Hydro Tech

Measure Montanas Rivers And Grow Your Hydrology Career

What if your next job took you from your desk to fastmoving rivers mountain streams and groundwater monitoring wellsoften in the same week The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) Water Resources Division is recruiting a Hydrologic Technician 3 to support Montanas stream gage and groundwater monitoring networks and assist hydrologic investigations across the state.

If you enjoy handson field work solving technical problems and using data to inform water management this role lets you work on projects that matter to communities ecosystems and water users across Montana.

Why You Should Make the Move

Keep Montanas stream gages running

• Support the DNRC Stream Gage Program with the HydroSciences Data Section.

• Measure water level and stream discharge in a wide range of field conditions including deep fastmoving rivers and bridgebased measurements using Acoustic Doppler sensors and bridge cranes.

• Install verify maintain and decommission stream gages using standard survey methods and field techniques.

• Program and maintain data collection platforms; enter and review field data; and create plots hydrographs and preliminary stage/discharge rating curves.

• Review gage height and discharge data for accuracy and assist with station review and publication.

• Help design install operate and maintain a real-time groundwater well network using cellular and GOES technology including QA/QC of transmitted data.

Support hydrologic investigations statewide

• Collect surface water and groundwater data using established methods and standardized procedures.

• Help design and implement field sampling plans.

• Participate in synoptic data runs on rivers and streams across Montana including rafting or kayaking to reach remote locations and collecting discharge measurements.

• Contribute to hydrologic investigation reports technical memoranda and other project documents.

Work with advanced monitoring networks and mentor others

• Coordinate data collection platform assignments with NOAA and the GOES satellite network.

• Collaborate with staff in the Hydro-Sciences Data and Study Sections and with partners to support high-quality hydrologic data collection and analysis.

Core Values of DNRC Water Resources Division

Value People

Stewardship

Service

Credibility

Engagement

Benefits

Live and work in Helena Montana which offers a unique blend of opportunities and natural beauty situated between Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. Montana offers abundant recreational opportunities including skiing camping fishing hunting mountain biking and hiking.

Additional benefits include:

• Work/life balance with flexible schedules and telework eligibility.

• Generous paid leave (vacation sick holidays) with vacation leave increasing with service.

• Longevity pay with continued state service.

• Health dental vision life insurance and flexible spending accounts.

• Access to free employee medical clinics and telehealth.

• Retirement plans (Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution plus an optional 457(b) Plan).

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness - may qualify you for student loan forgiveness.

• Career progression professional development and state employee discounts.

• Up to 15 days of military leave with full pay.

Minimum Qualifications

Alternative combinations of the education and experience listed below will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

• A bachelors degree in hydrology geology civil engineering agricultural engineering water resources or forest management with an emphasis in hydrology.

• A minimum of one year of pertinent progressively responsible related experience.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

If you are the right person for this opportunity you will have the following knowledge skills and abilities:

Knowledge of (or ability to learn in a reasonable amount of time)

• Principles and methods of hydrology hydraulics and groundwater hydrology.

• Hydrologic data collection analysis and reporting for surface water and groundwater.

• Installation configuration and maintenance of hydrologic monitoring equipment and data collection platforms.

• Field surveying to establish calibrate and verify water surface elevations.

• Applied math statistics and probability used in hydrologic analysis.

• Irrigation methods and related farming practices; geomorphology and river channel processes.

• GIS software (e.g. ArcGIS) for mapping and spatial analysis.

Skills in

• Using computer applications to process and analyze hydrologic and spatial data.

• Mechanical and construction tasks typical of installing and maintaining field monitoring equipment.

• Building and maintaining effective working relationships even on contentious water issues.

• Troubleshooting and problem solving in the field and office.

• Safe and effective use of hand and power tools.

• Developing and maintaining working relationships with landowners partners and agency staff.

Ability to:

• Work safely in highly variable weather and terrain including lifting and carrying 50 pounds in rugged conditions.

• Take direction from project leads while working independently reliably and following standard operating procedures.

• Communicate clearly both in writing and verbally with technical and non-technical audiences.

• Establish effective working relationships with supervisors partner agencies and the public while modeling honesty integrity and openness.

Working Conditions

The position is based in Helena and includes up to 50% field work with the busiest field season from March through October. Field work involves hiking over rough steep terrain while carrying equipment such as flow meters waders well probes and tools and working in and around cold fast-moving water.

You must be prepared to work in adverse weather use sound judgment to manage risk and follow appropriate safety measures (e.g. life jackets safety lines backup personnel). Strong on-road and off-road driving skills are required including during inclement weather.

How to Apply

Only online submissions are accepted. Applicants must attach both a cover letter and resume at the time of application to be considered. Applications without these documents will not be reviewed. When attaching documents mark each as Relevant to ensure they are viewable.

Required Application Materials

• Cover Letter Describe how your knowledge skills and abilities will make you successful in this role

• Resume -- Include all work experience you have held that would help you qualify for this position.