Water Quality & Conservation Specialist

It's fun and rewarding to work for the City of Steamboat Springs!  Our employees are passionate and proud to serve our community with excellence and distinction.  Our teams are awesome, and we are committed to our community and the very special place that is Steamboat Springs, Colorado! 

Job Description:

When joining the City of Steamboat Springs, you can expect to work for an organization with:

• A team that strives to make this the best place you’ve ever worked!

• A focus on supporting our employees’ mental, physical, and financial well-being

• A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion that creates a welcoming city 

• A highly engaged workforce proudly serving our community with excellence and distinction

• A passion for strategically providing outstanding municipal services

• A promise to each other to support the work we all do for the city, community & Yampa Valley

Uniqueness Fuels Our Innovative Spirit
Our commitment to inclusion across race, gender, age, religion, identity and experiences drives us forward every day. It's the collective sum of our experiences that makes Steamboat Springs and the Yampa Valley a powerful, insightful and welcoming community.  

The City of Steamboat Springs is hiring a Water Quality & Conservation Specialist to join their team!

Pay Range: $66,896 - $96,999

Placement within range depends on experience.

GENERAL PURPOSE

The Water Quality and Conservation Specialist supports and coordinates programs and services to enhance water supply resiliency and watershed health for the City of Steamboat Springs Water and Wastewater Utility through public education and outreach, data analysis and policy development, and long-term planning initiatives. The position serves as the water conservation program coordinator for the joint community-wide plan and program of the City of Steamboat Springs Water Utility and the Mount Werner Water & Sanitation District.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Under general supervision of the Water Resources Manager.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Supervises support staff and part-time or temporary employees as assigned. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Serves as an ambassador of the City of Steamboat Springs and upholds City values of Service, Teamwork, Integrity, Well-being, Respect and Compassion, while espousing safety at all times.

Assists the Water and Wastewater Utility in developing and implementing long-range plans, making progress on strategic objectives, meeting regulatory obligations, partnering collaboratively, and protecting water resources for future generations.

Coordinates the joint City of Steamboat Springs and Mount Werner Water & Sanitation District (MWW) Water Conservation Program (approximately 50% of position time). Responsibilities include the following:

• Assists in implementing, monitoring, and updating the Steamboat Springs Water Conservation Plan and reporting to City Council and the MWW Board of Directors.
• Creates and implements education and outreach initiatives, materials, and resources including program branding and website content.
• Leads communications on and enforcement of outdoor watering rules, including responding to water wasting reports.
• Manages indoor and outdoor water efficiency rebate programs.
• Analyzes customer water use data and develop outreach initiatives for excessive water users and large water users.
• Coordinates with outside consultants and organizations to deliver contracted scopes of work.
• Supports the adoption and implementation of water conservation principles in new city landscaping standards through new outreach and education resources and the development of a landscape conversion program.
• Coordinates the internal Water Conservation Team, water conservation policies and initiatives with city and MWW facilities, and landscaping demonstration projects.

Provides support in protecting water quality in the Yampa River and local watershed and meeting environmental regulations for the Water and Wastewater Utility through the following:

• Researches and analyzes permit compliance programs for the City’s Wastewater Treatment Facility.
• Monitors and develops recommendations regarding upcoming Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and other relevant local, state, and federal regulations.
• Collects and manages water quality data.
• Assists with the City’s source water protection program through the administration of the Watershed Protection Permit and watershed protection plans.
• Supports projects and initiatives to protect and restore watershed health to enhance water quality, ecosystem function, and drought resiliency.

Performs education and outreach tasks to better inform the public relating to water resources issues including water conservation, water quality, and stream health.

• Makes presentations and develops trainings and workshops
• Prepares materials for outreach campaigns, social media, and City’s website.
• Engages with federal and state water education programs, such as EPA WaterSense program, and adapts materials and resources for local use.

Researches and evaluates policy approaches to inform City code, policy, design standards, and permit compliance related to water resources, for example equity and assistance programs for utilities, land use and development standards, and disaster resiliency planning.

Assists in identifying potential grants, grant writing, and grant reporting in cooperation with City grants staff.

Coordinates and collaborates with internal departments and divisions (Engineering, Parks and Recreation, and Planning and Community Development), MWW, and external stakeholders and organizations (non-profits, regional entities, special districts, state agencies) to deliver water-related programs.

Supports activities implementing and monitoring the City’s Water Conservation Plan, Water Supply Master Plan, Fish Creek Watershed Wildfire Protection Plan, Yampa River Health Assessment and Streamflow Management Plan, Routt County Hazard Mitigation Plan, and Routt County Climate Action Plan.

Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in environmental science or policy, natural resources management, urban/community planning, public policy, or other water-related field of study

Three + years of experience in environmental program management and/or water resources related work; or

Any equivalent combination of education and experience

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Five + years of experience.

Project management experience.

NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

General understanding of principles of water conservation and environmental science as applied to water quality. Ability to travel as required for meetings, conferences, etc. throughout the state. Must be a self-motivated individual possessing strong interpersonal and communication skill, both written and verbal, along with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks. Ability to interpret and implement applicable City policies, laws, and regulations affecting Department activities; Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with employees, consultants, other governmental agency representatives, City officials and the general public; Makes accurate and effective computations, estimates, and designs in the preparation of plans and specifications; and Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with officials, employees, consultants, contractors, and the public Knowledgeable in conducting water resources research and skill in compiling detailed technical reports;

 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Possess a valid Colorado Driver’s license or have the ability to obtain one prior to employment; and

Physically capable of moving about construction work sites.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED

Personal computer, including word processing, spreadsheet, data base, GIS; motor vehicle, phone, mobile and portable radios.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work is often performed in field settings.  Considerable outdoor work is required in the inspection of various land developments, construction sites, or public works facilities.  Hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate testing instruments, computers, and various pieces of office equipment.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, feel, or operate objects, tools, or controls, and reach with hands and arms.  The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, talk, hear, and smell; and to negotiate construction sites that may include mud, snow, steep slopes, or other difficult terrain conditions.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential duties of the job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions.  The employee occasionally works in precarious places, near moving mechanical parts, in trenches and confined spaces, is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, extremes of weather, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock, and vibration.

The noise level is usually quiet to moderate in office settings and noisy in the field.

SELECTION GUIDELINES

Formal application, rating of education and experience, oral interview and reference check; job related tests might be required.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

This position description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

EOE.

If you like serving in a role that will directly and positively impact our great community, you'll enjoy your career with us!

Pay Range:

Offers will be negotiated based on each candidate's qualifications.

Merit:
This role is eligible for merit within our pay-for-performance philosophy via our annual performance review process.  Hires after September 1st will take the next year's compensation data into account but would not be eligible for merit until the following year.

Benefits:
Full-time roles are eligible for our comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, and vision coverage options as well as other program offerings such as our Employee Assistance Program and more. You may also contribute to our 401(a) plan that includes a company match.  Seasonal roles are not eligible for medical, dental, and vision coverage, but have benefits such as Paid Sick Leave, Ski and Skate Pass, Employee Assistance Program, etc.