Environmental Specialist III - Water Planning

The work we do matters!

Hiring Agency:

Natural Resources Agency 29

Location:

Lincoln NE

Hiring Rate:

$28.257

Job Posting:

JREnvironmental Specialist III Water Planning (Open)

Applications No Longer Accepted On (If no date is displayed job is posted as open until closed):

Job Description:

Do you have a passion for protecting Nebraskas natural resources Do you love knowing your work makes a difference in your community and state Are you looking for a work environment that supports developing and applying new skills and technologies If you answer yes then we might be the team for you!

Were looking for the next great addition to the Water Planning Division (Division) at the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (NeDNR). Our small but enthusiastic group of dedicated planners and technical experts provides a supportive and collaborative work environment that offers many opportunities to learn and grow professionally.

Before we dive into what we need let us show off what you get!
13 paid holidays
Vacation and sick leave equating to 24 days your first year accruing immediately
Military leave
156% (thats not a typo!) statematched retirement
Tuition reimbursement
Employee assistance program
79% employer paid health insurance plans
Dental and vision insurance plans
Employerpaid $20000 life insurance policy
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) through the Federal government
Wide variety and availability of career advancement as the largest and most diverse employer in the state
Opportunity to be part of meaningful work and make a difference through public service
Training and development based on your career aspirations
Fun inviting teammates
A safe and secure environment
A new modern building in Fallbrook with free onsite parking
Easily accessible from I80
Respected as a valued team member
At the State we stand by our core values of treating others with dignity and respect acting ethically in all situations and creating an environment where our customer is our top priority. Apply to join our team today!

The Water Planning Division at NeDNR works with local regional state and interstate partners and stakeholders on integrated management of surface water and groundwater and on interstate water agreements. Our vision is advancing collaborative water management across the state of Nebraska based on sound science and our mission is to sustain and protect Nebraskas water supplies and water users for both the near and long term. The Divisions work blends hydrogeological modeling and analyses water policy and planning.

ESIII is a project managementlevel position. Under limited supervision the successful candidate will be responsible for coordinating and managing Division projects and performing technical analyses. An Environmental Specialist III is expected to develop their knowledge of the hydrologic models and processing tools the Department currently uses including those related to: MODFLOW groundwater models (including the latest version MODFLOW 6) CROPSIM and/or other watershed models and surface water operations models.

Location: 245 Fallbrook Blvd Lincoln NE

Work Schedule: Monday Friday 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Flexible schedule may be allowed with management approval.

Dress Code: Business Casual

Assist the Water Planning Division of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources with the development and implementation of integrated surface water/groundwater management plans and interstate compacts decrees and agreements.

Develop and perform hydrogeological analyses including:

• Analysis of groundwater/surface water interactions
• Groundwater modeling with MODFLOW including the latest version MODFLOW 6
• Soil water balance modeling including CROPSIM or regionalized watershed modeling
• Surface water operations modeling including with STELLA software
• Geospatial processing in ArcGIS Pro or similar platforms

Retain proper documentation and maintain archives of completed hydrogeological analyses.

Develop large and highlevel hydrogeological technical data required for the integrated surface water/groundwater management planning process.

• Determine the type of technical data needed to support and implement integrated surface water/groundwater management plans
• Acquire and organize data pertaining to surface water diversions and use water rights information and changes in irrigated acres and land use/land cover
• Maintain and follow established procedures for the management of GIS data
• Assist in editing spatial and tabular data spatial analysis image analysis map layout design web mapping and/or image classification that support land and water data development in Nebraska
• Develop and maintain databases and information management systems to ensure reliable storage and efficient retrieval of the Divisions data and record

Lead teams of staff to complete projects as assigned by Division Managers and Supervisors including:

• Providing input on consultant selection and overseeing their work
• Opportunities to supervise interns temporary staff or graduate assistants

Communicate with a variety of audiences:

• Prepare and deliver professional presentations that explain surface water/groundwater interactions and the associated impacts on the integrated management planning process to a wide range of technical audiences
• Prepare and edit educational and public relations materials such as maps graphics newsletter articles technical reports and handouts to disseminate information about the Divisions activities
• Assist with maintaining and managing content on the Divisions website
• Represent the Department and Water Planning Division at public education and outreach events
  
  

Requirements/Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelors Degree in the physical sciences natural sciences environmental science geology biology agronomy civil engineering environmental engineering mechanical engineering chemical engineering hydrology community and regional planning or a related field AND two years of professional experience in a related field. Experience may substitute for education on a yearforyear basis

Other:
Some travel is required for this position including occasional overnight travel. When not on approved workrelated travel the employees work time will be completed at the NeDNRs Fallbrook office.
Ability to maintain regular and reliable attendance
The ability to work overtime and weekends if the need arises
Submit a resume or list on the application specific detailed experience relevant to the position in years and months
Submit a current list of at least three professional references (previous employers) with valid telephone numbers and email
Valid drivers license or the ability to provide independent transportation

Preferred:Experience in natural resources or environmental planning; expertise in groundwater modeling in MODFLOW (specifically MODFLOW 6); computer programming proficiency in Python MATLAB R or Fortran; proficiency in ArcGIS; experience with quantitative or qualitative data collection and analysis and database creation and management; experience in technical writing and communicating complex hydrological data with the public and technical audiences; and experience with creating figures to explain complex concepts.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities:
Knowledge Of:
Hydrogeology hydrology natural resource sciences agricultural sciences and/or natural resources planning processes policies rules and regulations
Methods for collection maintenance and analysis of technical datasets
Basic fieldscale irrigation and agricultural practices used across Nebraska
The interconnection of agricultural practices land use and the hydrological cycle
Basic subsurface geology and characteristics of primary/secondary aquifers in Nebraska
Basic remote sensing techniques and its application of land use/land cover delineation
Water use measurements and assessment technologies
Database creation and management
Statistical and mathematical models as applied to the analysis and interpretation of hydrogeological data
Project management of the areas above

Skill In:
Developing and analyzing groundwater models in MODFLOW
Computer programming to automate processes
Managing large datasets
Applying hydrogeological analysis techniques
Synthesizing alternative solutions or conclusions
Communicating results of hydrogeological analyses
Writing and editing publications for a general audience
Meeting or event planning (inperson and via virtual platforms Zoom Google Meet Microsoft Teams etc.)
Creation of figures and presentations using computer software such as Microsoft Word Microsoft Publisher Microsoft PowerPoint Adobe InDesign CorelDraw Prezi ArcGIS and/or Geocortex
Using ArcGIS software to construct maintain and distribute File Geodatabases.
Organizing information and records using tools such as records management systems (e.g. OnBase) Microsoft Excel Microsoft Access OneNote and intuitive filing structures
Constructing documentation files that accurately outline methods used to complete projects such that utilized methods can be easily repeated and evaluated in the future
ArcGIS Model Builder and/or Python/Arcpy programming a plus

Ability To:
Clearly convey technical information to the public colleagues and technical experts through presentations and technical reports.
Organize write review and edit technical reports and memorandums meeting agendas meeting minutes outreach materials and other documents
Independently compile and analyze information as necessary to identify substantiate and solve a scientific or technical problem and prepare reports based on that analysis
Effectively develop workplans ensuring adherence to project deadlines
Efficiently selfmanage
Improve skill deficiencies/interest in developing said skills with onthejob training
Learn various modeling and programming techniques as well as application of analytical tools
Interpret data obtained from instruments and equipment
Organize and analyze surface and groundwater systems and other available hydrogeological information and reach sound conclusions
Read interpret and apply Nebraskas surface and groundwater laws rules and regulations and integrated management plans
Apply critical thinking skills and logic
Select compile and analyze information as necessary to identify substantiate and solve a scientific or technical problem

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive package of pay benefits paid time off retirement and professional development opportunities to help you get the most out of your career and life. Your paycheck is just part of your total compensation.

Check out all that the State of Nebraska has to offer! Benefit eligibility may vary by position agency and employment status. For more information on benefits please visit: Opportunity Statement

The State of Nebraska values our teammates as well as a supportive environment that strives to promote diversity inclusion and belonging. We recruit hire train and promote in all job classifications and at all levels without regard to race color religion sex. age national origin disability marital status or genetics.

Current employees of the State of Nebraska should NOT apply on this external career. Instead go to Workday and access the Jobs Hub Internal Apply app from your home landing page.