Department Information

This posting is open to both residents and non-residents of the State of Colorado.

However, if you are selected and accept the position, you will be required to establish residence in the State of Colorado by your start date.

Are you interested in investing in a career that makes a difference?

Consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. It’s our mission to manage and conserve Colorado’s natural resources for the benefit of people today – and tomorrow. That means we have to balance development with conservation so the state we all love provides similar opportunities for our children and their children.

We invite you to explore our website at to find out more about the work we do to manage Colorado’s natural resources for today – and tomorrow.

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply.

In addition to offering rewarding, meaningful work, we offer:

Medical and Dental plans
Strong, flexible retirement plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus pre-tax 401K and 457 plans
Paid life insurance
Short- and long-term disability coverage
Employee Wellness programs
Flexible Spending Accounts
Health Savings Accounts
11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave
Flexible work schedule options and remote-work options
Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system

Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to:

Division of Water Resources (DWR) :

State Engineer's Office

Our mission is to administer the waters of the State to maximize lawful beneficial use, ensure that dams and water wells are properly constructed and safe, and provide information about water resources to the public. Division of Water Resources

This work unit exists to serve the public and preserve, protect, develop, and optimize the beneficial use of the state's present and future water supplies. This work unit exists to administer, distribute and regulate the water of the Colorado River according to the doctrine of prior appropriation, pursuant to Colorado Statutes, and in compliance with the Colorado River Compact.

Description of Job

This posting is open to both residents and non-residents of the State of Colorado.

However, if you are selected and accept the position, you will be required to establish residence in the State of Colorado by your start date.

The purpose of this position is to provide management to the Division operations group responsible for Water Court activities. The Water Court related duties include to assist the public through the Water Court process; prepare expert witness reports; consult with the Water Court regarding Water Court applications; negotiate or provide expert engineering support / testimony to litigate any conditions necessary to protect existing water rights; and to design DWR Division 5 water court processes that will be completed by administrative staff and other engineers. This position will also assist the Augmentation Plan group by providing engineering expertise and analysis necessary for the adjudication and administration of complex plans for augmentation; support water rights administration by developing methodologies to collect and analyze water diversion and delivery data to verify augmentation plan operators are operating in compliance with all applicable court decrees, statutes, rules and regulations; and provide assistance to the public in understanding Colorado water law.

Specific job duties include but are not limited to:

Manages day-to-day operations related to water court, including but not limited to: reviewing the monthly water court resume, assigning water court cases to the engineers, determining the water commissioner(s) to perform the field inspection(s) for each water court case, refining the processes utilized, and directing the Program Assistant's water court duties. These duties will be performed under the guidance and support of the Division Engineer.
Utilizes knowledge of surface and ground water hydrology, geology, advanced computer programs, and Colorado water law, analyze Water Court applications, engineering reports, and proposed decrees to ensure compliance with law, sound engineering principals, and guidelines of the Division; negotiate necessary conditions with applicant’s engineers and attorneys; create Court exhibits and testify as an expert to support Division’s position at trials; formulate effective litigation strategy in coordination with Assistant Attorney Generals; create detailed written comments/recommendations for review with the Water Court Referee each month. Negotiates settlement of disputes in consultation with the State and Division Engineers, including stipulations to resolve lawsuits.
Determines or reviews the adequacy of water rights accounting and conformance with statutes, decrees, augmentation plans, and substitute water supply plans. Reviews or creates computerized water use reporting forms for complex water use plans. Reviews sources of augmentation to verify historic consumptive use and coordinate reporting of deliveries or operations associated with various sources. Develops plans of administration for substitute water supply plans and reviews these plans with Water Commissioners. Coordinates with local Water Commissioners to ensure plans are implemented and operated in accordance with approval conditions. Coordinates with a variety of staff members, consulting engineers and associations and entities to ensure records of plan operations are maintained properly. Conducts field inspections of plans with local Water Commissioners. This requires specialized engineering skills in both Surface and Ground Water Administration. It also necessitates extensive coordination with water users, municipal and quasi-municipal entities and other plan proponents and managers to assure compliance with the approved augmentation plans.
Meets with the public, both individually and groups, to explain general Colorado water law, augmentation plans, substitute water supply plans, enforcement actions undertaken and other matters related to the overall mission of the Colorado Division of Water Resources and Water Division 5. Meets with water engineers and attorneys to discuss the requirements (and reasons for those requirements) of augmentation plans, substitute water supply plans, enforcement actions undertaken and other matters related to water administration.

Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

This posting is open to both residents and non-residents of the State of Colorado.

However, if you are selected and accept the position, you will be required to establish residence in the State of Colorado by your start date.

Minimum Qualifications:

Current, valid licensure as a Professional Engineer from the Colorado State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors.

OR
Current, valid licensure as a Professional Engineer from another state within the U.S. and the ability to obtain licensure within Colorado within 6 months of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

Current or former State experience relevant to this position.
Knowledge and experience with Colorado Water Law.
Knowledge and experience with Colorado Water Rights.
Knowledge and experience with plans for augmentation.
Experience in water resource engineering.
Experience managing programs and/or projects.
Experience with assisting customers and/or public outreach.
Excellent public service skills.
Proficiency with Google and Microsoft suites.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and/or Google Sheets.
Other experience relevant to the use or management of water resources.

The current work arrangement for this position is as follows:
(Please note, this arrangement can be subject to change)

Hybrid: Business requirements for this position are a minimum of one day per week in the Glenwood Springs office. There will be an initial training period where a minimum of three days per week in the Glenwood Springs office will be required until the new hire is proficient in their duties.

Conditions of Employment:

Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify their application from the current position. (Please Note: Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with DNR).
Must be willing and able to possess and maintain a State of Colorado Driver's License
Must have and maintain valid licensure as a Professional Engineer in Colorado.
Applicants who do not have a current, valid licensure as a Professional Engineer from the Colorado State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors will be required to obtain a Colorado license within six (6) months of hire as a condition of employment.
Must be a resident of Colorado by the start date of this position.
Must be prepared to defend and support actions and records in depositions or court testimony.
Must be able to address frequent and detailed inquiries from attorneys, professional engineers and hydrologists from government and private agencies.

APPEAL RIGHTS:
It is recommended that you contact the Human Resources Specialist listed below to resolve issues related to your possession of minimum qualifications. However, if you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email, US Mail, faxed or hand delivered within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board go to spb.colorado.gov or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

Supplemental Information

The Assessment Process

All applications received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed by an HR Specialist against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement.
Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process. Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position will be a structured application review by Subject Matter Experts.
Resumes, cover letters and other attachments are not considered as part of initial reviews, therefore, it is important to document in your application your education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications as outlined in the job announcement .
Please thoroughly answer all supplemental questions (if listed) since question responses may be evaluated for content, writing ability, spelling, grammar, and effective communication.
This recruitment may involve additional testing and/or exams to arrive at the top group for interviews.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

The Department of Natural Resources is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Anna Kargobai-Murray, at anna.kargobai-murray@state.co.us.

ADAAA Accommodations

Any person with a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided a reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an employment assessment. To request an accommodation, please contact Anna Kargobai-Murray at anna.kargobai-murray@state.co.us at least five business days before the date that any accommodation will be required to allow us to evaluate your request and prepare for the accommodation. You may be asked to provide additional information, including medical documentation, regarding functional limitations and type of accommodation needed. Please ensure that you have this information available well in advance of the assessment date.

E-Verify

The Department of Natural Resources participates in E-Verify in accordance with the program's Right to Work for all newly-hired employees. Employees are queried through the electronic system established by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to verify identity and employment eligibility. You may complete section 1 of the I-9 form upon your acceptance of a job offer letter, but no later than your first day of employment and in addition, on your first day, but no later than the third day, you are required to submit original documents to verify your eligibility to work in the U.S. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

Toll–Free Applicant Support - Technical Help

If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV at 855-524-5627, Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). The Human Resources Office will be unable to assist with technical issues. Helpful hints: If you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application, ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and close the document before you attempt to upload it.