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Salem, Oregon, United States
Hybrid
Not Available
Initial Posting Date:
10/30/2026Application Deadline:
11/16/2026Agency:
Water Resources DepartmentSalary Range:
$5,458 - $8,352Position Type:
EmployeePosition Title:
Certificates Program Analyst (Natural Resource Specialist 3)Job Description:
Working Title: Certificates Program Analyst
Classification: Natural Resource Specialist 3
Position Type: Permanent, Full-Time
Representation: Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
FLSA Status: Exempt, not eligible for overtime or compensatory time
Monthly Compensation:The monthly salary range before PERS* will be $5,458-$8,352 | after PERS* will be $5,837-$8,931
Work Location: North Mall Office Building, 725 Summer St. NE Suite A, Salem Oregon 97301.
Hybrid/Remote Work: Hybrid work eligible. The position works at least 1-2 days per week within the North Mall Office Building, and the quantity of office days may be adjusted based on business need with notice. Hybrid schedule agreed upon by manager. The position requires occasional travel within the state, including overnight travel. Ability and authorization to drive is essential to be able to travel for the entire business week once a year to meet with customers around the state.
The Oregon Water Resources Department is committed to creating a workplace culture that understands and appreciates differences among people and is welcoming and inclusive to all. By fostering fairness and equity in its work culture, the Department strives to improve services for all Oregonians. We acknowledge that not all people have experienced equitable opportunities or fair treatment. We are committed to increasing our awareness and understanding of historic injustices and building a foundation for meaningful change. We value a wide range of professional and lived experiences, and people of underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Our Vision
The vision of the Oregon Water Resources Department is to assure sufficient and sustainable water supplies are available to meet current and future needs.
Our Mission
The Department's mission is to serve the public by practicing and promoting responsible water management through two key goals:
Core Values
Integrity – We are accountable for all that we do. We act with honesty and promote transparency.
Service – We are dedicated to providing outstanding service and treating everyone equitably in our management and stewardship of state resources.
Technical Excellence – We base our resource decisions on law, science, and expertise.
Teamwork – We are united in our mission, relying on one another and working together with the communities we serve.
Forward-Looking – We seek innovative and practical solutions to the water challenges of today and tomorrow.
OWRD Strategic and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Plan priorities are to:
Equity Statement
Water is a shared, vital, and finite resource. The Oregon Water Resources Department strives for meaningful engagement, transparent decision-making, and accessible services. Together we will build a resilient and equitable water future for this generation and the many to come.
The Division: The Water Right Services Division (Division) is responsible for evaluation of all water right, transfer, extension of time for both permits and transfers, instream lease, allocation of conserved water, and limited license applications. In addition, the Division administers the following water right-related programs: water right certification; permit cancellation; adjudication of pre-1909 vested water rights; water management and conservation plans; hydroelectric licensing; water right information and customer service; and water right program and policy development.
The Division is responsible for public notice of applications and for responding to public interest inquiries and concerns. The Division receives and evaluates comments and protests concerning proposed water uses. The Division must ensure coordination with local governments and other state and federal agencies concerning proposed water allocations. Final determination of water right related applications involves a legal property right and may involve litigation in Oregon or federal court.
The Section: The Water Rights Development Section is under the Water Right Services Division. The Development Section focuses on the process of developing a water right. This includes adjudications of water use claims pre-dating the 1909 Oregon Water Code and 1955 Groundwater Act, issuance of certificates and extensions, and Water Management and Conservation Planning.
Obtaining a water right is a multi-step process. First, an applicant submits a water right application. If the application is approved, the permit specifies a timeframe during which the permit holder must develop their water right consistent with permit conditions. If they need additional time, they may file for an extension. The user has one year from making full beneficial use of water to submit a report to the Department. The Department reviews this claim of beneficial use and, if the user has successfully proved up on their water use, the Department issues a water right certificate. Municipalities may incrementally develop their municipal water use permits and are required in many cases to submit a Water Management and Conservation Plan (WMCP). Approval of a WMCP may result in access to another increment of water that the municipal water use permit holder may develop. Some water rights are determined through an adjudication (judicial proceeding) that determines how much water was developed prior to adoption of the 1909 Oregon Water Code and 1955 Groundwater Act.
What each of these post-permit processes have in common is that they evaluate how much water was developed within a specific timeframe, in accordance with applicable requirements, and how much remains to be developed. These processes comprise the Extensions, Certificates, WMCP, and Adjudications programs that collectively make up the Water Rights Development Section.
The Certificates Program: The Certificates Program within the Water Rights Development Section examines Claims of Beneficial Use (COBU) prepared by Department staff, Certified Water Right Examiners (CWRE), or, in some cases, the permit holder, to determine if the water user has complied with conditions of water use. If the COBU satisfies the laws, rules, and policies of the Department, a recommendation is made to the Director, or their designee, to issue an official Certificate of water right. COBUs are submitted and reviewed as a result of a development under a permit or transfer order. When a Certificate is issued, the water right holder is entitled to use water as provided by Oregon Water Law.
The purpose of this position is to serve as a technical expert on Certificates and function as the Certificates Program Analyst. This position will take the lead on some of the most complex certificate and proof questions so that other Certificate Program and Department staff can evaluate Claims of Beneficial Use (COBU) and Final Proof Surveys and act quickly and accordingly.
This position frequently performs analysis and research, interprets laws, rules, and policy, and provides technical or policy interpretations to develop strategies for solving natural resource-oriented problems around the water Certificates Program. This position helps participate in program activities designed to bring current practices into alignment with existing or changing laws, rules, and policies.
The person in this position will not have supervisor responsibility over any other Department staff but may, as directed by or working with the supervisor (Water Rights Development Section Manager), coordinate and set the workload priorities for other certificate-related staff. As such, regular attendance is an essential function required to meet the demands of this job and to provide necessary services.
This position will also handle communications with Oregon State Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying (OSBEELS), draft and score the examination of CWREs each year, coordinate and lead the annual continuing education program (workshops) for CWREs and other interested persons, as well as develop Department policy memos and guidelines related to the Certificates program.
Working with the supervisor (Water Rights Development Section Manager), this position may be the primary certificate-related contact person when other Department staff have certificate-related questions.
Three years of experience in natural resources or related field. At least one year of the experience must be at a technical or professional level performing activities in a natural resource program such as researching and analyzing data, conducting investigations, applying pertinent laws and regulations, or coordinating and monitoring project activities; AND
A bachelor's degree in natural resources or related field, or three additional years of related (pertinent) experience.
OR
A master's degree in natural resources or related field will substitute for up to one year of the required experience.
Natural Resource Areas considered: Environmental Sciences, Hydrology, Physical Science, Ecology, Agricultural Sciences, Engineering, Geography, Geology, Geophysics, or related fields.
Pertinent Experience considered: i.e. Land Surveying, Well Specialists, Rangeland Specialists, Water Resource Management, Civil engineering or in Natural Resources Law, or related fields.
Technical
Project/Program management
Collaborations/Relationships
Communication/Facilitation/Stakeholder Engagement
We are most interested in finding the most qualified candidate for the job, and that candidate may not meet every one of our listed preferred qualifications. Paid and unpaid experience may count towards the preferred qualifications. If you are excited about this position, we encourage you to apply. If you are unsure as to whether you meet the preferred qualifications of this position, please contact us to discuss your application.
This position is in Salem, with some remote telework flexibility. Regular attendance is an essential function required to meet the demands of this job and to provide necessary services, including but not limited to meeting with Certificates program staff, handling paper files, attending in-person meetings, and responding to public inquiries. The position works at least 1-2 days per week within the North Mall Office Building, and the quantity of office days may be adjusted based on business need with notice. Work conditions consist primarily of desk work located at a computer terminal in a cubicle environment for long periods of time, including phone calls, video meetings, and a considerable amount of reading, researching, and analyzing large documents, statutes, administrative rules, and existing policies and guidance. The position requires occasional travel within the state, including overnight travel. Ability and authorization to drive is essential to be able to travel for the entire business week once a year to meet with customers around the state. In-person and electronic communications with members of the public, some of whom may be frustrated, requires the ability to explain difficult concepts using verbal and written communication skills. Occasional lifting of up to 30 pounds may be required.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required.
In addition to offering a culture of care and inclusivity and working among a highly skilled team to dive into meaningful work, we also offer a competitive benefits package that includes:
Please provide your resume and cover letter for full consideration.
1. Provide a cover letter.
2. Provide a resume.
Application Tips: Clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications and preferred qualifications in your application materials. Your application materials will determine if you are selected to move forward in the selection process. Please include detailed work and education history.
Be sure to check Workday and your email for additional tasks and updates. After hitting submit there may be additional required tasks for you to complete prior to the announcement closing. Please save a copy of this job announcement for reference, as it is not available for you to view after the announcement deadline.
If you have questions about this job posting, please contact Human Resources at WRD_DL_HR@water.oregon.gov.
Current State of Oregon employees must apply through your employee Workday account.
PERS Salary Information
* NON-PERS ELIGIBLE (Includes most new hires to state government. Employees typically gain PERS eligibility after six months of state service. PERS ELIGIBLE (Typically current or former employees of Oregon state or local government, public schools, universities, etc.) The salary listed will state base monthly salary, which is BEFORE PERS.
Accommodations
If you need assistance to participate in the application process, including an accommodation request under the American with Disabilities Act, we invite you to contact the recruiter for accommodation requests under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), application questions or job-specific questions please contact our HR team at wrd_dl_hr@water.oregon.gov.
Future Vacancies
This applicant pool may be used to fill additional vacancies as they occur over the next three (3) months.
Work Authorization
The Oregon Water Resources Department does not offer visa sponsorships. Within three days of hire, all applicants will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States.
Candidate Preference
Eligible veterans and Oregon National Guard servicemembers (current and former) who meet the qualifications of the position will be awarded candidate preference. For more information, please visit Veterans Resources. For more information on veterans’ preference points visit www.oregonjobs.org and select Veterans resources under Resources. Please do not attach veteran or Oregon National Guard Servicemember documentation to your initial application, after you have applied you will be sent a task in your Workday account to provide your veteran documentation at that time.
Application Review Process
In addition to your related work experience and education, we will use both the minimum and desired qualifications above to determine whom to interview. Please make sure all your relevant qualifications are clearly demonstrated in your application materials. Your application materials may be evaluated on spelling, grammar, punctuation, attention to detail, and presentation.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage
The use of outside resources such as Artificial Intelligence software during the application process (cover letter and resume) and applicant skill assessments, examinations, and/or interviews is prohibited unless otherwise stated by the hiring agency. Unauthorized use of outside resources during the hiring process will result in immediate disqualification.
HB3187 Statement
The State of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution during the application process.
The Oregon Water Resources Department is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer Committed to Workforce Diversity.
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