NW Region Well Inspector (Natural Resource Specialist 2)

Initial posting date: 08/11/2026   Application deadline: 08/24/2026

About the Oregon Water Resources Department

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 historic injustices and are committed to increasing awareness 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.

Vision: To assure sufficient and sustainable water supplies are available to meet current and future needs.

Mission: To serve the public by practicing and promoting responsible water management through two key goals:

• Directly address Oregon's water supply needs
• Restore and protect streamflows and watersheds 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.

Strategic Priorities:

• Modernize management of Oregon’s surface water and groundwater resources to meet instream and out-of-stream uses
• 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 to address these challenges, staying closely aligned with the department’s mission and vision.

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
• Tackle 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 colleagues, and who welcome new ideas
• Collect data that will be used to help create policy, improve laws and statutes, and assist in guiding OWRD as it manages this crucial resource for future generations

About the Role

The Well Inspector performs complex well inspections on water supply wells, monitoring wells, and geotechnical holes. This position reads, comprehends, and enforces complicated statutes and rules regarding the construction, maintenance, conversion, and abandonment of wells, including drinking water wells, irrigation wells, and monitoring wells.

Responsibilities include:

• Following up on complaints and documenting daily work activities
• Achieving voluntary compliance from licensed well-constructors, landowners constructing their own wells, municipalities, and businesses
• Conducting investigations, documenting violations, assembling case files, and making recommendations for formal enforcement action to protect the groundwater resource from contamination, loss of artesian pressure, and waste
• Providing professional guidance and training to Watermaster staff and others in conducting thorough well inspections and documenting evidence
• Performing on-site investigations, technical Well Report reviews, continuing education training, and verifying information submitted by licensed well constructors, landowners, and consultants

This position promotes customer service and harmonious working relationships, including treating all persons courteously and respectfully, engaging in effective team participation, and contributing to a positive, respectful, and productive work environment.

Responsibilities

• Read, comprehend, and enforce statutes and rules regarding well construction, maintenance, conversion, and abandonment
• Follow up on complaints and document daily work activities
• Achieve voluntary compliance from licensed well-constructors, landowners, municipalities, and businesses
• Conduct investigations, document violations, assemble case files, and recommend enforcement actions
• Provide guidance and training to Watermaster staff and others on well inspections and evidence documentation
• Perform on-site investigations, technical Well Report reviews, and continuing education training
• Verify information submitted by licensed well constructors, landowners, and consultants
• Promote a workplace culture that understands and appreciates differences among people and improves services through inclusivity

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

• Two years of experience related to natural resource management, and a Bachelor's degree in Hydrology, Geology, Civil Engineering, or another natural resource area; OR
• One year of experience in Hydrology, Geology, Civil Engineering, or another natural resource area, and a Master’s degree in Hydrology, Geology, Civil Engineering, or another natural resource area

Pertinent Experience Must Include:

• Gathering and analyzing natural resource data and/or coordinating monitoring efforts for a natural resource program
• Providing technical assistance to the public in a natural resource program, explaining laws, rules, and regulations, and helping the public navigate and comply with agency procedures

Skills

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 overseeing natural resource projects or contractors, including prioritizing timelines, deadlines, and deliverables
• Knowledge of well drilling or well construction
• Experience in 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 guidance
• Strong ability to build interpersonal relationships and manage conflicts
• Desire to broaden learning and seek professional development, as well as accepting direction from colleagues and supervisors

We are most interested in finding the most qualified candidate for the job. Paid and unpaid experience may count toward preferred qualifications. If you are excited about this position, we encourage you to apply.

Working Conditions

• Overnight travel may be required to address workload and complaints in remote parts of the region or state
• Eligible for hybrid/remote work on a schedule agreed upon by the manager and employee
• Frequent office work
• Occasional lifting up to 75 lbs
• Occasional contact with hostile or angry people
• Field work in possible inclement weather, including below freezing conditions, for up to several months annually
• 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

Work locations (choose one):

• North Mall Office Building, 725 Summer St. NE Suite A, Salem, Oregon 97301
• 1400 SW Walnut Street, Suite 240, Hillsboro, Oregon 97123

Benefits

• PEBB Insurance with exceptional medical, vision, and dental plans (employees pay 1 to 5% of the total premium)
• Leave accrual starting at 8 hours of sick and 8 hours of vacation leave per month, with vacation accruals increasing every 5 years
• Four days of discretionary leave: 3 days of personal business leave and 1 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 (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)
• Opportunity to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (must qualify)

Pay

Monthly salary range before PERS: $4,738–$7,247

Monthly salary range after PERS: $5,067–$7,751

Schedule

Permanent, full-time position. Primarily onsite with some hybrid/remote work options. Non-exempt (eligible for overtime in the form of compensatory time with manager pre-approval).