Well Fund Coordinator

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Well Fund Coordinator

(Natural Resource Specialist 4)

The Oregon Water Resources Department (WRD) seeks to hire full-time, limited duration (June 30, 2023) Well Fund Coordinator (Natural Resource Specialist 4). As the Well Fund Coordinator you will implement the Well Abandonment, Repair, and Replacement Fund (Fund) to address the public health and safety emergency resulting from drought and wildfires. You will work to conduct outreach and administer funding to address dry wells and restore household access to water, while gathering lessons for the larger roll out of the funding opportunity and full implementation of the fund as authorized in statute . You will be a member of the Planning, Collaboration, and Investments Section within the Director’s Office, reporting to the Manager of the Planning, Collaboration, and Investments Section. The term of the limited duration position ends June 30, 2023. Consider joining our team and advancing our mission to practice and promote responsible water management in Oregon! Learn more about the Department .

What you will do

Your primary duties will be to facilitate the implementation of Stage I of the Well Abandonment, Repair, and Replacement Fund (Fund) and provide funding assistance for low to moderate income households with domestic water supply wells in areas recently affected by drought or wildfire. In this role you will:

• Be responsible for overall Fund administration, working with homeowners and technical experts, setting up grants, and administering funds.
• Conduct outreach, effectively reaching Oregonians in need and describing the new program.
• Provide applicant/grantee assistance, helping them understand who/what is eligible, the process for applying and entering a grant agreement, and how to request reimbursement of eligible expenses.
• Coordinate with technical staff, field staff, and well drillers to determine the appropriate solution for an applicant’s well.
• Work with fiscal staff to ensure to ensure grantee compliance with grant agreements and fiscal procedures.
• Document lessons learned from Stage I of implementation of the Fund for Stage II, the larger program design and roll out.
• Assist with other strategic investments managed in the section as time allows.

What’s in it for you?

The opportunity to:

• Help restore access to household wells for Oregonians impacted by recent drought and wildfires.
• Support a sustainable water future for Oregon’s economy, environment, and communities.
• Join an organization with smart, driven co-workers who care about public service, water resources, and their co-workers.
• Work with a team that welcomes new ideas.
• Grow personally and professionally through a variety of advancement and learning opportunities.

Natural Resource Specialist 4 Salary – The State of Oregon conducts a pay equity analysis to determine what pay step within the salary range to offer the successful candidate based on the experience documented in your application. See table below for salary ranges.

NON-PERS eligible -

• I ncludes most new hires to state government. Employees typically gain PERS eligibility after six months of state service
• $5,234 - $8,043 monthly

PERS eligible -

• Typically current or former employees of Oregon state or local government, public schools, universities, etc. 6% is deducted for PERS.
• $5,597 - $8,603 monthly

Other Benefits – We offer a competitive benefits package that includes:

• Exceptional medical, vision and dental plans with employees paying 1-5% 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 and additional four days of discretionary leave - 3 days of personal business leave and one day of Governor’s 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).

The team you will join

The Planning, Collaboration, and Investments (PCI) Section builds partnerships and incentivizes Oregonians to pursue integrated and innovative solutions for complex water challenges and an uncertain water future. The team works in support of the Department’s mission through adaptive planning, cooperative partnerships, strategic investments, accessible information, and effective coordination. We and our colleagues across the Department are working to implement our 2019-2024 Strategic Plan and live out our agency core values of:

• 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.

Our position on diversity, equity, and inclusion

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.

What we are looking for?

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

Minimum required qualifications:

• Four years of experience in a natural resource program area. At least two years of the experience must be at a technical or professional level performing activities in a natural resource program such as researching and analyzing data, conducting investigations, applying pertinent laws and regulations, or coordinating and monitoring project activities
• A Bachelor's degree in a natural resource area OR three additional years of related experience.

Note: A Master's degree in a natural resource area will substitute for up to one year of the required experience. A Doctorate degree in a natural resource area will substitute for up to two years of the required experience.

Desired attributes:

• Grant program administration – You have experience with grant administration, best grant management practices, or other types of funding assistance
• Critical thinking skills – You have the ability to identify connections and generate ideas for navigating complex problems.
• 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 and attention to detail – You excel at ensuring grant files are well maintained and keeping track of project progress, timelines, deadlines, and deliverables.
• Effective Communication – You are able to communicate with various audiences, including homeowners, well drillers, hydrogeologists, and accountants.
• Some knowledge of wells or groundwater (preferred, not required) – While you will work with technical and field staff on the more technical aspects of the Fund, some background in hydrogeology, well construction, geology, or similar field is beneficial.

Where will you work?

This position is based in Salem, Oregon where you can enjoy access to city life , the coast , and the mountains —each only an hour away. The Willamette Valley is a great place for wine tasting, craft breweries, u-pick fruits and vegetables, and hiking through old growth forests on sunny summer days.

This position may work remotely and/or in an office environment. You can work remotely on a schedule agreed upon by the manager and employee. Overnight travel may be required.

Vaccination requirement

The State of Oregon requires all executive branch employees to complete their COVID-19 vaccination series or have an approved exception to the requirement due to a medical condition or sincerely held religious belief. Successful candidates for this position must submit vaccination documentation or be approved for an exception prior to their first day of employment. Failure to provide proof of full documentation or receipt of an approved exception will lead to withdrawal of the job offer. For more information, visit our policy listed here .

How to apply

• Provide a brief (no more than 1 page) cover letter indicating why you are interested in, and a good candidate for the position.
• Provide a brief (no more than 2 page) resume indicating your experience pertinent to the required qualifications and desired attributes in this announcement.

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After you apply

• Log in to your Workday account before the job announcement closes to see if you have any pending tasks or actions, and make sure to complete these tasks or actions before the job announcement closes. These can be found under the “My Applications” section.
• Be sure to check both your email and Workday account for updates regarding this recruitment.

Want to know more? Here's more help!

• Work authorization – WRD does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, applicants will be required to complete I-9 documentation and confirm authorization to work in the United States. If your employment authorization and documentation is contingent on sponsorship now or in the future, you will not meet DAS employment eligibility standards.
• – Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given veterans' preference. For further information, please see the following website: Veterans Resources , or call Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs at: 1-800-692-9666 NOTE: If claiming veterans’ preference please be sure to check your Workday account for pending tasks or actions under your “My Applications” section.
• Current COVID precautions – WRD employees are currently working remotely to the fullest extent possible due to the current health crisis. While working remotely, home internet connection and availability is required to perform duties appropriately. Remote working conditions are subject to change as necessary and/or required.
• Salary – The salary listed at the top of the announcement is the non-PERS qualifying salary range. If the successful candidate is PERS qualifying, the salary range will reflect an additional 6.95%. Please review the Classification and Compensation page for more details.
  

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