Division Five Division Engineer

This posting is open to current and non-current residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application. However, if you are selected and accept the position, you will be required to establish residence in the State of Colorado.

The Division of Water Resources has two open Professional Engineer positions in the Glenwood Springs office.   This position is at the PE IV, Division Engineer level.  Be sure to look at the PE III, Deputy Division Engineer posting as well.

Division of Water Resources (DWR):
 

State Engineer's Office

Our mission is to administer the waters of the State to maximize lawful beneficial use, ensure that dams and water wells are properly constructed and safe, and provide information about water resources to the public. Division of Water Resources

This work unit exists to serve the public and preserve, protect, develop, and optimize the beneficial use of the state's present and future water supplies.  This work unit exits to administer, distribute and regulate the water of the Colorado River according to the doctrine of prior appropriation, pursuant to Colorado Statutes, and in compliance with the Colorado River Compact

This position exists to perform such functions and duties as specified by state statute and to carry out duties and orders of the State Engineer within the geographical area of Water Division Five.  The position must guide and direct allocation and regulation of water supplies; oversee dam safety; oversee hydrographic measurements and publications to identify and quantify water supplies; oversee well use; enforce compliance with decrees, statutes, permits, rules and regulations, and interstate compacts; compile and make available official records of water use and official lists of water rights; and resolve disputes concerning water rights and use.

Specific job duties include but are not limited to:

Operations and Planning:  Directs, oversees, and implements the responsibilities, goals, objectives, and polices of the agency by planning, scheduling, and directing work efforts; by allocating budget for operating and personal services; by supervising and training subordinates; and by collaborating with other agency personnel.

Water Court and Litigation Lead: Directs and oversees the analysis and evaluation of all new applications for water rights in the Division; submission of information and opinions regarding viability of each application through written consultation reports to the water court as required by statute; negotiations with applicants to construct court decrees consistent with statutes and administrative policies; tabulation of decreed water rights for; and publishes and defends a list of potentially abandoned water rights every ten years. Directs and oversees the performance of engineering evaluations of water court cases for engineering, geologic, and administrative correctness and serves as a subject matter expert on enforcement and legal issues in Water Division 5. Presents expert testimony to water court in areas of water resources, engineering, water administration, hydrography, and water rights. Acts as a liaison to the Attorney General’s Office and the Water Court. Leads negotiations with attorneys, consulting engineers, and geologists of applicants for water rights on behalf of the Division of Water Resources.

Water Administration:  Interprets, applies, and enforces statutes, decrees, interstate compacts, interstate decrees, MOUs, permits, rules and regulations, and court decisions; by formulating and adjusting a program for allocation and distribution of water in the Water Division; by issuing orders regulating and controlling water use; by developing and implementing legal enforcement actions to secure compliance; and by directing, overseeing and executing field investigations, engineering studies, and reports.     

Directs the water administration program to achieve the optimal distribution and regulation of water from streams, aquifers, and reservoirs, including determination of the physical availability in relation to allocation principles to meet statutory, decretal, compact and constitutional obligations through collaboration with staff and water users.  Issues orders and initiates enforcement actions as necessary to enforce water administration statutes and monitors compliance with orders issued to ensure compliance.

Directs the water administration program to gather, edit, compile and publish data to produce the official record of water diversions and use within the Water Division.

Water Information, Hydrographic and Water Measurement:  Oversees, analyzes, and guides the program that measures stream flow and diversions, in concert with the Chief of Hydrography, to identify and quantify the available water supplies in the basin. Ensures the program provides permanent official records of water flow at designated locations and disseminates water flow information to water officials, water users, and the general public via the DWR website. 

Oversees the implementation, enforcement, and continued enforcement and compliance with the Division 5 Measurement Rules.

Directs and oversees the tabulation of water rights for Division 5, preparation of the list of proposed water rights for abandonment every 10 years, resolves protests to the abandonment list, defends the list in court proceedings as required.

Guides, directs and oversees the gathering, editing, compiling and publication of data to produce an official record of water distribution and use within the Water Division.

Approves or denies applications for Non-Jurisdictional Water Impoundments, Livestock Tanks and Erosion Control dam permits.

Dam Safety:  Assists the Chief of Dam Safety in the administration of the dam safety program that monitors, inspects, and evaluates the condition of dams; reviews orders proposing restriction of storage levels in reservoirs for recommendation to State Engineer; monitors compliance with orders; and initiates enforcement actions to protect public safety.

Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

This posting is open to current and non-current residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application. However, if you are selected and accept the position, you will be required to establish residence in the State of Colorado.

The Division of Water Resources has two open Professional Engineer positions in the Glenwood Springs office.   This position is at the PE IV, Division Engineer level.  Be sure to look at the PE III, Deputy Division Engineer posting as well.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education/Licensure/Certification/Experience:
Current, valid licensure as a Professional Engineer from the Colorado State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors.
OR
Current valid licensure as a Professional Engineer in the United States, and able to obtain licensure in Colorado within six (6) months of hire.