Field Services Division Administrator (Natural Resource Protection & Sustainability Manager 3)

The Water Resources Department is seeking a Field Services Administrator! If you are a compassionate and inclusive leader who is looking for a career that allows you to help shape the future of water resources management, and who can inspire innovative solutions, participate in meaningful collaboration, and who thrives on empowering a highly skilled team, then we want to hear from you!

Working Title: Field Services Administrator

Classification: Natural Resource Protection and Sustainability Manager 3

Position Type: Permanent, Full Time

Representation: This is an Executive Service Supervisory position and serves at the pleasure of the Director

FLSA Status: Exempt, Non-Eligible for overtime and compensatory time

Monthly Compensation: The monthly salary range before PERS* will be $7,599 – $11,752 | after PERS* will be $8,126 – $12,569

Work Location: North Mall Office Building, 725 Summer St. NE Suite A, Salem Oregon 97301. Accommodations for exceptional candidates may be made to work out of regional offices located in Pendleton, Baker City, Bend, or Medford. In-state travel each month is required.

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 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.

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.

About the Position

The Field Services Administrator provides leadership and guidance to the Division through the field management group and directly to division staff.  The Field Services Division is the operational arm of the Department, tackling complex water management challenges through enforcement of water laws, collecting data vital to more robust understanding of groundwater and surface water and protecting public safety through well inspections and dam safety inspections. The person in this position provides the technical expertise and management that is required to develop program priorities and direction. This person retains overall budget responsibility for the Field Services Division; develops and reviews legislative proposals; assures training, ADA compliance, and affirmative action; answers to and represents the Director regarding matters concerning program responsibility. The Field Services Division is divided into six regional areas and this position provides overall management and supervision for the region managers, enforcement section manager and the division’s deputy administrator.

This position is also responsible for:

• Hiring and training division leadership;
• Assigning work based on individuals knowledge and experience to assure fair balance;
• Conducting performance appraisals and providing personnel management;
• Preparing and administering the divisional operating budget;
• Interpreting statutes, court decrees, rules and policies;
• Working with water user groups, public interest groups and governmental agencies;
• Providing reports to the Director and Commission regarding updates and activities;
• Participating in agency goal and objective setting processes;
• Transforming approved agency objectives into division and regional workplans.

The complete position description can be viewed here.

What’s in it for you? 

This position provides the ideal candidate a chance in leading a dedicated and driven team who is proud of serving Oregon and doing work in support of Oregon’s Water Resources. The division is further subdivided into 23 watermaster districts – each with their own challenges around water management with diverse water needs.  This person will work among a team of skilled professionals to guide water resource management policies and encourage and empower each person within the agency to accomplish the agency’s goals and mission.

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:

• Exceptional medical, vision and dental plans with employees paying 1-5% of the total rate.
• Leave accrual starting at 8 hours of sick and 10 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 Special Leave to use at your discretion 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).

Working Conditions 

Majority office work environment with partial remote option.  Periodic travel will be necessary, including overnight travel. Travel may include but is not limited to field tours to learn about agency programs, policy and workgroup meetings, Commission meetings, rules advisory committee meetings, Legislative hearings and meetings with the public, water partners, and elected officials. Some meetings will require overnight 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. This position is expected to work with other sections of the agency and develop strong and effective working relationships to support the agency’s mission and priorities. Occasional trips to the Oregon State Capitol may be necessary, including attending meetings at Capitol hearing rooms, and legislative offices.

Minimum Qualifications – Natural Resource Protection and Sustainability Manager 3 (7463)

Seven years of supervision, management, or progressively related experience; OR four years of related experience and a bachelor’s degree.

Preferred Qualifications

Note:  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.

• Experience working in natural resources with a deep understanding and applied knowledge of the important water issues facing Oregonians today.
• Strong management and leadership skills, which includes timely decision making, planning, organizing, directing, motivating, and evaluating work and performance.
• High level of business acumen – ability to address challenges proactively and retroactively through ongoing organizational evaluation, program implementation and workload leveling.
• Experience with managing natural resource enforcement processes to achieve compliance.
• Experience working collaboratively using strong written and verbal communication skills to accurately communicate and distill highly technical (law, policy, and science) and complex information for elected officials, boards and commissions, the media, stakeholders, and the public in professional level writing, presentations, or conversations.
• Proven ability to collaboratively work through complex problems and review related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Ability to exercise strategic thinking and effective judgment to prepare for and respond to high-visibility issues and events.
• Demonstrated success at developing internal and external relationships, building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation.
• A proven track record of evaluating issues and proposing solutions to advance and implement policy decisions, legislation, and regulatory actions which includes strong knowledge of, and experience in the implementation of federal and/or state laws and policy
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, with an ability to anticipate needs and exercise initiative all while remaining agile and adaptable.
• Ability to consider different perspectives and opposing viewpoints, weighing the strengths and weaknesses of alternatives, asking appropriate questions, and arriving at a decision in a timely manner.

Application Requirements 

1. Provide a brief cover letter indicating why you are interested in and are a good candidate for the Field Administrator position.

2. Provide a brief resume indicating your experience pertinent to the required and desired qualifications in this announcement.

If you do not provide both a cover letter and resume, your application may be disqualified.

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.

Important Information 

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.

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.

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