1110 West Washington Street, Suite 510

Phoenix, AZ, 85007

Salary: $85,000 - $105,000 

Grade: 28

Open Until Business Needs Are Met

Under the guidance and supervision of the Natural Resources Division Director, the incumbent in this position serves as the Manager of the Water Rights Section. The Water Rights Section Manager is responsible for the following programs/tasks:

• Plan and implement programs to identify, document, and manage water resources for State Trust land. The programs include water rights quantification, water rights adjudication re-investigations and amendments, water resources evaluations, contractual water management, water sales, well compliance investigations, grandfathered water right management, records management, electronic database administration and interfacing with the Arizona Department of Water Resources.

• Implement and regularly update the water resources portfolio and strategic water management plan.

• Analyze complex administrative, legal, political and natural resource matters, and makes verbal or written recommendations to ASLD executive management and others.

• Collaborate with ASLD planning and real estate staff to use water resources to enhance land values.

• Provide support to ASLD planning and real estate staff on all water resource matters, including water utility and system infrastructure matters.

• Represent the Department at hearings and public meetings; occasionally making public presentations on behalf the State Land Commissioner.

• Respond to verbal and written requests for Information from the public, lessees, irrigation districts, and local, county, state and federal agencies.

• Manage personnel, allocate work, and conduct performance reviews.

• Approve leave requests, prepare performance evaluations, and make recommendations related to hiring or disciplinary actions for direct report employees in accordance with State Personnel rules.

• Apply and positively model the principles, theories, and concepts of the Arizona Management System; identifying meaningful group metrics and adjusting as necessary; leading all continuous improvement activities with courage and humility (i.e. group huddles, huddle board updates, problem solving sessions which identify areas for process and quality improvement); successfully adheres to standard work procedures and leader standard work protocols.)

• Coordinate and collaborate with internal customers to ensure water resource considerations are made in all relevant planning efforts and sales/lease transactions.

• Consistently develop employee problem solving skills; facilitating alignment on performance expectations and applying quick course corrections.

• Plan and facilitate effective 1:1 Coaching sessions (at least twice monthly) in alignment with Arizona Management System principles.

• Supervise, guide, coach and mentor Water Rights personnel, assigning individual and team performance metrics as appropriate.

• Plan and implement programs for managing Trust water resources.

• Represent the Department at meetings or hearings.

• All other relevant duties as assigned.

Knowledge:

• Of State and Federal laws, regulations, and policies regarding water resource management, including Arizona Department of Water Resources laws, rules, and policies regarding managing the State's water resources; the Law of the Colorado River; Central Arizona Project rules, policies, and procedures; Arizona Corporation Commission rules and policies regarding private water utilities, and State and Federal court rulings impacting water resource management in Arizona.

• Detailed knowledge of ASLD's statutes, rules, mission, policies and procedures.

Skills:

• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with lessees, industry associations, non-governmental organizations, governmental officials, community leaders, and the public.

• Interacting with others to explain, interpret, and/or defend water resource management program.

• Negotiating agreements to ensure compliance with water resource management programs/plans.

• Organizing, prioritizing, assigning and evaluating the work of direct reporting employees.

• Motivating subordinate professional staff.

Abilities:

• To interpret, analyze, and evaluate complex information and arrive at practical solutions that are technically and legally defensible.

• To plan, organize, and direct activities as described previously.

• To execute field inspections in remote areas of the state.

• To use GIS.

• A Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited college/university majoring in a relevant field of study; a master's degree is preferred.

• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in water resource management or related field and a minimum of 5 years’ experience managing personnel.

• 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.

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

• 10 paid holidays per year

• Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years

• Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly

• Deferred compensation plan

• Wellness plans

• Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

• Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).

• Participation is a mandatory condition of employment for all employees who meet the eligibility and membership criteria as defined in statute

• Enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment

• The current contribution rate is 12.27%

• If you have trouble applying for this position, please email HRIShelpdesk@azdoa.gov for assistance.

• Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting ASLD Human Resources at 602-542-2629.

• Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.

• Arizona State Government is an AA/EOE/ADA Reasonable Accommodation Employer.