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 our Team  

The Water Right Services Division Administrator provides leadership and guidance to the division through two section managers and directly to division staff.  The Water Right Services Division processes all types of water related transactions for the Department.  This includes applications for new permits, transfer applications, permit amendments, limited licenses, allocations of conserved water, water management conservation plans, hydro-electric licensing, extensions of time for permits and transfers, claims of beneficial use.  The division also serves as the customer service front counter for the agency and receives and processes protests to agency water right decisions and affidavits of water right cancellation. 

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 Water Right 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 Water Right Services Division is divided into three sections that comprises about 35 staff members including several that report directly to this position .   

About the Position  

The Division Administrator manages the Water Right Services Division. The position will be based at the Salem office; however, all the activities of the Water Right Services Division are state-wide programs.  
 
The person in this position provides technical advice to division staff and the staff of other divisions and servs on the Director's executive staff. In addition, this position serves as staff to the Water Resources Commission on all matters that are processed within the division. 
 
This position will work in harmony within the division to foster and promote to employees the importance of a diverse, and discrimination and harassment free workplace and ensure that any subordinate managers/supervisors receive an orientation on the Department’s affirmative action goals and responsibilities and understand their own responsibilities for helping promote the affirmative action goals and objectives in the division/section; ensure all subordinate managers/supervisors are evaluated on their effectiveness in carrying out the responsibilities they have for participating in and promoting affirmative action activities; act in a responsible manner if they become aware of any Department employee engaging in any type of harassment. 

You can view the full position description, here. 

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.   

Minimum Qualifications  

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

Related experience could include: Management in a natural resources program or leading a team in a statewide natural resources project and/or organizational and strategic development and/or developing policy solutions, which includes implementing complex conceptual policy decisions or legislation at a federal and/or state level.  

Preferred Qualifications  

• Experience in strategic project planning with foundational knowledge in natural resource project management. 

• Strong management and leadership skills, which includes timely decision making, planning, organizing, directing, motivating, and evaluating work and performance. 

• 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 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. 

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  

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. 

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. 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 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).  

Application Requirements  

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

• Provide a cover letter. 

• Provide a resume. 

• These can be uploaded as separate or combined PDF attachments during the Workday application process. 

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.    

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