Water Rights Permitting Specialist

If you’re looking for a place to advance your career, where you can contribute to a dynamic innovative firm, tackle demanding project work, and collaborate with industry recognized professionals - Geosyntec is the place for you!  

Aspect Consulting (A Geosyntec Company), an earth and water resources consulting firm, is seeking a Mid-level Water Rights Permitting Specialist in our Portland, OR office (option for working remote).  In this role, you will support our growing Water Rights and Water Resources practice in Oregon, on a variety of existing and upcoming projects in 2025 and beyond. Our water resources group work on projects ranging from water supply development, water supply management, water rights, hydrogeology, regulatory permitting, and source water protection. This role is a full-time, career-track position with a focus on assisting with water right investigations, water right transfers, certified water right examinations, and project and client management.

This is a unique opportunity to gain knowledge from senior water right practitioners and integrate into an existing water rights practice.

We invest in our people.  Each employee is unique, and your career at Geosyntec will be too.  We offer competitive pay and benefits, and well-being programs to support you and your family.

To Learn More Visit: http://www.geosyntec.com/careers/.

Collaboration and mentoring are cornerstones of Geosyntec’s culture. You should expect to work closely with experienced professionals who will help integrate you into Geosyntec’s culture as you advance to this next stage of your career. We operate under a sell-manage-do culture, and so we expect that you’d work on challenging technical projects while leveraging your existing knowledge and experience to help Geosyntec expand its current practices and capabilities through business development and client management.

You will be engaged in a wide range of permitting and technical duties within our water resources practice, with a focus on projects in Oregon State. Building on your past work experience with mentorship from our senior staff, your typical responsibilities will include:

• Helping client and agency interactions under the mentorship of a senior practitioner
• Presenting technical information to state and local agencies and the public.
• Technical report writing.
• Reviewing and interpreting water right files relative to Oregon and Washington State law, Oregon Water Resource Department and Department of Ecology policies and guidance, and case law.
• Reviewing and interpreting water use data, including aerial photos, metering data, land use, and crop records.
• Conducting field investigations, including estimation of water use, well inspections, streamflow monitoring, and a range of related activities to support water resource projects.
• Performing simple to complex quantitative spreadsheet analyses.
• Performing a range of water right permitting activities including new and transfer applications, claims of beneficial use, and extensions.
• Helping implement water right purchases and sales through due diligence investigations.
• Assisting in hydrogeologic and engineering tasks related to water resource projects.
• Performing project management or assistant project management level tasks (proposal development, invoice review, budget management, tracking schedules and deliverables, subcontractor management, etc.)

Here are some other things you should know about this position:

• Training: This position requires OSHA/MSHA health and safety, first aid, and CPR training and medical monitoring, paid for by the firm. We also offer professional development opportunities including technical conferences, in-house seminars, webinars, and mentoring, that allow our professionals to build the technical and business skills necessary to become successful consultants.
• Fieldwork: Up to 20%
• Overnight travel: Up to 20%

Your success is our success. We encourage our professionals to continually develop their interests and skills. Advancement is based on an individual’s own performance and initiative.

• Bachelor's degree in environmental or civil engineering, geology, natural resources science or closely related field with emphasis on water resources or closely related discipline. (required)
• Master of Science degree in similar disciplines. (preferred)
• Professional certifications (e.g., Professional Engineer (PE), Licensed Hydrogeologist (LHG), Professional Land Surveyor (PLS), or Certified Water Right Examiner (CWRE). (preferred)
• Eligibility to sit for the Oregon Certified Water Rights Exam license test.

• At least 5 years (7 preferred) of direct experience working on water rights or water resource related projects; or equivalent combination of education and experience. (required)
• At least 2 years of direct experience working on water rights projects in Oregon. (preferred)
• Practical knowledge of GIS/CAD, data entry and management using excel and database software, and field data collection and analysis methods. (preferred)
• Experience with multi-disciplinary project teams. (required)
• A proven track-record of providing a high level of attention to detail and thorough documentation.
• Experience with project management and business development. (required)
• Excellent leadership and detail-orientation skills. (required)
• Good social skills and outstanding oral and written communication skills (required)
• Ability and willingness to perform fieldwork and travel. (required)
• Valid U.S. driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record for business travel. (required)

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