Environmental Specialist II - Integrated Water Planning

Job Summary

We’re looking for the next great addition to the Integrated Water Planning Division at the Nebraska Department Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE). Do you have a passion for protecting Nebraska’s natural resources? Do you love knowing your work makes a difference in your community and state? Are you looking for a work environment that supports developing and applying new skills and technologies?

Do you want to help implement Nebraska’s Water Quality and Quantity Task Force Goals in meaningful, measurable ways? Are you motivated by work that integrates water science, agricultural practices, planning, and stakeholder collaboration into real-world solutions? If you answered yes, then we might be the team for you!

• Integrated Water Management
• Interstate Water Compacts, Decrees, and Agreements
• Section
  319 Nonpoint Source
• Section
  401 Certifications
• Source Water Protection
• Wellhead Protection
• Water Quality Standards
• Water Quality Integrated Report

• 13 paid holidays
• Vacation and sick leave equating to 24 days in your first year, accruing immediately
• Military leave
• 156% state-matched retirement
• Tuition reimbursement
• Employee assistance program
• 79% employer-paid health insurance plans
• Dental and vision insurance plans
• Employer-paid $20,000 life insurance policy
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) through the federal government
• Wide variety and availability of career advancement as the largest and most diverse employer in the state
• Opportunity to be part of meaningful work and make a difference through public service
• Training and development based on your career aspirations
• Fun, inviting teammates
• A safe and secure environment

Work schedule:

Monday–Friday, 8:00a.m.–5:00p.m. Flexible schedule, 10‑hour workdays allowed after six‑month probation with management approval.

DWEE is seeking an Environmental Specialist II to support water quality and quantity programs through scientific analysis, program planning, data management, and stakeholder engagement. Success in this position requires a strong scientific foundation— including technical capability and sound scientific judgment— as well as the planning and communication skills needed to develop and implement the Division’s core programs.

• Perform hydrogeological and water‑quality analyses, apply groundwater and watershed models, and interpret monitoring data to develop scientifically supported findings that inform planning, regulatory, and resource‑management decisions.
• Collect, organize, and review water‑quality and quantity datasets from multiple sources; integrate data, spatial analyses, and modeling results to evaluate trends, uncertainty, and program effectiveness.
• Use GIS tools to spatially analyze environmental conditions, trends, and potential risks, review technical reports and data submittals for QA/QC and regulatory compliance, and develop figures to communicate scientific results.
• Perform technical components of water‑quality and quantity plan and program development, evaluation, and implementation across the Division’s core programs.
• Coordinate with project sponsors, NRDs, municipalities, utilities, and other partners to support plan development, track implementation, and ensure deliverable compliance.
• Review and evaluate grant applications, track deliverables, and prepare program outcome reports; contribute to operational work‑plans supporting statewide policy and Water Quality and Quantity Task Force goals.
• Maintain and manage large multi‑source datasets, GIS‑enabled databases and other data products; apply established metrics and benchmarking tools; and use programming tools (e.g., Python, Arc Py) to automate data processing and reporting workflows.
• Prepare and deliver presentations and written products—including technical reports, fact sheets, and outreach materials—for audiences ranging from technical colleagues to the general public.
• Represent DWEE at public meetings and outreach events; coordinate stakeholder engagement processes; manage work‑plans; and prepare meeting agendas, materials, and notes.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in the physical sciences, natural sciences, environmental…