Trainee Water Rights Attorney Jobs in Basalt, CO

SGM is seeking a Water Resources Engineer III or IV to reside in the Grand Junction or Glenwood Springs, Colorado office. This position is primarily in-person and based at one of our office locations. Regular in-office attendance is required and is not considered a remote role. This position will require engineering and technical analytical support for a wide variety of water resource and water rights projects and to maintain strong working relationships with our clients and other SGM disciplines to ensure timely execution of other civil, drinking water, and wastewater projects, as needed. Work could include project planning to collect various types of water resources and water rights data in the field or managing junior staff to inform project outcomes. This position will also be responsible for processing data and interpreting the results to guide and inform project outcomes; developing or directing ArcGIS mapping; preparing technical reports summarizing project findings; and managing projects ranging in size from $5,000 – $500,000. Work could also entail writing proposals, designing data collection programs, providing regulatory permitting support, conducting water rights analysis, supporting the planning, development, and adjudication of groundwater and surface water supplies, overseeing project construction, supporting project asset management, and writing grant applications and/or providing project financial planning input to clients.

The overarching expectations for this position are to plan, develop, and manage projects of all sizes with limited external direction. This position will also have responsibilities for winning new work with existing or new clients and supporting existing work with clients through responsive service, experience, expertise, presence, and valued opinions. This position may be responsible for mentoring and directing work of, and may supervise, junior staff members. Demonstrated leadership in one or more areas of business development, client service management, or technical specialization is also an essential aspect of succeeding in this position. Some travel within Colorado may be required to support project execution.

Salary DOE:

Engineer III: 4-10 years $89,600-$115,600

Engineer IV: 8-15 years $105,400-$131,300

SGM offers a generous benefits package to full-time employees including medical, dental, vision coverage, employer paid STD/LTD/Life, HSA/FSA plans, 401k employer match, parental leave, vacation & sick leave, 8 paid holidays, and incentive compensation bonuses. Benefits may be prorated for part-time employees. This position will be posted until filled but no sooner than two days from now. **Listed salary range is based on a 40-hour work week.

Job Duties:

• Support the technical needs and execution of projects associated with SGM’s water resource services including water supply planning and development, groundwater and surface water development, and water quality needs
• Manage projects, budgets, and client relationships, and provide quality control review, for projects such as the following:
  • Technical support for Water Court applications (SWSPs, Augmentation Plans, etc.)
  • Water supply planning studies
  • Hydrologic and water rights yield investigations
  • Stream depletion analyses such as crop consumptive use, net depletions, and evaluation of potential injury to other water users
  • Water budget models for discrete systems and for river basin modeling
  • Assist clients in identifying, understanding, and solving problems
• Work with water rights attorneys and state water officials and have knowledge of Colorado water rights and water resource management to obtain permits and decrees for clients
• Work with municipalities and special districts to support in water resources management and planning
• Independently plan and implement tasks to support complex hydrology investigations
• Develop and maintain client relationships and trust
• Communicate effectively with SGM teams and clients
• Complete necessary documentation including peer review of reports, memos, client correspondence and other items
• Serve as a technical lead for field investigations, data collection and analysis
• Mentor and guide junior staff on project tasks

Job Requirements:

• 4+ years of experience in water resource consulting and management including watershed management, water supply planning, floodplain and hydrology modeling, water rights, and water quality services
• Bachelor’s degree required and Master’s degree preferred, ideally in engineering, hydrology, hydrogeology, water resources, or other related science discipline
• Demonstrated knowledge of Colorado water rights and water resource management, including local, state, and federal drinking water, wastewater, ground and surface water rules and regulations
• A strong technical understanding of the principles of hydrology and ability to independently plan and conduct complex hydrology investigations
• Strong technical written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrates initiative to meet task deliverables and to learn new skills and software relevant to projects
• Ability to communicate with staff, including project leadership, and communication of client needs
• Ability to meet and interact with a wide variety of people
• Leadership abilities and capable of working on a team
• Project planning and management experience is preferred, including water resource management, regulatory permitting, project construction, project assets management, grant applications and/or project financial planning
• Experience with permitting and Clean Water Act compliance is preferred but not essential
• Familiarity with CDSS tools and Hydrobase, StateCU, IDS AWAS, Glover Analyses, AutoCAD Civil 3D, HEC-RAS, EPA SWMM, HY-8, FlowMaster, StormCAD, Hydraflow, and ArcGIS/ArcMap
• Proficient with Microsoft Excel, including tracking, sorting, filtering, and manipulating complex datasets; using high-level formulas to concisely summarize data (VLOOKUP, SUMIF, etc.); creating user-friendly tables and charts to visually display complex data
• Licensed Professional Engineer, preferably in Colorado
• Valid Driver’s License

As an equal opportunity employer, SGM realizes that a diverse group of employees will bring a broader range of ideas and a stronger vision to the world of engineering, consulting, and surveying. We are an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under state or local law. CDOT Non-Discrimination in Employment Notice