WATER RESOURCES MANAGER SENIOR (RECHARGE and RECOVERY)

Arizona State Government; Phoenix (AZ); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Retirement plan

Sick leave

10 paid holidays per year

Tuition reimbursement

Flexible work schedule

Job summary

Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) seeks a Water Resources Manager Senior in the Recharge and Recovery Section to lead a professional team overseeing the Underground Storage, Savings and Replenishment (Recharge) program and recovery well permitting for Arizona. The role reports to the Deputy Assistant Director, with a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment and frequent cross-team collaboration.

A minimum of two on-site days per week is required, with potential remote work within

Qualifications

• Knowledge of state and federal water resource laws and statutes.
• Experience interpreting and applying regulatory policies and procedures.
• Ability to lead, train, and supervise professional staff.
• Strong analytical skills for data and regulatory documents.
• Excellent written and oral communication for policy discussions.

Responsibilities

• Hire, train, and supervise Recharge and Recovery staff.
• Develop policies, procedures, and training materials for program implementation.
• Issue permits for underground storage, groundwater savings, and recovery wells.
• Coordinate with internal staff and external stakeholders on complex issues.

Skills

Staff supervision

Deadline management

Clear communication

Tact and diplomacy

Policy interpretation

Data interpretation

Analyzing regulations

Public stakeholder relations

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Master's degree in related field

Doctorate in related field

Job description

DEPT OF WATER RESOURCES

The mission of the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) is to safeguard the health, safety, and economic welfare of the public by protecting, conserving, and enhancing Arizona's water supplies in a bold, thoughtful and innovative manner. Do you want to join our team? ADWR is seeking a Water Resources Manager Senior for the Recharge and Recovery Section.

Water Resources Manager Senior

Water Planning Division/Recharge Section

WWW.AZWATER.GOV

Job Location:

Hybrid: remote and 1110 W. Washington St., Suite #310 - Phoenix, AZ 85007

Posting Details:

Salary: $110,000 - $130,000

Grade: 28

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Review of resumes will begin on September 8, 2026

This position has been rescoped. Any interested candidates who previously applied for this role should resubmit application materials.

Job Summary:

TheRecharge and Recovery Manager Senior leads a team of professional staff with the responsibility to review, process, approve or deny applications, and issue permits for the Underground Storage, Savings and Replenishment (Recharge) Program and Recovery Well Permitting for the State of Arizona in accordance with State and Federal statutes and ADWR rules, polices, and procedures. The manager reports directly to the Deputy Assistant Director of the Planning & Permitting Division. The section’s work is complex, fast-paced, deadline-driven, and frequently sensitive in nature. The team works collaboratively to solve problems and meet objectives, supporting, challenging, and learning from one another.

A minimum of two days on-site at the ADWR office per week is presently required.

This position may offer the ability to work remote, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, and commissions, many State employees participate in the State’s Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

Job Duties:

The manager is responsible for a variety of tasks, including: hiring, training, and supervision of staff assigned to the Recharge and Recovery section; assigning and reviewing technical work; developing, organizing, and disseminating policies, procedures, and training materials; representation of the Department in meetings with clients; the issuance of permits for underground storage facilities, groundwater savings facilities, water storage, and recovery wells; the issuance and transfers of long term storage credits and the maintenance of long term storage credit accounts; and frequent coordination with internal staff and external customers, often involving complex or sensitive issues.

The manager must interpret and apply statutory regulations, rules, and program policies. Guides staff in the analysis, coordination, and presentation of programmatic and policy recommendations to the Assistant Director for Planning & Permitting, the Deputy Director, and the Director of ADWR. Ensures public records requests and data requests for internal and external customers are completed accurately and promptly. The manager may represent the Department at meetings with other state, federal, and local agencies and stakeholders on issues involving recharge and recovery and may serve as the technical expert witness in hearings concerning recharge and recovery.

Additional tasks and activities will be assigned as needed.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of:

• State and federal laws, rules and regulations pertaining to water resources and management
• Arizona Revised Statutes governing the Underground Storage, Savings and Replenishment Program
• Arizona Revised Statutes and Arizona Administrative Code governing recovery well permitting
• Long term storage credit accounting
• ADWR substantive policies and procedures for Recharge and Recovery
• Statewide water resource management issues
• Information sources and research methods and techniques utilized in water resources management

Skill in:

• Supervising, managing, and training professional level staff
• Effectively managing workload, deadlines, and priorities
• Clear, well-organized, concise oral, written, and visual communication
• Tact and diplomacy
• Drafting, reviewing, and revising technical reports and correspondence
• Researching, interpreting, analyzing, and evaluating regulatory, legal, and technical documents
• Compiling, organizing, analyzing, and interpreting water resource management data; manipulating large datasets
• Applying a multi-disciplinary approach to public issues resolve complex, sensitive, and/or visible water resource management issues

Ability to:

• Lead others and foster a culture of accountability, inclusivity, integrity, and professionalism
• Multi-task and manage simultaneous licensing time frames and deadlines, prioritize workload
• Facilitate open exchange of ideas and foster open communication; encourage creative thinking and innovation
• Think strategically, exercise sound judgment, make well-informed, timely decisions; perceive impact and implications
• Examine policy issues with a long-term perspective; anticipate potential threats or opportunities
• Problem solve and collaborate with others to address challenges and improve processes
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders, agency staff, governmental officials, the regulated community, and the public
• Understand and effectively communicate complex statutes and Department rules, policies, and procedures, orally and in writing
• Interpret and develop policies, procedures, and rules to facilitate program implementation

Selective Preference(s):

Experience required(experience in a related field may be considered in lieu of specific water resource management experience):

• Ten (10) years of professional-level water resource management experience; OR
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and eight (8) years of professional-level water resources management experience; OR
• Master’s degree in a related field and six (6) years of professional-level water resources management experience; OR
• Doctorate in a related field and four (4) years of professional level water resource management experience.
• Supervisory/management experience.

Preferred experience:

• Natural resources management experience, data analysis experience, and/or project management experience.

Pre-Employment Requirements:

This position requires possession of and ability to retain a current, valid state-issued driver’s license appropriate to the assignment.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Benefits:

The State of Arizona provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package including:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans
• Sick Leave
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Deferred compensation plan
• Credit union membership
• Wellness plans
• LinkedIn Learning membership
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Discounts
• Flexible work schedule

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Retirement:

Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS). Please note, enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment.

Contact Us:

If you have any questions please feel free to contact ADWR Human Resources Office at [phone] for assistance. Persons with disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language or an alternative format by contacting ADWR Human Resources.The Arizona State Government is an AA/EOE/ADA Reasonable Accommodation Employer.