Posting Details
THIS POSTING WILL BE USED FOR ONGOING RECRUITMENT AND MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME. APPLICANT LISTS MAY BE SCREENED MORE THAN ONCE.
This position is in the Office of the State Engineer/Interstate Stream Commission (OSE/ISC), Technical Services Program, Director's Office and will work in the Santa Fe and Albuquerque offices.
To learn more about the Office of the State Engineer, please visit our website: https://www.ose.state.gov/
Why does the job exist?
The Water Data Systems Manager serves as the strategic and technical liaison across OSE/ISC divisions, including Technical Services, WRAP, IT, ISC, district offices, and external partners. Key responsibilities include implementing Water Data Act priorities; coordinating agencywide modernization projects; leading strategic planning for enterprise data systems such as WATERS replacement; modernizing hydrologic tools, GIS products, and ET systems; improving regulatory frameworks and public transparency; and strengthening agency performance metrics. This work is accomplished through cross-bureau coordination, strategic planning, technical oversight, policy integration, funding development, and process improvement.
How does it get done?
1. Water Data Governance and Water Data Act Implementation
Serve as the subject matter expert (SME) lead and coordinate implementation of the New Mexico Water Data Act by identifying data and workflow gaps, working in direct coordination with IT, coordinating with internal and external partners, developing governance frameworks, identifying shared priorities and pursuing modernization funding opportunities.
2. Agencywide Technical Project Coordination
Oversee agency-wide modernization initiatives by coordinating across bureaus, aligning technical and policy priorities, reducing redundancy, and ensuring interoperability of systems and workflows. Work with Director and agency staff to develop strategic frameworks that integrate hydrologic tools, data systems, regulatory modernization, and business processes.
3. Hydrologic Tools, GIS, and Analytical Advancement
Coordinate modernization of groundwater models, ET monitoring systems, aquifer datasets, and GIS products to improve technical defensibility, compliance, and planning capacity. This role is intended to coordinate among Technical Services and Water Rights Division to identify tools needed to improve consistency and accessibility while avoiding redundancy and duplication.
4. Organizational Performance Metrics and Process Improvement
Improve productivity metrics, identify process chokepoints, strengthen reporting systems, and support enterprise-level operational modernization. Identify technical resources needed for strategic planning and implementation in Technical Services and across the agency to standardize practices and improve implementation.
5. Enterprise Water Data Systems Modernization
Coordinate strategic planning, roadmap development, and cross-agency communication for WATERS replacement, data architecture modernization, and integration of technical modules by facilitating collaboration among Technical Services, IT, contractors, and agency subject matter experts to ensure water rights administration and regulatory processes are accurately represented and operational needs are effectively incorporated.
6. Regulatory Frameworks, Public Transparency and Training
Coordinate the develop standardized technical guidance, support public-facing technical portals, and improve internal/external training to enhance transparency and consistency.
Who are the customers?
This position will serve as the strategic and technical liaison from Technical Services, across OSE/ISC divisions including WRAP, IT, ISC and external partners. The Technical Services Program will serve to enhance and develop technical capacity to support OSE/ISC as a whole. This position reports to the Technical Services Program Director.
Ideal Candidate
This position will serve as the strategic and technical liaison from Technical Services, across OSE/ISC divisions including WRAP, IT, ISC and external partners. The Technical Services Program will serve to enhance and develop technical capacity to support OSE/ISC as a whole. This position reports to the Technical Services Program Director.
Minimum Qualification
Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture Science, Hydrology, Geology, Environmental Science, Water Resources, Watershed Management, Physics, Natural Science, Physical Science, Life Science, Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Forestry/Forest Science, Conservation Science, Wildlife Science, Emergency Management, or Engineering and six (6) years of relevant experience. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university in a related field and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling ten (10) years may substitute for the required education and experience.
Employment Requirements
This position is required to drive a state vehicle. Must possess and maintain a valid New Mexico Driver's License. Must possess and maintain a current Defensive Driving Course Certificate from the State of New Mexico or must pass and receive Defensive Driving Course Certification within six (6) months of date of hire as a condition of continued employment.
Working Conditions
Work is performed in an office setting with exposure to Visual/Video Display terminal (VDT) and extensive personal
computer and telephone usage. Travel may be required to work at alternate sites, fieldwork will be conducted for extended hours that may consist of work in adverse weather conditions. Field work/travel is required. Some lifting of up to 25 pounds and periods of extended standing or kneeling while working may be required. Some sitting, standing, bending, hiking, climbing and reaching may be required. Driving may be on unpaved and uneven terrain when driving in the field.
Supplemental Information
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Agency Contact Information: Katie Zemlick 505-577-4203 Email
For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.
Bargaining Unit Position
This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
