Water Rights Strategist - Senior Natural Resources Advisor

Oregon Water Resources Department; Oregon; Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 108,000; Full time

Job summary

Oregon Water Resources Department in Salem, Oregon is seeking a Water Rights Advisor to provide Division-wide support for evaluating complex water right transactions, participating in rulemaking, and advising on high‑profile cases. The role requires coordinating with internal and external stakeholders, preparing policy documents, and interpreting data to guide decisions.

The position emphasizes collaboration with the Protest program and agency leadership to resolve disputes, with occasional

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.
• A Bachelor’s degree in natural resources or related field, or three additional years of related (pertinent) experience.
• A Master’s degree in natural resources or related field will substitute for up to one year of the required experience.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• The Water Rights Advisor provides Division-wide support by helping each section with evaluation of complex water right transaction proposals and by participating in rulemaking, legislative concept development and bill review.
• The position regularly collaborates with internal and external customers to build relationships and problem solve.
• The Water Rights Advisor interfaces with the Protest program to resolve disputes before they reach court and supports litigation resolution by coordinating with agency leadership and the Oregon Department of Justice on case strategy.
• 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.
• The Water Rights Advisor will work in a dynamic environment and be deployed to the area of greatest need within the Division to serve important priorities.
• The person in this position must perform duties in a manner promoting customer service and teamwork, develop good working relationships, and demonstrate openness to constructive feedback.

Skills

Attention to detail

Project management

Communication

Relationship building

Policy interpretation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in natural resources or related field

Master’s degree in natural resources or related field

Doctorate degree in natural resources or related field

Job description

Oregon Water Resources Department in Salem, Oregon is seeking a Water Rights Advisor to provide Division-wide support for evaluating complex water right transactions, participating in rulemaking, and advising on high‑profile cases. The role requires coordinating with internal and external stakeholders, preparing policy documents, and interpreting data to guide decisions.

The position emphasizes collaboration with the Protest program and agency leadership to resolve disputes, with occasional