin modeling
Assist clients in identifying, understanding, and solving problems
Work with water rights attorneys and state water officials and have knowledge of Colorado water rights and water resource management to obtain permits and decrees for clients
Work with municipalities and special districts to support in water resources management and planning
Independently plan and implement tasks to support complex hydrology investigations
Develop and maintain client relationships and trust
Communicate effectively with SGM teams and clients
Complete necessary documentation including peer review of reports, memos, client correspondence and other items
Serve as a technical lead for field investigations, data collection and analysis
Mentor and guide junior staff on project tasks