DEPT OF WATER RESOURCES

The mission of the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) is to safeguard the public's health, safety, and economic welfare by protecting, conserving, and enhancing Arizona's water supplies in a bold, thoughtful, and innovative manner. We are seeking a Water Resources Specialist to join the Legal Division Division, Compliance Section.

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 and inspections of potential violations of the Department's statutes, rules, permits, orders, and management plans. The position will work in the Departments Legal Division under the supervision of the Compliance Program Manager and the Departments Chief Counsel, in conjunction with appropriate department personnel. 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.

Hybrid work schedule (some work in the office and some work from home) is available for this position.

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.

Responsibilities include:

• 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.
• 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.

Four (4) years of professional level water resource management experience or Bachelor’s degree and two (2) years of related experience or a Master requires. This position requires possession of and ability to retain a current, valid state-issued driver’s license appropriate to the assignment. 

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 plans
• LinkedIn Learning membership
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Discounts
• Flexible work schedule

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.

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 12.29%.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact ADWR Human Resources Office at (602) 771-8500 for assistance. Persons with disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language or an alternative format by contacting ADWR Human Resources. The Arizona State Government is an AA/EOE/ADA Reasonable Accommodation Employer.