Water Resources Hydrogeologist

Navajo Transitional Energy Company, LLC; Farmington (NM); On-site; USD 95,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

Navajo Transitional Energy Company, LLC is seeking a Water Resources Hydrogeologist to provide hydrogeologic expertise in support of new energy development projects, including natural gas, CCUS, and solar. You will guide water supply planning, site selection, permitting, and construction.

The role leads or participates in project teams, coordinates with outside consultants and water rights counsel, and develops groundwater models to forecast yield under drought and competing use.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Geology, Hydrogeology, Earth Sciences, Water Resources, or Civil or Environmental Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Five years’+ relevant experience in water resources, energy, or mining development; Master’s may substitute for up to two years.
• Experience in groundwater and surface-water modeling using MODFLOW and HEC-HMS.
• Proficient in GIS software (ArcGIS or QGIS).
• Experience securing water supplies and water rights for energy/industrial projects; familiarity with western U.S. rights and permitting.
• Knowledge of NPDES/discharge permitting and SWPPP compliance.
• Excellent written, oral, and presentation communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities; team-oriented; MS Office proficiency; valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and manage drilling programs to collect hydrogeologic data.
• Supervise drilling, aquifer testing, and geophysical logging activities.
• Prepare hydrogeologic conceptual site models for water supply planning and well field design.
• Perform hydrologic modeling and support hydraulic structure design and sediment control.
• Identify and secure sustainable water supplies and water rights for energy projects.
• Assess water availability and supply risk for proposed power generation sites.
• Identify and evaluate water sources across Navajo Nation, state, federal, and private rights.
• Navigate water permitting with Navajo Nation, state, federal, and private rights.
• Support legal in obtaining water agreements with applicable entities.
• Build groundwater and hydrologic models to forecast yield under drought and competing-use scenarios.
• Prepare maps, cross sections, and written reports.
• Provide technical assessments on hydrologic and geologic issues.
• Prepare, obtain, and manage NPDES/SWPPPs across the project lifecycle.
• Travel to development and project sites as required.

Skills

Excellent written, oral, and present.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Geology, Hydrogeology, Earth Sciences, Water Resources, or Civil or Environmental Engineering

Tools

MODFLOW

HEC-HMS

ArcGIS

QGIS

Job description

Must take a personal and active approach to health, safety, and environment and understand and follow all state, federal, and company health, safety, and environmental requirements applicable to the work area and tasks assigned.

Summary of Position:

The role of the Water Resources Hydrogeologist is to provide technical water resources and hydrogeologic expertise and supervision in support of all new development project activities. A key responsibility is to identify, evaluate, and secure sustainable surface-water and/or groundwater supplies for new energy development projects—including natural gas generation, clean coal technology with carbon capture (CCUS), and solar—supporting site selection, permitting, and construction. The role will also perform project planning, scheduling, and budgeting. The position will either lead or be a member of project teams accomplishing the work, from design and permitting through construction completion and into ongoing operations. The role has no direct reports at hire; the incumbent will direct outside hydrogeologic and engineering consultants and coordinate closely with in-house and outside water rights counsel.

• Plan, organize, and manage drilling programs to collect hydrogeologic and geologic data, including monitoring, test, and production wells.
• Supervise drilling, aquifer testing, and geophysical logging activities.
• Prepare hydrogeologic conceptual site models to support water supply planning and well field design.
• Perform hydrologic modeling and support the design of wastewater process channels, culverts, ponds, other hydraulic structures, erosion protection, and sediment control.
• Take the lead to identify, evaluate, and secure sustainable surface-water and groundwater supplies and associated water rights for new energy development projects, including natural gas generation, clean coal technology with carbon capture (CCUS), and solar, working with outside hydrogeologic consultants and water rights counsel as needed.
• Assess water availability and supply risk for proposed power generation sites, including cooling, process, and steam-cycle water needs, as well as the additional makeup and cooling water required for carbon capture (CCUS) systems.
• Identify and evaluate water sources across multiple ownership and jurisdictional categories, including Navajo Nation, state, federal, and third-party (private) water rights.
• Navigate and manage the water permitting process for Navajo Nation, state, federal, and private water rights.
• Support Legal in obtaining water agreements with all applicable governmental and third-party entities.
• Build groundwater and hydrologic models to forecast long‑term water yield and reliability under drought and competing‑use scenarios.
• Compile and analyze hydrogeologic and geologic data.
• Prepare maps, cross sections, and written reports as required.
• Provide technical assessments on various hydrologic and geologic issues.
• Prepare, obtain, and manage NPDES/discharge permits and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs) across the full project lifecycle, from construction through ongoing facility operations, including outfall monitoring, sampling, inspections, reporting, and corrective actions to maintain compliance.
• Travel to development and project sites, as required.

Necessary Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Geology, Hydrogeology, Earth Sciences, Water Resources, or Civil or Environmental Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of five years’ relevant experience in water resources, energy, or mining development, or an equivalent combination of education and experience (a Master’s degree in hydrogeology, water resources, or a related field may substitute for up to two years).
• Experience in groundwater and surface‑water modeling, including competence with groundwater modeling software such as MODFLOW and surface‑water modeling software such as HEC‑HMS.
• Proficient in GIS software (ArcGIS or QGIS) for mapping water sources, well and monitoring locations, and land and water rights ownership boundaries.
• Experience evaluating and securing water supplies and water rights for power generation, industrial, mining, or municipal projects, including familiarity with water rights appropriation and permitting in the western United States.
• Working knowledge of NPDES/discharge permitting and SWPPP compliance for construction and operating industrial facilities.
• Excellent communication skills: written, oral, and presentation formats.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, including the ability to research complex information and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment.
• Ability to multi‑task and prioritize effectively to meet deadlines.
• Proficient in the Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Valid driver’s license.

Preferred:

• Knowledge of water requirements for thermal generation (natural gas and clean coal) and carbon capture (CCUS) processes.
• Experience in geologic modeling and use of geologic modeling software.
• Ability to read and interpret civil engineering drawings and construction plans.
• Demonstrated initiative in evaluating existing methods and recommending and implementing more effective technical and process alternatives.
• Experience directing the work of outside consultants and coordinating with legal counsel and agency staff to deliver projects on schedule and to quality standards.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear and to communicate by telephone and in person. Office work requires the employee to frequently sit for extended periods and to continuously use hands to finger, handle, or feel while operating a computer and other standard office equipment. The employee must frequently lift, carry, and/or move up to 15 pounds and occasionally lift, carry, and/or move field, sampling, and monitoring equipment weighing up to 40 pounds. The employee is occasionally required to push or pull up to 50 pounds of force, such as when handling equipment or well covers. The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and to reach with hands and arms, and occasionally to grip and operate hand tools and field instruments. Field work requires the employee to frequently stand and walk, including over uneven, steep, or unimproved terrain and around active drilling and construction sites; and occasionally to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, and climb stairs or ladders. The employee is frequently required to operate a motor vehicle, at times over unimproved roads and for extended periods, to reach remote project sites, and to wear personal protective equipment including a hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection, and steel‑toed boots. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Working Environment:

Work is performed in both a professional office environment and at project sites. The role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and photocopiers. Site work includes working outdoors in all weather conditions, in plant and shop environments, and in the cab of equipment or a vehicle.

A review of this position has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of fundamental job duties. All duties and responsibilities are essential job functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbent(s) will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently with or without accommodation. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. The above job profile reflects the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position and is not intended to be all encompassing. Other duties and responsibilities may be expected based on operational and departmental needs.