Initial Posting Date:
09/25/2026

Application Deadline:
10/11/2026

Agency:
Water Resources Department

Salary Range:
$6,276 - $9,644

Position Type:
Employee

Position Title:
Water Rights Advisor (Natural Resource Specialist 4)

Job Description:

Working Title: Water Rights Advisor

Classification: Natural Resource Specialist 4

Position Type: Permanent, Full Time

Representation: Service Employees International Union

FLSA Status: Exempt and not eligible for overtime and compensatory time

Monthly Compensation: The monthly salary range before PERS* will be $6,276-$9,644 | after PERS* will be $6,713-$10,318

Work Location: North Mall Office Building, 725 Summer St. NE Suite A, Salem Oregon 97301.

Hybrid/Remote Work: Hybrid work eligible. 1-2 days per week in office, hybrid schedule agreed upon by manager. Quantity of office days may be adjusted based on business need with notice. Some in-state travel is required with infrequent overnight travel.

About our Team/Division

The Water Right Services Division is responsible for the evaluation of all water right, transfer, extension of time (for both permits and transfers), instream lease, allocation of conserved water and limited license applications. In addition, the Division administers the following water right-related programs: water right certification; permit cancellation; adjudication of pre-1909 vested water rights; water management and conservation planning; hydroelectric licensing; water right information and customer service; and water right program and policy development. The Division also shares administration of the Deschutes Basin Groundwater Mitigation Program. The Division is responsible for public notice of applications and for responding to public-interest inquiries and concerns. The Division receives and evaluates comments and protests concerning proposed water uses. The Division must ensure coordination with local governments and other state and federal agencies concerning proposed water allocations. Final determination of water right applications involve a legal property right and may involve litigation in Oregon or federal court.

Water right transactions can be complicated, with legal and property-value implications that affect virtually all human endeavors directly, including but not limited to the following types of water uses: municipal, irrigation, agricultural, industrial, domestic, instream, wildlife habitat, and power generation. As such, they are a critical aspect of economic activity and maintenance of ecosystem services in Oregon. Water right transactions are technically and administratively complex, and require skilled professionals to process those transactions through completion. Successfully advising on complex water right transactions requires combining interdisciplinary scientific, legal, and procedural information; carefully navigating relationships between the Department and the water user community, conservation groups, Tribes, local governments, and other state agencies; understanding public perception of sensitive natural resource issues; considering the long-term impacts of today's decisions; and navigating spaces where established procedures may not yet exist.

Obtaining a water right is a multi-step process. First, an applicant submits a water right application. If the application is approved, the permit specifies a timeframe during which the permit holder must develop their water right consistent with permit conditions. If they need additional time, they may file for an extension. The user has one year from making full beneficial use of water to submit a report to the Department. The Department reviews this claim of beneficial use and, if the user has successfully proved up on their water use, the Department issues a water right certificate. If a water right holder wishes to change their certificated right, they may file for a transfer. A water right may be subject to forfeiture and cancelled if it is not used for five consecutive years. Agency decisions rendered in each of these water right transactions may be protested and/or litigated.

The Water Rights Advisor provides Division-wide support by helping each section with evaluation of complex water right transaction proposals brought forth either internally or externally and by participating in rulemaking, legislative concept development and bill review, and the water rights transaction fee workgroup. The position regularly collaborates with internal and external customers to build relationships and problem solve. The Water Rights Advisor also interfaces with the Protest program, which resolves disputes resulting from agency decisions before they reach court. This position supports the Protest program either directly by resolving protests, or indirectly by improving the defensibility of documents (orders) before they reach the protest or request for reconsideration period. The Water Rights Advisor supports litigation resolution by coordinating with agency leadership and the Oregon Department of Justice on case strategy and, as needed, by providing written or in-person testimony. This position prepares order language, policy memos, and other documentation to record lessons learned and decisions made, and interprets and summarizes water right transaction data to support monitoring and communication about water right transaction program workloads.

While the Water Rights Development Manager provides the day-to-day supervisory administrative functions (e.g., timesheet and leave request review and approval) for the Water Rights Advisor, many of the policy and workload decisions for the Water Rights Advisor are made by the Division Administrator or Director's Office. The Water Rights Advisor will work in a dynamic environment where they will be deployed to the area of greatest need within the Division to serve important, complex, and high-profile agency and Division priorities.

About the Position

This position is the Division's consultant deployed to the highest-priority, multi-step water right transactions (blending various science, legal, and property data and disciplines). The position exists to help the Division navigate issues where established procedures may not exist, resolve unique formal protests, and draft new standard operating procedures to streamline inefficiencies. It also is responsible for high impact, controversial work that affects economic development, municipalities, tribal water rights, agricultural infrastructure, and ecosystem management. The position serves as the State's expert witness on water right transactions in contested case hearing or trial proceedings when needed. This position enhances the Division's ability to respond to legislative, media, and other external inquiries by evaluating data and information, researching existing laws, rules, and agency policies and historical record, and assisting in developing the agency's response.

This position frequently performs analysis and research, interprets laws, rules, and policy, and provides complex technical or policy interpretations to develop strategies for solving difficult natural resource-oriented problems. When needed, this position also coordinates program activities to bring current practices into alignment with existing or changing laws, rules, and policies.

The person in this position must perform position duties in a manner which promotes customer service and harmonious working relationships, including treating all people courteously and respectfully. Engage in effective team participation through willingness to assist and support co-workers, supervisors, and other work-related associations. Develop good working relationships with Division and agency staff and supervisors through active participation in cross-divisional group projects, and in identifying and resolving problems in a constructive, collaborative manner. Demonstrate openness to constructive feedback and suggestions, in an effort to strengthen work performance. Contribute to a positive, respectful, and productive atmosphere.

Minimum Qualifications

Four years of experience in natural resources or related field. At least one year of the experience must be at a technical or professional level performing activities in a natural resources program such as researching and analyzing data, conducting investigations, applying pertinent laws and regulations, or coordinating and monitoring project activities.

AND

A Bachelor's degree in natural resources or related field, or three additional years of related (pertinent) experience.

OR

A Master's degree in natural resources or related field will substitute for up to one year of the required experience.

OR

A Doctorate degree in natural resources or related field will substitute for up to two years of the required experience.

Note: In addition to your related work experience and education, we will use both the minimum and preferred 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated attention to detail and quality control in professional correspondence and documentation

• Experience leading technical teams through change initiatives or multi-faceted projects and evaluating the adequacy of their work

• Excellent project management and organizational skills to meet deadlines and monitor and effectively report on deliverables across a project portfolio

• Experience interpreting and summarizing large data sets to support monitoring and communication about various aspects of a program

• Experience collaborating across teams, with members of management, and with external parties to address complex inquiries and move high-profile projects forward

• Demonstrated effectiveness at consulting with and advising managers on complex program issues and developing subsequent, easy-to-understand guidance for staff or external parties

• Extensive experience analyzing and applying water allocation statutes, administrative rules, and policies to agency decisions and developing clear and defensible decision documents

• Experience in development of strategy and testimony in dealing with formal protests (contested cases) or judicial review of agency actions

• Experience with rulemaking and providing feedback on legislative concepts and bills

• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and navigate conflicting interests in a professional, courteous manner

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

This position is located in Salem, with some remote telework flexibility. Regular attendance is an essential function required to meet the demands of this job and to provide necessary services. In-office workdays are in a cubicle environment. Work conditions consist primarily of desk work located at a computer terminal for long periods of time, including typing and a considerable amount of reading, researching, and analyzing large documents, statutes, administrative rules, and existing policies and guidance. This position includes periodic attendance at Commission meetings and other public forums to present information or answer questions. This position involves electronic (phone, email, virtual meetings) and in-person communication with members of the public, some of whom may be frustrated. Occasional lifting of up to 20 pounds may be required. The above st