Water Supply Planning Technical Lead

Job Description

Only applicants who apply with a State of Texas application via the CAPPS online application system will be considered for this position. First time applicants will need to create an account in the CAPPS online application system at https://tinyurl.com/CAPPS-Explore-Jobs. Please visit our job opportunities page at https://tinyurl.com/How-to-Apply-in-CAPPS for more information about the Texas Water Development Board and answers to frequently asked questions. To view this position in greater detail, visit the CAPPS online application system.

Texas Water Development Board’s Mission - Leading the state’s efforts in ensuring a secure water future for Texas.

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) offers competitive compensation and benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), flexible spending, and flexible work alternatives so you can have a work/life balance! For more information about these benefits and more visit http://www.twdb.texas.gov/jobs/benefits.asp.

The Texas Water Development Board does not discriminate on basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, sexual orientation, age, or disability in employment or provision of services, programs, or activities. 

Current TWDB regional office employees are eligible for consideration.

*Licensed Engineering candidates external to TWDB will be eligible to receive a $5,000 recruitment bonus if selected.

**Must meet agency in-office requirements**

***Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications***

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Water Supply Planning Division is seeking a motivated, curious, and result-oriented individual to join the Division and play a key role in Texas's water supply planning process. The position will serve as the Water Supply Planning Division Technical Lead, providing technical leadership in support of the cyclical regional and state water supply planning programs. The position will also be a lead role in developing and implementing the early-stage conveyance and coordination requirements of Senate Bill 7 of the 89th Legislature including establishing, convening, and facilitating advisory technical groups to advance early-stage collaboration among key entities and integrating coordination efforts into the state's well-established water supply planning processes.

The ideal candidate brings experience and engineering knowledge of water supply planning at the local, regional, and state levels, project development, hydrologic modeling; demand forecasting, risk assessment, and engineering cost estimation. The candidate is proficient in data management (including GIS), demonstrates strong judgment, communication, and decision-making skills, and can critically assess the credibility of water supply plans and projects. Experience managing technical contracts and overseeing contractors, along with a strong understanding of Texas water resources, is preferred.

Performs highly advanced and/or managerial (senior-level) engineering, project management, and oversight work. Work involves providing technical support, engineering expertise, and technical advisement regarding water supply planning including developing long-range water demand projections to supporting efforts to promote large scale capacity and conveyance projects. The position represents TWDB externally at assigned meetings and engagements, serves as an information source technical expert for Division team members, agency management and leadership, and external stakeholders including the Texas Legislature. The position may train TWDB staff on related engineering and technical matters. Works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Reports to the Senior Advisor of the Water Supply Planning Division.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Serves as an advisor and technical expert regarding engineering and technical matters related to the Division including the regional and state water planning program areas.
• Participate in and contribute to the development, writing, review, and communication of the state water plan.
• Establishes, convenes, and facilitates advisory technical groups to promote early-stage collaboration among regional and major water providers and river authorities.
• Identifies opportunities to develop excess water supply capacity and advance conveyance initiatives that benefit the state.
• Coordinates all stakeholders, develops meeting strategies, and materials, facilitates technical discussions, and manages following up actions.
• Implement and integrate the outcomes associated with the conveyance coordination effort into the regional and state water planning processes.
• Assess certain technical aspects of project funding applications related to various financial assistance programs.
• Supports the development, implementation, and enhancement of innovative approaches, tools, and methodologies for the water planning program and State Water Plan, including assessing water supply risk and improving long-term infrastructure planning under uncertainty.
• Produces, reviews, edits, summarizes, and/or comments on Divisional draft products, agency documents, external reports, and a variety of other written technical and non-technical materials.
• Interacts with and supports a variety of stakeholders including regional water planning groups and their technical consultants.
• Identifies technical needs, data gaps, and develops relevant engineering recommendations and guidance to support TWDB's water supply planning program and agency leadership.
• Performs a variety of technical reviews and updates and, as necessary, oversees applicable reviews conducted by other reviewers.
• Performs a variety of reviews of contract documents, correspondence, Board items, informational materials, analyses, and data-intensive and technical materials in support of the Division.
• Produces, advises on, oversees, reviews, and/or project-manages special studies and legislatively mandated reports and other tasks as assigned including work related to updating the state water planning uniform costing model and other division work products.
• Supports the review and development of existing and new planning methodologies including related to population and water demand projections and risk and vulnerability assessments.
• Evaluates program needs and performs research regarding technical matters and develops processes and procedures to support meeting those needs for the Division.
• Coordinate across agency offices on water supply related initiatives including regarding scientific efforts and other matters including related to climate and uncertainty.
• Develops and manages grant, professional, and research contracts including developing scopes of work and budgets, negotiating contracts, and overseeing the contract performance.
• Supports the agency by advising on the development of socioeconomic impact analyses produced on behalf of regional water planning groups.
• Organizes, develops, and runs technical workshops/webinars in support of the regional water planning program.
• Supports technical reviews, program requirements, and coordination related to the agency funding programs.
• Serves as project manager, as needed to monitor internal project schedules, budgets, and deliverables of internal initiatives.
• Assists the Director and Senior Advisor in identifying process improvements and creates tools to support the program.
• Coordinates with various federal and state agencies as appropriate.
• Promotes an environment that encourages collaboration, exchanges of ideas, teamwork, accountability, professional development, and improvement in performance.
• Conducts outreach efforts, including public speaking, presenting to the agency Board or Legislature.
• Stays informed of changes and trends in water supply planning and water resources management, including pertinent laws, regulations, guidelines, policies, and standards and appropriately applies them as needed.
• Maintains confidential and sensitive information.
• Ensures individual and team files (electronic and hard versions) are appropriately maintained and timely disposed of in accordance with the agency's records retention procedures and schedule.
• Maintains required certifications and licenses and meets the continuing education needs and requirements of the position to include, attending mandatory training courses.
• May be required to operate a state or personal vehicle for business purposes.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• May train others.    

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or a related field.
• Professional Experience:
  • Candidates with Texas Professional Engineer (P.E.) License:
    • Engineer VI: Five years of relevant work experience as a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.).
  • Candidates with Professional Engineer (P.E.) License in another U.S. State:
    • Project Manager V: Five years of relevant work experience as a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E).
• License:
  • Engineer VI - Licensed as a Professional Engineer (P.E.) in Texas.
  • Project Manager V - Licensed as a Professional Engineer (P.E.) in another U.S. state AND ability to obtain a Texas P.E. license within six months of hire.
• Relevant education and experience can be substituted for each other on a year-for-year basis.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduate degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in civil/environmental engineering, water resources planning, or related field.
• Four years of progressively responsible professional work experience managing projects/programs.
• Experience developing and managing professional services contracts including developing scopes of work, budgets, and negotiating contract amendments.
• Knowledge of water rights, water supplies, water providers, and water resource issues in Texas.
• Experience performing hydrologic modeling and/or surface water or groundwater availability modeling in Texas.
• Experience developing water supply and asset management plans for wholesale and retail water supply utilities.
• Experience in the development and construction of water supply projects, including field experience.
• Experience in Texas' regional water planning process.
• Familiarity with public finance, socioeconomics, and the development of water demand projections.
• Professional Geoscientist License

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES (KSAs)

• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to Water Supply Planning Division. 
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration.
• Knowledge of engineering principles, techniques, and procedures.
• Skills in using Microsoft Office programs such as Word, Excel, and Access.
• Skills in use of internet, email, word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and database software.
• Skills in the use of logic to assess options and make decisions based on a variety of factors and risks.
• Skills in anticipating and engaging with complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Skills in comprehending and concisely summarizing technical material.
• Skills with ESRI ArcGIS software and spatial analysis.
• Skills in evaluating, analyzing, and managing large amounts of data.
• Ability to maintain the security or integrity of critical infrastructure within Texas.
• Ability to meet agency in-office requirements.
• Ability to adhere to work schedules, follow procedures with respect to leave and submit accurate timesheets by prescribed deadlines.
• Ability to make mature, objective decisions and identify areas of potential problems.
• Ability to perform effectively and willingly when changes occur in scope and nature of the work and work environment.
• Ability to perform routine and non-routine work assignments accurately and on-time with little or no supervision.
• Ability to perform assigned duties and improve work habits and/or output.
• Ability to complete assigned work, on time, neatly and with infrequent errors.
• Ability to interpret policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Ability to provide prompt, courteous and accurate assistance and clear and concise communication to internal and external stakeholders both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work and cooperate with others in a team environment.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Ability to stand/sit/move to perform activities such as retrieve/replace files in a large file system for boxes up to 30 lbs.
• Ability and willingness to travel 25% of the time, primarily within the State of Texas.
• Ability to operate a vehicle (state or personal) for state business and maintain a driver's license and driving record that complies with state and agency requirements.
• Ability to work shifts that may exceed 8 hours, including early mornings, nights, and weekends.
• Ability to use deductive, inductive, and mathematical reasoning.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing.

Additional Information

All interested candidates should apply with a State of Texas application via the CAPPS online application system. First time applicants will need to create an account in the CAPPS online application system at https://tinyurl.com/CAPPS-Explore-Jobs. Please visit our job opportunities page at https://tinyurl.com/How-to-Apply-in-CAPPS for more information about the Texas Water Development Board and answers to frequently asked questions. To view this position in greater detail, visit the CAPPS online application system.

Texas Water Development Board, Stephen F. Austin Building

1700 North Congress Ave., Room 670, Austin, Texas 78701

Please contact Human Resources for accommodation requests.

Phone: (512) 475-2142

Email: HR(AT)twdb.texas.gov

Compensation: 9500 to 11500 (USD) (MONTHLY)