DWR - Program Assistant I

State of Colorado; Glenwood Springs (CO); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and Dental plans

Strong retirement plans (PERA)

Paid life insurance

Disability coverage

Wellness programs

Flexible Spending Accounts

Job summary

The Colorado Department of Natural Resources is seeking a qualified candidate to provide technical and administrative support within the Division of Water Resources, aiding division engineers in water rights matters and public inquiries. The role includes tracking water rights through court processes and assisting with budget and procurement duties.

Minimum qualifications require four years of related experience or an equivalent mix of education and experience.

Qualifications

• Four (4) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned.
• Or a combination of related education and experience equal to four (4) years.

Responsibilities

• Provides technical and administrative support to Division Engineer and staff by researching Colorado statutory law and analyzing water rights documents.
• Tracks water rights applications through various phases to final decree and maintains electronic filing for water court cases.
• Performs allocation, reconciliation and data entry in CORE for invoices and reimbursements.
• Ensures adherence to Fiscal and Purchasing Rules and departmental requirements while assisting with budget tracking.
• Serves as the public's main contact for questions regarding water law, water court, well permits, and related matters.
• Tracks mileage and coordinates vehicle maintenance and replacements for staff.
• Provides liaison support between HR, Payroll, and the State Engineer’s Office on personnel and benefits.
• Oversees, orders and maintains office and field staff supplies and equipment.

Skills

Budget management

Customer service

Office management

Communication skills

Multi-tasking

Organizational skills

Fleet management

Inventory management

Tools

Microsoft Office (Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Access)

Google Workspace (Gmail/Sheets/Calendar)

Job description

OPEN ONLY TO CURRENT RESIDENTS OF COLORADO

Are you interested in investing in a career that makes a difference?

Consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. It’s our mission to manage and conserve Colorado’s natural resources for the benefit of people today – and tomorrow. That means we have to balance development with conservation so the state we all love provides similar opportunities for our children and their children.

We invite you to explore our website at https://dnr.colorado.gov/ to find out more about the work we do to manage Colorado’s natural resources for today – and tomorrow.

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply.

In addition to offering rewarding, meaningful work, we offer:

• Medical and Dental plans
• Strong, flexible retirement plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus pre‑tax 401K and 457 plans
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Employee Wellness programs
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Accounts
• 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave
• Flexible work schedule options and remote-work options
• Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system

Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to: https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/pslfFlow.action#!/pslf/launch

Division of Water Resources (DWR)

State Engineer's Office

Our mission is to administer the waters of the State to maximize lawful beneficial use, ensure that dams and water wells are properly constructed and safe, and provide information about water resources to the public.

This work unit exists to serve the public and preserve, protect, develop, and optimize the beneficial use of the state's present and future water supplies. This work unit exists to administer, distribute and regulate the water of the Colorado River according to the doctrine of prior appropriation, pursuant to Colorado Statutes, and in compliance with the Colorado River Compact.

OPEN ONLY TO CURRENT RESIDENTS OF COLORADO

The purpose of this position is to relieve the Division Engineer and Assistant Division Engineers of heavy administrative responsibilities which allows them time to concentrate on issues of water administration, water court, supervision, and related litigation. This is accomplished by providing technical support to this management team by acquiring, compiling, and producing reports; answering public and telephone inquiries and when needed directing to appropriate staff; organizing and coordinating information flow; monitoring, tracking, correcting and reporting staff activities and duties (such as timesheets, overtime, benefits, payroll, accidents, vehicle use, etc.). Assists in managing operating budget (including recommendations for cost control measures); makes purchases, tracks expenditures relative to budget categories, reconciles, and reports accounting data and status; coordinates staff training and meetings; receives, documents and routes water court applications, administrative orders and various other water related documents; monitors equipment use, assessing replacement needs and scheduling maintenance and repairs; and orders and maintains office supplies and inventory.

Specific job duties include but are not limited to:

• Provides technical and administrative support to Division Engineer & other engineering staff by researching Colorado statutory law, checking accuracy and/or deficiencies of water rights applications, locates structures on maps to determine adequate legal descriptions and staff assignment, researches past history of decreed water rights and other information.
• Track water rights applications through various phases to final decree and maintains electronic filing system for water court cases.
• Performs allocation, reconciliation and data entry in CORE to initiate payments for invoices and reimbursements.
• Assures adherence to Fiscal and Purchasing Rules, agency policies, and departmental requirements while assisting with budget tracking and projections.
• Serves as the public's main point of contact (in-person and via phone) for responses to general questions by explaining basic information regarding Colorado water law, water court, well permits, augmentation plans, substitute water supply plans, enforcement actions undertaken, and other matters related to the overall mission of the Colorado Division of Water Resources and Water Division 5.
• Tracks mileage of personal and fleet vehicles utilized by Division staff, assists employees with reporting accidents and coordinating repairs, and determines target vehicles for replacement with justifications.
• Provide technical support to Division 5 management as liaison between the Human Resources Office, the Payroll Office, and the State Engineer’s Office regarding personnel issues, payroll issues, leave balances, hiring processes, new employee orientation, benefits, open enrollment periods, employee appraisals, and retirement procedures.
• Oversees, orders and maintains office and field staff supplies and oversees maintenance of office equipment.

Other duties as assigned.

OPEN TO STATE OF COLORADO RESIDENTS ONLY

Minimum Qualifications:

Experience Only:

Four (4) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position.

Or

Education and Experience:

A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to four (4) years.

**Please note**: The required experience must be substantiated within the work experience section of your application. Your resume will not be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications; only the work experience section of your application will be reviewed to determine this. “See Resume” statements on the application will not be accepted. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.

If you are using a degree to substitute for the required experience, you may be required to provide copies of your educational transcripts for verification of your qualifications if requested.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Current or former State experience relevant to this position.
• Knowledge and experience with Colorado water rights administration.
• Experience providing excellent customer service.
• Office management experience.
• Experience analyzing and running a budget.
• Experience with office machines, supply inventories, and supply ordering.
• Experience coordinating and prioritizing to meet staff needs.
• Excellent oral and written communication.
• Experience with managing Fleet/Company vehicles.
• Experience with simultaneously managing multiple tasks with varying deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Google products (Gmail, Sheets, Calendar, etc.).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, etc.).
• Strong organizational skills.

The current work arrangement for this position is as follows:

• On‑Site/In‑Office: This is an in‑office position which may allow for occasional working from home as worked out with their Supervisor after initial training period.

Conditions of Employment:

• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify their application from the current position. (Please Note: Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with DNR).
• Must have and maintain a valid Colorado license in accordance with DNR-120 Fleet and Driving Standards Administrative Directive, if utilizing a fleet vehicle.

APPEAL RIGHTS:

It is recommended that you contact the Human Resources Specialist listed below to resolve issues related to your possession of minimum qualifications. However, if you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email, US Mail, faxed or hand delivered within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board go to spb.colorado.gov or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

The Assessment Process

• All applications received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed by an HR Specialist against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement.
• Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process. Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position will be a structured application review by Subject Matter Experts.
• Resumes, cover letters and other attachments are not considered as part of initial reviews, therefore, it is important to document in your application your education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications as outlined in the job announcement.
• Please thoroughly answer all supplemental questions (if listed) since question responses may be evaluated for content, writing ability, spelling, grammar, and effective communication.
• This recruitment may involve additional testing and/or exams to arrive at the top group for interviews.
• This posting could be used to fill other vacancies of the same level and same reporting location.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

We are committed to increasing a “Colorado for ALL” of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities. The State of Colorado believes that a “Colorado for ALL” drives our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

ADAAA Accommodations

Any person with a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided a reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an employment assessment. To request an accommodation, please contact our ADAAA Coordinator at [e-mail] at least five business days before the date that any accommodation will be required to allow us to evaluate your request and prepare the accommodation. You may be asked to provide additional information, including medical documentation, regarding functional limitations and type of accommodation needed. Please ensure that you have this information available well in advance of the assessment date.

E-Verify

The Department of Natural Resources participates in E-Verify in accordance with the program’s Right to Work for all newly-hired employees. Employees are queried through the electronic system established by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to verify identity and employment eligibility. You may complete section 1 of the I-9 form upon your acceptance of a job offer letter, but no later than your first day of employment and in addition, on your first day, but no later than the third day, you are required to submit original documents to verify your eligibility to work in the U.S. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

Toll‑Free Applicant Support - Technical Help

If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV at 855-524-5627, Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). The Human Resources Office will be unable to assist with technical issues. Helpful hints: If you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application, ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and close the document before you attempt to upload it.