The Water Resources Department is seeking a Region Manager to serve out of our Salem Headquarters! If you are a compassionate leader with an understanding of the complexities of natural resource enforcement and regulations who can inspire innovative solutions and lead a highly motivated team in protecting the water resources of the State, we would like to hear from you! 

Working Title:  Northwest Region Manager- Region 1

Classification:  Natural Resource Protection and Sustainability Manager 2

Position Type:  Permanent, Full Time

Representation:  Management Services Supervisory

FLSA Status:  Exempt and not eligible for overtime or compensatory time

Monthly Compensation: The Salary range for this classification is 33X, the monthly compensation before PERS* will be $7,353-$11,373| after PERS* will be $7,863-$12,165

Work Location: North Mall Office Building, 725 Summer St. NE Suite A, Salem Oregon 97301

Relocation Expense: This position may be eligible for relocation assistance for the successful candidate. The final amount offered will vary based on the location of the candidate.

Hybrid/Remote Work: Due to the nature of stakeholder engagement for this position, full time remote work is not possible as the position must be available to attend meetings in Salem, Oregon and around the region and the state. Teleworking and in the office work schedule will be determined upon agreement and approval of supervisor. Hybrid (in the office and at remote work) is generally a standard offering for this position, though subject to supervisor approval.

About the Oregon Water Resources Department   

The Oregon Water Resources Department is committed to creating a workplace culture that understands and appreciates differences among people and is welcoming and inclusive to all. By fostering fairness and equity in its work culture, the Department strives to improve services for all Oregonians. We acknowledge that not all people have experienced equitable opportunities or fair treatment. We are committed to increasing our awareness and understanding of historic injustices and building a foundation for meaningful change. We value a wide range of professional and lived experiences, and people of underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply.   

Our Vision   

The vision of the Oregon Water Resources Department is to assure sufficient and sustainable water supplies are available to meet current and future needs. 

Our Mission

The Department's mission is to serve the public by practicing and promoting responsible water management through two key goals:

• To directly address Oregon's water supply needs
• To restore and protect streamflows and watersheds in order to ensure the long-term sustainability of Oregon's ecosystems, economy, and quality of life

Core Values   

• Integrity – We are accountable for all that we do.  We act with honesty and promote transparency.   
• Service – We are dedicated to providing outstanding service and treating everyone equitably in our management and stewardship of state resources.   
• Technical Excellence – We base our resource decisions on law, science, and expertise.   
• Teamwork – We are united in our mission, relying on one another and working together with the communities we serve.   
• Forward-Looking – We seek innovative and practical solutions to the water challenges of today and tomorrow.   

2019-2024 Strategic Plan

The Oregon Water Resources Department’s strategic priorities for 2019-2024 are to:   

• Modernize our management of Oregon’s surface water and groundwater resources to meet instream and out-of-stream uses   
• Work to secure Oregon’s instream and out-of-stream water future in the face of increasing water scarcity   
• Foster a forward-looking team dedicated to serving Oregonians with integrity and excellence. 
• Note: WRD is currently working on an update to our Strategic Plan!  

About our Team/Division  

The Field Services Division has over 80 staff located in 23 offices around Oregon and is responsible for the daily water management in streams, reservoirs, and groundwater wells across the state.  The Division works in support of the Department’s mission through on-the-ground problem solving, water law enforcement, scientific data collection, customer service, and effective coordination with water users and other agency staff. We and our colleagues across the Department are working to implement our Strategic Plan to responsibly manage the water resources for current and future generations. 

You will be a member of the Field Services Division management team, reporting to the Division Administrator. Consider joining our team and advancing our mission to practice and promote responsible water management in Oregon while experiencing the breathtaking beauty of this State’s waterways! Learn more about the Department.    

About the Position  

The Oregon Water Resources Department is hiring the Northwest Region Manager (Natural Resource Protection and Sustainability Manager 2) to work in the Salem, OR, the Department headquarters, at the North Mall Office Building. The Northwest Region covers 13 counties including the State’s most populous counties and metropolitan hubs. The Willamette Basin as well as the watersheds of the North Coast area present multiple, challenging water issues that require significant staff involvement and field work, including a large number of irrigation districts and highly engaged and active water user communities, several large-scale storage projects and large municipalities. 

The region is further divided into six Watermaster Districts.  Each watermaster is responsible for timely water management and water law enforcement in their District. Some larger watermaster district offices have assistant watermasters and office support staff. This region manager provides oversight to a team of 14 full-time State staff to manage surface water, groundwater, and stored water across the region. 

The Oregon Water Resources Department works with other local and state agency partners to address illegal uses, foster instream, and out-of-stream solutions in the face of increasing water scarcity across Oregon.  There is an expectation that the selected candidate would be within a reasonable commute distance from Salem as staff management and timely assistance to the Region and public are required. 

Some duties this position is responsible for:

• Represent the Department in time sensitive disputes regarding Oregon Water Law.
• Manage a dynamic and motivated team dealing with complex water issues in times of scarcity and new industries.
• Represent the Department in building shared understanding of water law compliance with the public through promoting a balanced approach to education and enforcement.
• Interpret and understand Oregon Water Law, administrative rules, and Department policies to support field staff. 
• Participate in policy discussions, legislative concept review and creation of new rules and policies.
• Collaborate with local law enforcement and enforcement staff from other agencies to address illegal water use.
• Review final orders and enforcement orders as it pertains to illegal water use.
• Represent the Department in high level conversations with stakeholders, elected officials and other State Agency’s regarding management of the resource. 
• Ensure regional staff support Department best practices and policies in a consistent manner.
• Conduct recruiting, assessment and onboarding of new staff. 

You can view the full position description here.Minimum Qualifications  

We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job and understand that candidates may not meet every one of our listed preferred qualifications. Lived experience may count towards the preferred qualifications. If you are excited about this position, we encourage you to apply. If you are unsure as to whether you meet the preferred qualifications of this position, please contact us to discuss your application. 

• Six years of supervision, management, or progressively related experience;

OR

• Three years of related experience AND a bachelor’s degree in Hydrology, Geology, Civil Engineering, or other natural resource related field are preferred. Other applicable education may be management, public administration, government or criminology.  

Preferred Qualifications  

• Leadership – You have strong management and coaching skills including timely decision making, planning, organizing, directing, motivating and evaluating work and performance.
• Conflict resolution – You are comfortable navigating and seeking timely resolution to conflict.
• Natural resources background – You have a Bachelor’s degree in natural resources and/or at least three years working with and in the natural resources field. A background in water resources, and knowledge of water laws and water management is preferred.
• Compliance and enforcement – You have a proven ability to ensure adherence and compliance to laws including license or permit conditions. Pursuing regulatory enforcement action when necessary.
• Statute and rules - You can effectively read, interpret, and use statutes, rules, case law, and policies related to natural resources management. You review options and guide staff in making decisions that are consistent with statute, rule, department guidelines and best practices.
• Equity and environmental justice – You are informed and engaged with issues of equity and environmental justice and seek to continue to learn and grow in these areas. 
• Excellent organization skills – You can keep track of project progress, timelines, deadlines, and deliverables, while also coordinating with project partners. 
• Communication – You effectively communicate with a wide variety of audiences and stakeholder groups and listen well.
• Project management – You successfully manage staff and projects related to natural resources management.

We are most interested in finding the most qualified candidate for the job, and that candidate may not meet every one of our listed preferred qualifications. Paid and unpaid experience may count towards the preferred qualifications. If you are excited about this position, we encourage you to apply. If you are unsure as to whether you meet the preferred qualifications of this position, please contact us to discuss your application.  

Working Conditions  

Most of the work will be in the office with occasional field work and site inspections with staff, including work in and around streams and reservoirs. In support of field activities and enforcement of water law you will have occasional contact with hostile or angry people. There will be some overnight travel in the region, and across the state with infrequent out-of-state travel. Work will include facilitating meetings with the general public, stakeholders and public officials, facilitating public meetings, and conducting public presentations. This position may occasionally interact with the media, conducting interviews via phone, video, email, or in-person. You may occasionally lift 25-pound loads. Driving long distances to remote field locations in all types of weather and road conditions is a requirement. This position requires a valid driver’s license and acceptable diving record. You may be eligible to work a hybrid of in office and remote on a schedule agreed upon by the Division Administrator.

What’s in it for you?   

In addition to offering a culture of care and inclusivity and working among a highly skilled team to dive into meaningful work, we also offer a competitive benefits package that includes:    

• PEBB Insurance with exceptional medical, vision and dental plans with employees paying 1 to 5% of the total premium.   
• Leave accrual starting at 8 hours of sick and 8 hours of vacation leave per month, with your vacation leave accruals increasing every 5 years.   
• Access to an additional four days of discretionary leave - 3 days of personal business leave and one day of Governor’s Leave each year.   
• Eleven paid holidays per year.   
• Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) including a pension and employer contributions to the Individual Account Program.    
• Optional benefits (such as term life insurance, long-term and short-term disability, long-term care, health and dependent care flexible spending accounts, enrollment in the Oregon Savings Growth Plan, a deferred compensation program with a wide variety of investment options).   
• The opportunity to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (must qualify).  

Please ensure to provide your resume and cover letter for full consideration.  

• Provide a cover letter. 
• Provide a resume. 

Please monitor both your email and Workday account for updates regarding this recruitment. You may be asked to submit additional information after initial application. If you have questions about this job posting, please contact Human Resources at WRD_DL_HR@water.oregon.gov.   

Current State of Oregon employees must apply through your employee Workday account.  

PERS Salary Information    

* NON-PERS ELIGIBLE (Includes most new hires to state government. Employees typically gain PERS eligibility after six months of state service. PERS ELIGIBLE (Typically current or former employees of Oregon state or local government, public schools, universities, etc.) The salary listed will state base monthly salary, which is BEFORE PERS.    

Accommodations  

If you need assistance to participate in the application process, including an accommodation request under the American with Disabilities Act, we invite you to contact the recruiter for accommodation requests under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), application questions or job-specific questions please contact our HR team at wrd_dl_hr@water.oregon.gov.  

Future Vacancies       

This applicant pool may be used to fill additional vacancies as they occur over the next three (3) months.      

Work Authorization    

The Oregon Water Resources Department does not offer visa sponsorships. Within three days of hire, all applicants will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States.      

Veterans     

If you are an eligible veteran and you meet the qualifications, veterans’ preference points will be added to your score. For more information on veterans’ preference points visit www.oregonjobs.org and select Veterans resources under Resources. Please do not attach veteran documentation to your initial application, after you have applied you will be sent a task in your Workday account to provide your veteran documentation at that time.    

Application Review Process  

In addition to your related work experience and education, we will use both the minimum and desired qualifications above to determine whom to interview. Please make sure all your relevant qualifications are clearly demonstrated in your application materials. Your application materials may be evaluated on spelling, grammar, punctuation, attention to detail, and presentation.  

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage  

The use of outside resources such as Artificial Intelligence software during the application process (cover letter and resume) and applicant skill assessments, examinations, and/or interviews is prohibited unless otherwise stated by the hiring agency. Unauthorized use of outside resources during the hiring process will result in immediate disqualification.  

The Oregon Water Resources Department is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer Committed to Workforce Diversity.