Irrigation System Operator

U.S. Department of the Interior; Arizona; On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of the Interior is seeking an Irrigation System Operator located in Poston, Arizona. This position involves regulating and distributing irrigation water from storage reservoirs, maintaining precise records of water delivery, and overseeing the condition of canals and reservoirs.

Qualified candidates will have knowledge of irrigation operations and experience in managing water delivery systems. This role is essential for ensuring effective water distribution in accordance with project policies.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of irrigation operations and maintenance required.
• Ability to maintain records on water delivery and reservoir management.
• Skills in operating hand and power tools necessary.

Responsibilities

• Regulate and distribute irrigation water from various sources.
• Maintain records of water delivery and reservoir inflows.
• Operate distribution facilities for water regulation.
• Conduct surveillance of reservoirs and canals.
• Work with maintenance crews for irrigation structures.
• Take daily measurements and manage water orders.

Job description

Summary

This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Superintendent, Colorado River Agency in Poston, Arizona. The Irrigation System Operator will regulate and distribute irrigation water from and between storage reservoirs at diversions and in canals, and at all delivery points within the specified work territory. This is a Bargaining Unit position, for more information see USA Jobs What are bargaining units.

Major Duties

• Distribute irrigation water from and between storage reservoirs at diversions and in canals, and at all delivery points within the specified work territory.
• Maintain records of water delivery, reservoir inflow and instream flows; calculate requirements and arrange quantity, time and duration of deliveries.
• Operate Project distribution facilities (dam gates, canal gates, checks) to regulate and deliver water in accordance with Project policies.
• Responsible for constant surveillance of condition of reservoirs, dams, canals, structures, buildings, recorder stations and other facilities.
• Work with maintenance crew to clean ditches and structures, repair and replace structures, build/place concrete forms and operate hand or power tools.
• Take daily measurements and receive water orders.
• For vacancies filled at less than the full performance level of the position, duties will be developmental in nature.

Education and Qualifications

If you are qualifying based on your education, you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society. One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full‑time study. Such study may have been performed on a full‑time or part‑time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full‑time graduate study. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education which shows the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Knowledge of Irrigation Operations and Maintenance and Water Delivery Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 (Title 25, USC, Section 472).

Salary and Benefits

All new hires earn the beginning salary of their pay grade (Step 1). Salary tables applicable to Poston, Arizona, are available in the 2026 Salary Tables.