Hydrographer (Natural Resource Specialist 2)

Initial Posting Date:

02/27/2025

Application Deadline:

03/12/2025

Agency:

Water Resources Department

Salary Range:

$4,622 - $7,070

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Hydrographer (Natural Resource Specialist 2)

Job Description:

Working Title: Hydrographer 

Classification: Natural Resource Specialist 2 

Position Type: Full-time, permanent 

Representation: This position is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt, eligible for overtime in the form of compensatory time with manager approval 

Monthly Compensation: The monthly salary range will be $4,662.00-$7,070.00 Before PERS* | $4,943.00-$7,562.00 After PERS*   

 

Work Location: North Mall Office Building, 725 Summer St. NE Suite A, Salem Oregon 97301. Minimal travel required (2-3 days/month)

Hybrid/Remote Work: Hybrid Eligible; in-office work weekly, travel monthly 

 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 our Section 

 

The Surface Water Hydrology (SWH) Section provides technical expertise regarding surface water, consumptive use, and water diversion data, including the analyses and interpretation of these data, within the Department and for the public. The SWH Section participates in programmatic and special interest matters involving water supplies, such as the collection and evaluation of surface water data, basin studies investigating surface water-groundwater relationships, and the evaluation of drought conditions. Through coordination with others in the agency, SWH provides data and analyses critical for responsible water management. 

About our Team 

 

The Hydrographics Team aims to provide high-quality, defensible data for water management and science. We support data publication at over 260 gages across Oregon as well as approximately thousand miscellaneous measurements each year. We serve as technical experts in surface water measurement, supporting staff across the agency in performing hydrographic work. The Hydrographics Program compiles stage, velocity, water temperature, specific conductance, and other hydrologic data from sites statewide in partnership with Field Services staff and processes and publishes these data. The data is used by planners, scientists, and managers inside and outside the Department for water management, modeling, and science. Along with the review and publication of streamflow data, staff in the Hydrographics Program set program standards related to measuring/estimating streamflow, operating stream gages, and producing streamflow records. Additionally, program staff analyze hydrologic data and develop streamflow statistics and other summary information used to characterize streamflow data. Finally, staff establish and maintain the appropriate databases, software, and technological assets required to produce streamflow data. 

About the Position 

 

This position’s primary purpose is to process, assess, and publish streamflow data. In this position, you will work directly with nine other hydrographers, and collaborate with many field staff, to ensure that WRD’s stream gage network provides accurate and reliable data.  You will use your background in hydrology, along with your experience with data management and field work to maintain high-quality datasets for WRD. Finally, your ability to build effective working relationships and support your team in a fast-moving and service-oriented position will help you maintain and build Oregon’s stream gage network. If you join the team, you will be a member of the Technical Services Division, reporting to the Manager of the Surface Water Section. Consider joining our team and advancing our mission to practice and promote responsible water management in Oregon! Learn more about the Department.  

 

Some functions of this role could look like: 

• Interpret streamflow measurements and hydrologic data to develop streamflow records. 

• Train staff on quality assurance practices related to the collection of streamflow data. 

• Apply quality control standards for the review of streamflow data. 

• Maintain databases related to management of streamflow data. 

• Assist staff with field work associated with the installation, operation, and maintenance of stream gages. 

• Provide management, testing, and tracking of associated stream gage equipment. 

• Serve as an expert on information regarding streamflow data. 

• Day trip and overnight travel on average 2-3 days a month to support work of position 

 

You can learn more about the position here. 

 

Minimum Qualifications   

Two years of experience collecting and assessing natural resources data sets, at least one of which is at a technical or professional level performing activities in natural resources, AND 

A Bachelor’s degree in Water Resources, Geology, Engineering, Environmental Science, or similar field, OR three additional years of related (pertinent) 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. 

 

Pertinent experience could include hydrologic data collection and record keeping, database maintenance or management for complex natural resources data, stream gage maintenance and management, or natural resource fieldwork and data management.  

  

Preferred Qualifications   

• Experience collecting streamflow measurements, operating stream gages, and processing related data.  

• Strong understanding of factors affecting stream gage data accuracy. 

• Experience with statistical analysis. 

• Experience using SQL, R, or Python or similar database, or programming languages and software. 

• Experience fostering communication and a team-oriented approach to problem solving. 

• Ability to maintain a high degree of accuracy when performing quality assurance.  

• Ability to work with complex computer applications for up to eight hours per day. 

• Ability to work under demanding conditions with short timelines.  

 

 

Working Conditions

This position requires monthly Day trip and overnight travel on average 2-3 days a month to support work of position and therefore requires a valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record. Must tolerate wading in swift, cold streams and work in environments with noxious weeds, insects, and varying climates. Depending on territory job may occasionally involve the use of snowshoes, cross country skis, all-terrain vehicles or other field equipment.  Occasionally conduct stream discharge measurements during flood conditions from bridges or stream banks.  Is often alone in remote areas with little to no supervision.  This position may occasionally lift up to 75 pounds.   

 

How to apply  

• Provide a brief (no more than 1 page) cover letter indicating why you are interested 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. 

   

What’s in it for you?  

 

In addition to offering a culture of care and inclusivity and working among a highly skilled team to engage in 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).  

 

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 in Workday will state base monthly salary, which is BEFORE PERS contributions.    

Accommodations  

If you need assistance to participate in the application process, including an accommodation request under the American with Disabilities Act, we invite you to contact the recruiter for accommodation requests under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), application questions or job-specific questions please contact our HR team at wrd_dl_hr@water.oregon.gov.  

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.    

Application Review Process  

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.  

   

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