Water Resources Manager

Arizona Department of Administration•Phoenix, AZ

4d•$50,000 - $65,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Water Resources Manager is a Wildlife Specialist Senior within the Wildlife Management Division’s Habitat Branch, based in Phoenix, Arizona. Under the direction of the Land and Water Program Supervisor, the role is part of the Department’s realty program and conducts water-right investigations and research to determine the water-resource value associated with real-property acquisitions for wildlife areas, shooting ranges, fish hatcheries, and administrative offices. The position may offer remote work within Arizona, depending on department needs and continued achievement of performance measures. The manager researches and evaluates surface and groundwater rights and water-use proposals involving Commission-owned and managed lands. The role supports the Department’s water-rights program, including protecting and perfecting water rights, coordinating reviews and documentation, maintaining water-resource records, and providing technical recommendations for management review and, where applicable, Commission approval. The position also collaborates with Department staff and governmental, private-sector, and public stakeholders, and may serve as Land and Water Program Supervisor during the supervisor’s absence.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in wildlife or biological science, geoscience, hydrology, water resources management, or a closely related field.
Knowledge of state laws, rules, and regulations concerning land acquisitions and dispositions, surface and groundwater rights, leases, easements, and rights-of-way.
Knowledge of appraisals, title reports, boundary surveys, water-right information, environmental site assessments, project design and layout, maps, and water-resource research methods.
Knowledge of real estate, water-resource planning and management, state and federal water-resource laws and regulations, and Arizona water-rights administration.
Knowledge of Arizona Game and Fish laws and Arizona water laws, policies, procedures, and regulations; legal procedures related to water rights, land transfers, and land management; Arizona flora, fauna, and ecological support systems; scientific data collection and technical report writing; GIS mapping; and computer data-management systems.
Skill in applying a multidisciplinary approach to identify and resolve complex, sensitive water-right or water-resource-management issues.
Skill in using information and models to organize, analyze, and interpret water-resource-management data and in conducting field water-monitoring investigations.
Skill in research, analysis of numerical or field-survey data, personal-computer operation, GIS mapping, oral and written communication, interpersonal relations, flexibility, and prioritizing multiple tasks and projects.
Ability to evaluate water rights and water-use proposals for fish and wildlife management; use computers to manage water-right and resource-management data; and work accurately with large databases.
Ability to work independently and in a team, prioritize work, set goals, self-motivate, multitask, and manage projects and deadlines.
Ability to coordinate projects with Department staff, other governmental agencies, customers, and the public.
Strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills; ability to communicate effectively and negotiate contracts and land-use or water-right documents.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with governmental and business officials, community leaders, and the public.
Possess and retain a current, valid state-issued driver’s license appropriate to the assignment.
Successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify), as required for newly hired State employees.

Nice To Haves

Degree in hydrology, water law, or water-resources management.

Responsibilities

Plan and conduct water-right investigations for property acquisition, disposal, and management.
Conduct or coordinate due diligence and feasibility evaluations of water rights for acquisition and disposal proposals.
Coordinate biological evaluations of water acquisition and disposal proposals.
Coordinate preparation of documents to acquire, file, and protect water rights, including measuring water use.
Research surface and groundwater rights and related issues concerning Commission-owned lands.
Perfect and protect Commission water rights and claims with the Arizona Department of Water Resources and the courts; help defend legal challenges and competing claims; and prepare testimony for water-right adjudication proceedings.
Provide technical support for the Commission’s water-rights program.
Evaluate proposed new and existing water-use and monitoring projects on Commission properties, including habitat improvements, monitoring equipment, shooting-range developments, leases, disposals, and rights-of-way.
Gather and evaluate water-resource information, determine compatibility with Department programs, and prepare recommendations for management review and possible Commission approval.
Review water-related projects on Commission-owned and managed properties through the EA Checklist process.
Maintain, store, and provide Commission water-right and water-use/measurement information; retrieve, compile, analyze, and interpret water-right and water-resource data.
Attend meetings with Department staff and managerial personnel and representatives from federal, state, local, and private-sector entities.
Facilitate annual Department payments for water-use assessments on Commission properties.
Serve as Land and Water Program Supervisor as assigned during the supervisor’s absence.
Perform other duties as assigned.