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ISC Water Planning Bureau Chief - Water Resources Manager (OSE/ISC #6049)

State of New Mexico
Santa, NM Full Time
POSTED ON 9/26/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 1/24/2027
Posting Details

This position is located in the Water Planning Bureau of the Interstate Stream Commission (NMISC or Commission). The NMISC has broad powers to investigate, protect, conserve, and develop New Mexico's waters including both interstate and intrastate stream systems. The eight nonsalaried members of the Commission are appointed by the Governor. The ninth member is the State Engineer who under state law is the secretary of the Commission. The Interstate Stream Commission Director serves as the deputy state engineer.

The Commission's authority under state law includes negotiating with other states to settle interstate stream controversies. New Mexico is a party to eight interstate stream basins. To ensure basin compliance, Interstate Stream Commission staff analyze, review, and implement projects in New Mexico and analyze streamflow, reservoir, and other data on the stream systems. The Commission is also authorized by statute to investigate and develop the water supplies of the state and institute legal proceedings in the name of the state for planning, conservation, protection and development of public waters.

This position work in the Santa Fe, New Mexico. To learn more about the Office of the State Engineer, please visit our website: https://www.ose.nm.gov

OSE/ISC participates in the federal E Verify program and will use this system to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all newly hired employees and must provide identification to confirm work eligibility on their first day of work.

*****Applications submitted without work experience, or a resume will not be considered. If attaching a resume, the resume must include dates of employment for each job (month and year) and details of work experience/job duties. Please make sure to attach your transcripts, degree, or licensure if required in the minimum qualifications. *****
Why does the job exist?

The Planning Bureau Chief provides leadership, management, and strategic direction for the Interstate Stream Commission's Water Planning Bureau. The position is responsible for managing and coordinating the agency's planning work and overseeing the development, implementation, coordination, and continuous improvement of statewide and regional water planning activities.

The Water Planning Bureau Chief ensures that planning programs are effectively organized, staffed, and executed; establishes priorities and work plans for recommendation to the Interstate Stream Commission; coordinates activities across planning programs and other ISC and Office of the State Engineer (OSE) staff; and ensures that planning products provide sound, defensible information to support water-management decisions by the ISC and OSE, state agencies, regional planning entities, local governments, Tribes, Pueblos, Nations, and other water stakeholders.
How does it get done?

This position will be responsible for providing the following duties:

1. Water Planning Bureau Leadership and Management
  • Direct and manage the activities of the ISC Planning Bureau, including establishment of program priorities, work plans, schedules, deliverables, and performance expectations.
  • Provide day-to-day leadership and supervision of planning staff and ensure effective allocation of staff resources among statewide, regional, and other planning priorities.
  • Establish procedures and internal processes necessary for efficient and consistent implementation of planning programs.
  • Coordinate work across planning staff and identify and resolve workload, scheduling, staffing, and programmatic issues.
  • Monitor progress toward program goals and ensure that projects and deliverables are completed accurately and within established schedules.
  • Manage the Water Planning Bureau¿s budget and identify staffing, contracting, technical, and other resources necessary to accomplish planning objectives.
  • Support staff development through mentoring, performance management, training, and assignment of increasing levels of responsibility.
2. State Water Planning
  • Lead and coordinate development, implementation, evaluation, and periodic updates of the State Water Plan.
  • Develop approaches for translating statewide water data, projections, risks, strategies, and policy considerations into useful planning products and recommendations.
  • Coordinate state water planning activities with other ISC programs and relevant programs of the OSE and other state agencies.
  • Ensure that State Water Plan activities are supported by appropriate technical information, stakeholder engagement, documentation, and quality-control processes.
  • Track implementation of State Water Plan strategies and identify emerging issues that may require additional analysis, planning, or policy consideration.
  • Brief agency leadership and the ISC on significant water-planning issues, findings, priorities, and recommendations.
3. Regional Water Planning
  • Direct and oversee implementation of the state's regional water planning program.
  • Establish expectations, schedules, guidance, methodologies, and deliverables for regional planning activities.
  • Ensure coordination between regional water planning and statewide planning objectives.
  • Provide direction to staff responsible for working with regional planning councils, local governments, Tribes, Pueblos, Nations, acequias, water providers, irrigation organizations, and other stakeholders.
  • Evaluate regional planning needs and recommend improvements to planning processes, technical requirements, stakeholder engagement, and implementation approaches.
  • Promote consistency and comparability among regional planning efforts while maintaining sufficient flexibility to address regional conditions.
4. Staff and Operational Management
  • Supervise professional and technical staff assigned to planning programs.
  • Assign work, establish priorities, evaluate performance, and ensure accountability for assigned responsibilities and deliverables.
  • Develop annual work plans and identify staffing and budget requirements necessary to accomplish program objectives.
  • Manage contracts and professional services supporting planning activities, as appropriate.
  • Participate in development and administration of planning program budgets and monitor expenditures against program priorities.
  • Coordinate contracting, scheduling, and administrative activities necessary to support planning programs.
  • Develop and maintain appropriate documentation, procedures, schedules, and systems for tracking planning activities and deliverables.
5. Coordination and Communication
  • Serve as a principal point of coordination for ISC water planning activities.
  • Coordinate planning activities with ISC technical, legal, compact, engineering, hydrology, and administrative programs, as appropriate.
  • Build and maintain effective working relationships with federal, state, tribal, regional, and local entities involved in water planning and management.
  • Represent the agency in meetings, public processes, technical discussions, interagency work groups, and other forums related to water planning.
  • Communicate complex water-planning information clearly to technical and nontechnical audiences.
  • Prepare and review reports, presentations, briefing materials, recommendations, correspondence, and other planning products for agency leadership and the Interstate Stream Commission.
6. Management Responsibilities
The Water Planning Bureau Chief is responsible for ensuring continued effective and accountable planning work in support of New Mexicans. The position translates agency priorities into defined work assignments, establishes clear expectations for staff and contractors, monitors progress, resolves operational problems, and ensures that planning resources are directed toward the agency's highest-priority needs.

7. The Bureau Chief is expected to exercise substantial independent judgment in managing personnel, establishing workflows, prioritizing competing assignments, coordinating programs, and recommending changes to improve the effectiveness of state and regional water planning.
Who are the customers?

The Interstate Stream Commission and the State of New Mexico.
Ideal Candidate

The Interstate Stream Commission and the State of New Mexico.
Minimum Qualification

Bachelor's Degree in a related Water Resources discipline (Agriculture Science, Hydrology, Geology, Environmental Science, Water Resources, Watershed Management, Physics, Biology, Natural Science, Physical Science, Life Science, Biology, Chemistry, Geography Forestry/Forest Science, Conservation Science, Wildlife Science, Emergency Management, or Engineering) and eight (8) years of relevant experience, six (6) years of which must be in a supervisory role. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university in a related field and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling twelve (12) years may substitute for the required education and experience.
Employment Requirements

Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License. Must possess and maintain a current Defensive Driving Course Certificate from the State of New Mexico or must pass and receive Defensive Driving Course Certification within six (6) months of date of hire as a condition of continued employment.
Working Conditions

Work is performed in an office setting with extensive computer and telephone usage to include working with faxes, copiers and printers. Extensive interaction with the public by phone and in person. There are extended periods of sitting and researching large amounts of data. This position also includes working in the field that consist of rough terrain including heat, cold, humidity, and wind to determine water usage or irrigated acreage, and read meters. May have to climb, reach, kneel and crawl to perform field job duties. May also lift up to 20 pounds. Travel is required. This position must also follow all safety protocols in the office and in the field.
Supplemental Information

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Agency Contact is Michelle Hunter, (505) 795-4474: Email

For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.

Bargaining Unit Position

This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

Benefits:

Health Insurance, Vacation & Paid Time Off, Retirement Plan

Salary : $53 - $85

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