Water Resources Hydrogeologist

About the Role

The Water Resources Hydrogeologist provides technical water resources and hydrogeologic expertise and supervision in support of all new development project activities. A key responsibility is to identify, evaluate, and secure sustainable surface-water and/or groundwater supplies for new energy development projects—including natural gas generation, clean coal technology with carbon capture (CCUS), and solar—supporting site selection, permitting, and construction. The role also involves project planning, scheduling, and budgeting, and may lead or be part of project teams from design and permitting through construction and ongoing operations. The position directs outside hydrogeologic and engineering consultants and coordinates with in-house and outside water rights counsel.

Health, Safety, and Environment: Must take a personal and active approach to health, safety, and environment and understand and follow all applicable state, federal, and company requirements.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and manage drilling programs to collect hydrogeologic and geologic data, including monitoring, test, and production wells.
• Supervise drilling, aquifer testing, and geophysical logging activities.
• Prepare hydrogeologic conceptual site models to support water supply planning and well field design.
• Perform hydrologic modeling and support the design of wastewater process channels, culverts, ponds, other hydraulic structures, erosion protection, and sediment control.
• Identify, evaluate, and secure sustainable surface-water and groundwater supplies and associated water rights for new energy development projects, including natural gas generation, clean coal technology with carbon capture (CCUS), and solar, working with outside hydrogeologic consultants and water rights counsel as needed.
• Assess water availability and supply risk for proposed power generation sites, including cooling, process, and steam-cycle water needs, as well as makeup and cooling water required for carbon capture (CCUS) systems.
• Identify and evaluate water sources across multiple ownership and jurisdictional categories, including Navajo Nation, state, federal, and third-party (private) water rights.
• Navigate and manage the water permitting process for Navajo Nation, state, federal, and private water rights.
• Support Legal in obtaining water agreements with all applicable governmental and third-party entities.
• Build groundwater and hydrologic models to forecast long-term water yield and reliability under drought and competing-use scenarios.
• Compile and analyze hydrogeologic and geologic data.
• Prepare maps, cross sections, and written reports as required.
• Provide technical assessments on various hydrologic and geologic issues.
• Prepare, obtain, and manage NPDES/discharge permits and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs) across the full project lifecycle, including outfall monitoring, sampling, inspections, reporting, and corrective actions to maintain compliance.
• Travel to development and project sites, as required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Geology, Hydrogeology, Earth Sciences, Water Resources, or Civil or Environmental Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of five years’ relevant experience in water resources, energy, or mining development, or an equivalent combination of education and experience (a Master’s degree in hydrogeology, water resources, or a related field may substitute for up to two years).
• Experience in groundwater and surface-water modeling, including competence with groundwater modeling software such as MODFLOW and surface-water modeling software such as HEC-HMS.
• Proficient in GIS software (ArcGIS or QGIS) for mapping water sources, well and monitoring locations, and land and water rights ownership boundaries.
• Experience evaluating and securing water supplies and water rights for power generation, industrial, mining, or municipal projects, including familiarity with water rights appropriation and permitting in the western United States.
• Working knowledge of NPDES/discharge permitting and SWPPP compliance for construction and operating industrial facilities.
• Excellent communication skills: written, oral, and presentation formats.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to research complex information and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize effectively to meet deadlines.
• Proficient in the Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Valid driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of water requirements for thermal generation (natural gas and clean coal) and carbon capture (CCUS) processes.
• Experience in geologic modeling and use of geologic modeling software.
• Ability to read and interpret civil engineering drawings and construction plans.
• Demonstrated initiative in evaluating existing methods and recommending and implementing more effective technical and process alternatives.
• Experience directing the work of outside consultants and coordinating with legal counsel and agency staff to deliver projects on schedule and to quality standards.

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to talk, hear, and communicate by telephone and in person.
• Frequently sit for extended periods and use hands to operate a computer and other standard office equipment.
• Frequently lift, carry, and/or move up to 15 pounds and occasionally lift, carry, and/or move field, sampling, and monitoring equipment weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Occasionally push or pull up to 50 pounds of force, such as when handling equipment or well covers.
• Frequently use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms, and occasionally grip and operate hand tools and field instruments.
• Field work requires frequent standing and walking, including over uneven, steep, or unimproved terrain and around active drilling and construction sites.
• Occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, and climb stairs or ladders.
• Frequently operate a motor vehicle, at times over unimproved roads and for extended periods, to reach remote project sites.
• Wear personal protective equipment including a hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection, and steel-toed boots.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Working Environment

Work is performed in both a professional office environment and at project sites. The role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and photocopiers. Site work includes working outdoors in all weather conditions, in plant and shop environments, and in the cab of equipment or a vehicle.