Careers

Description:

Adjudication is a high-stakes legal process that identifies and notifies all water users within a basin. As a senior adjudication technical lead for the Water Resources Inventory Area (WRIA) 1 Adjudication, you will serve as a lead technical staff member assisting with the WRIA 1 Adjudication. You will also be a key link between the Northwest Regional Office Water Resources team and the Adjudications Sections.

Using highly specialized data systems, you will be responsible for researching and analyzing water rights to assess their legal extent and validity, reviewing court documents, performing water rights permitting, developing court reports, and providing recommendations to management and the legal team.

What you will do:

• Analyze, interpret, and develop maps, as well as review and assess water right documents that provide the foundation for findings on the legal standing of water rights for all claimants in the WRIA 1 adjudication.
• Process water right applications, conduct pre-application consultations, perform both office and field investigations, research and analyze water right information, and guide applicants through the process.
• Guide and support junior section staff in conducting investigations required to respond to customer service inquiries related to water rights, mapping, and court form completion to ensure accuracy in court findings.
• Conduct complex technical research and analysis of water right information; respond to and document customer service inquiries from adjudication claimants, assess their questions, and provide accurate water right information.
• Perform site visits and other fieldwork to evaluate water user claims.
• Oversee data management, database functionality testing, and data input; ensure data quality through quality assurance and quality control processes.
• Collaborate on drafting reports to the court that form the basis for evaluating claims.
• Develop and implement process flows and identify opportunities for operational improvements. 
• Provide strategic advice to the Adjudications Support Unit Supervisor.

Skills/Eligibility:

At the Environmental Specialist 2 level (In-Training)

Pay Range 45, $4,105 - $5,503 monthly

Five (5) years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience performing environmental-based work, OR work related to the duties of the position that includes all of the following:
  • Familiarity with the use of maps, aerial photographs, and property records so that with limited training, could identify location of water rights and related information such as legal descriptions.
  • Production of maps using ArcPro or other digital mapping GIS systems, including labelling and graphics.
  • Exposure to the performance of site visits and other field work to evaluate environmental conditions so that with limited training, could evaluate water use claims.
  • Two (2) or more years in customer service and/or working with the public.
  • Two (2) or more years of scientific/technical writing experience. 

Experience must include demonstrated competence in the following skill sets:

• Ability to convey complex concepts in simple terms, both in writing and verbally, with training.
• Using critical / analytical thinking and problem-solving skills to make decisions or determine a course of action.
• Reviewing / assessing information and data to draw conclusions and recommending decisions or actions.
• Conducting research and performing data analysis on both qualitative and quantitative data.

• Education involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences; environmental or natural science interdisciplinary studies; environmental planning; or closely related field. 

Examples of how to qualify:

• 5 years of experience.
• 4 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 3 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
• 2 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• 1 year of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree.
• No experience AND a Master’s degree or higher.