Initial Posting Date:
08/11/2026
Application Deadline:
08/24/2026
Agency:
Water Resources Department
Salary Range:
$4,738 - $7,247
Position Type:
Employee
Position Title:
NW Region Well Inspector (Natural Resource Specialist 2)
Job Description:
Working Title: NW Region Well Inspector
Classification: Natural Resource Specialist 2 (NRS2)
Position Type: Permanent, Full Time
Representation: SEIU Represented
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt, eligible for overtime in the form of compensatory time with manager pre-approval
Monthly Compensation: The monthly salary range before PERS* will be $4,738-$7,247 | after PERS* will be $5,067-$7,751
Work Location: We are offering two work location options for the successful candidate, which can be either the North Mall Office Building, 725 Summer St. NE Suite A, Salem Oregon 97301 or, 1400 SW Walnut Street, Suite 240, Hillsboro Oregon 97123.
Hybrid/Remote Work: This position works primarily onsite, frequently in the field; with some hybrid/remote work options. Some in-state travel is required with infrequent overnight travel.
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:
- To directly address Oregon's water supply needs
- To restore and protect streamflows and watersheds in order to ensure the long-term sustainability of Oregon's ecosystems, economy, and quality of life
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.
The Oregon Water Resources Department’s current strategic priorities are to:
- Modernize our management of Oregon’s surface water and groundwater resources to meet instream and out-of-stream uses
- Work to secure Oregon’s instream and out-of-stream water future in the face of increasing water scarcity
- Foster a forward-looking team dedicated to serving Oregonians with integrity and excellence.
About our Team/Division
The Northwest (NW) region covers 13 counties, including Oregon’s most populous areas and major metropolitan hubs. With the Willamette Basin and North Coast watersheds, the region faces complex water challenges, including numerous irrigation districts, active water users, major storage projects, and large municipalities.
Our team works collaboratively and supports one another to address these challenges, staying closely aligned with the department’s mission and vision to ensure our regional efforts help protect the resource.
Working within the Field Services Division provides the opportunity to:
- Pursue water use solutions to help protect public safety by ensuring wells are constructed to appropriate standards.
- Help modernize management of Oregon’s groundwater resources and secure Oregon’s water future in the face of increasing water scarcity and uncertainty.
- Find satisfaction in tackling complex water use issues by collecting detailed data, accurately documenting observations, and helping prepare enforcement documents to gain compliance.
- Support a sustainable water future for Oregon’s economy, environment, and communities.
- Join an organization with smart, driven co-workers who care about public service, water resources, and their co-workers, and who welcome new ideas.
- Collect data that will be used to help create policy, improve on laws and statutes, and assist in guiding OWRD as it manages this crucial resource for future generations.
About the Position
The Well Inspector position is within the Field Services Division and performs complex well inspections on water supply wells, monitoring wells, and geotechnical holes. The person in this position is expected to read, comprehend and enforce complicated statutes and rules regarding the construction, maintenance, conversion and abandonment of wells. These wells include drinking water wells, irrigation wells and monitoring wells.
This position follows-up on complaints, documents daily work activities, tries to achieve voluntary compliance from licensed well-constructors, landowners constructing their own wells, municipalities, and businesses. In addition, the person in this position conducts investigations, documents violations, assembles case files and makes recommendations for formal enforcement action for the purpose of protecting the groundwater resource from contamination, loss of artesian pressure, and waste. The position provides professional guidance and training to Watermaster staff and other staff in conducting thorough well inspections and documenting evidence collected during inspections. Well inspectors will independently perform on site investigations, technical Well Report reviews, provide continuing education training, technical information and assistance, and verify information submitted by licensed well constructors, landowners and consultants.
This position will perform work with our core values in mind. The person in this position performs duties in a manner which promotes customer service and harmonious working relationships, including treating all persons courteously and respectfully; engages in effective team participation through a willingness to assist and support co-workers, supervisors, and other work related associations; develops good working relationships with division and agency staff through active participation in accomplishing the agency mission and resolving problems in a constructive manner; demonstrates openness to constructive feedback in an effort to strengthen work performance; and contributes to a positive, respectful, and productive work environment.
The Field Services Division seeks to promote a workplace culture that understands and appreciate differences among people, utilizes that understanding and appreciation to improve our services, and fosters a work culture that is welcoming and inclusive to all.
Minimum Qualifications
Two years of experience related to natural resource management, and a Bachelor's degree in Hydrology, Geology, Civil Engineering, or other natural resource area, or three additional years of pertinent experience;
OR
One year of experience in Hydrology, Geology, Civil Engineering, or other natural resource area, and a Master’s degree in Hydrology, Geology, Civil Engineering, or other natural resource area.
Pertinent experience must include activities such as:
Gathering and analyzing natural resource data and/or coordinating monitoring efforts for a natural resource program; and
Providing technical assistance to the public in a natural resource program explaining laws, rules, and regulations, answering questions, help the public navigate and comply with agency procedures.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience using ArcGIS, SQL, Python, or other similar GIS, database, or programming languages and software.
- Ability to use field data collection equipment, including mobile GPS and tablets.
- Experience with overseeing natural resource projects or natural resource contractors, including; prioritizing timelines, deadlines, and deliverables, and coordinating with project partners in a respectful, factual and clear way.
- Knowledge of well drilling or well construction.
- Experience in performing regulatory compliance with reference to Law, Statute, and Policy and basic safety measures in the field.
- Experience providing technical assistance to a diverse range of customers, with the ability to distill complex information into clear accessible guidance.
- Strong ability to build interpersonal relationships and manage conflicts.
- Desire to broaden learning and seek professional development, as well as accepting direction by colleagues and supervisors to ensure the work is done well for the State of Oregon.
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.
Working Conditions
Overnight travel will be required to address workload and complaints in more remote parts of the region or state. You may be eligible to work remotely on a schedule agreed upon by the manager and employee. There is an expectation that the selected candidate would be within a reasonable commute distance from the duty station listed above. Frequent office work. Occasional lifting up to 75 lbs; occasional contact with hostile or angry people; up to several months annually of field work in possible inclement weather, including below freezing conditions; rare overnight outdoor work in isolated rural environments; occasional work around large motors and heavy equipment. Driving long distances to remote field locations in all types of weather and road conditions.
What’s in it for you?
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:
- PEBB Insurance with exceptional medical, vision and dental plans with employees paying 1 to 5% of the total premium.
- Leave accrual starting at 8 hours of sick and 8 hours of vacation leave per month, with your vacation leave accruals increasing every 5 years.
- Access to an additional four days of discretionary leave - 3 days of personal business leave and one day of Governor’s Leave each year.
- Eleven paid holidays per year.
- Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) including a pension and employer contributions to the Individual Account Program.
- Optional benefits (such as term life insurance, long-term and short-term disability, long-term care, health and dependent care flexible spending accounts, enrollment in the Oregon Savings Growth Plan, a deferred compensation program with a wide variety of investment options).
- The opportunity to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (must qualify).
Application Requirements
Please provide your resume and cover letter for full consideration.
Clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications and desired attributes 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 [email protected].
Current State of Oregon employees must apply through your employee Workday account.
Important Information
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 [email protected].
Future Vacancies
This applicant pool may be used to fill additional vacancies for this classification and working title as they occur over the next six (6) 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.
Eligible veterans and Oregon National Guard servicemembers
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. Be sure to submit your documentation prior to the close date of this posting in order to have the preference considered.
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.
Helpful Links & Resources
How to Set Job Alerts | Workday Applicant FAQ | What You Need to Know to Get the Job
Oregon Job Opportunities Webpage | Classification and Compensation | Pay Equity
Lab & Research (1)