Water Conservation Specialist

Job Description - Water Conservation Specialist2 )

Position Title:

Water Conservation Specialist2 - (  )

Located in the heart of the Judith Basin and surrounded by five mountain ranges, Lewistown is a welcoming small community with historic character, western heritage, and the kind of neighborly connection that makes it easy to feel  historic downtown, local restaurants and shops, community events, quality schools, and wide-open surroundings offer a relaxed pace of life without losing the essentials of a vibrant community.

Outdoor adventure is always close by, from fishing Big Spring Creek to hiking, biking, hunting, and exploring Central Montana’s public lands and scenic landscapes. Lewistown also offers the best of both worlds: commercial airports and larger shopping destinations are approximately two hours away in multiple directions, making weekend travel, major purchases, and city amenities accessible while allowing residents to return home to the space, quiet, and connection of small-town Montana.

As a Water Conservation Specialist 2, you’ll help protect and manage Montana’s water resources through a mix of fieldwork, technical analysis, and public service. In this role, you’ll evaluate water right applications, investigate water use issues, collect and interpret water data, and help ensure water is managed fairly and responsibly across the state.

Stewardship

Service

Credibility

Engagement

As a Water Conservation Specialist 2, you are on the front lines of how Montanans use, share, and protect water. You will:

Evaluate new and existing water rights, analyze water availability, and make defensible decisions and recommendations on applications and changes

Conduct field investigations to measure flows, confirm points of diversion and places of use, and verify that projects are built and operated as permitted

Apply Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) analysis to proposed water uses and document potential environmental impacts

Research and interpret complex water records, maps, aerial photos, decrees, and technical data to answer questions and resolve issues.

Investigate water use complaints, help defuse conflicts between water users and recommend solutions or enforcement when needed

Provide technical information and support to landowners, consultants, attorneys, conservation districts, planning boards, and other partners

Present clear technical reports and, at times, testify as an expert witness in contested cases

Every day is different – you might be on a ditch bank measuring flow in the morning and explaining water law to a landowner or attorney that afternoon.

Live and work in Lewistown, MT, which offers a unique blend of opportunities and natural beauty, situated between Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. Montana offers abundant recreational opportunities , including camping, fishing, hunting, mountain biking, and hiking.

Generous paid leave (vacation, sick, holidays), with vacation leave increasing with service.

Longevity pay with continued state service.

Health, dental, vision, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts.

Access to free employee medical clinics and telehealth.

Career progression, professional development, and state employee discounts.

Up to 15 days of military leave with full pay.

Bachelor’s degree in natural resource management, natural sciences, or a related field.

• At least three years of experience in water resources management or a closely related field.
• Alternate combinations of education and experience may also be considered.

Knowledge of…