Water Quality Program Manager

Are you a water quality expert with knowledge of the challenges and opportunities of agricultural water resource management and natural resource compliance and enforcement? Are you a skilled collaborator with experience engaging industry organizations and delivering technical presentations to both technical and nontechnical audiences? If so, consider joining the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Water Quality Program as our Water Quality Program Manager (Business Operations Manager 1). Oregon Department of Agriculture – Who we are: At the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), employees work with a dynamic and supportive team of mission-focused individuals tasked with ensuring healthy natural resources, environment, and economy for Oregonians now and in the future through inspection and certification, regulation, and promotion of agriculture and food. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are embedded in the Department of Agriculture core values. Employees at all levels of the agency work together to foster fairness, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The department strives to be a model employer committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Learn more about what we do here. The program is responsible for working with farmers and ranchers in Oregon to prevent and control water pollution from agricultural activities.  The program works closely with Soil and Water Conservation Districts and other partners to conduct its work.  The program's responsibilities include compliance with rules establishing required conditions on agricultural lands to protect water quality, evaluating agricultural lands for compliance with required conditions, conducting onsite inspections to evaluate agricultural lands for compliance, and when necessary, using a progressive approach to achieve compliance.  The program is outcome-based and strives to provide farmers and ranchers with flexible options to comply with required outcomes and achieve the state's water quality goals.  

Job Overview

Job Description:

What you’ll be doing:

The Water Quality Program Manager (Business Operations Manager1) position supports the implementation of Agricultural Water Quality Program and its multiple components to include; agriculture water quality management area plans and rules, ensuring compliance with state statues and rules, agriculture channel maintenance program, soil and water conservation district support,  develop and execute strategic initiatives, and overall management of a multifaceted program.

This position is responsible for:

• Development and implementation of program policies, procedures, and priorities consistent with department mission, statutory authority, policies, and procedures.
• Providing input for department-wide strategic planning to develop goals, objectives, policies, and priorities.
• Developing goals, objectives, policies, and priorities pertaining to the program to regulate pesticide products and fertilizer products, including gathering and analysis of information on the short- and long-term impacts of proposed policies on program customers, division staff, the department, and the public.
• Prepare budgets and administers budgetary controls, evaluate, resource needs to achieve program and department goals and objectives.
• Click here to view the full position description.
• Working Conditions: Occasionally required to conduct public meetings dealing with controversial issues, and to testify in Legislative or administrative hearings. Evening meetings and long hours required on occasion to meet specific program needs. May require extensive overnight domestic travel.

What are we looking for?

To Qualify for the Position, You Need:

• 6 years of supervision, management, or progressively related experience or 3 years of related experience and a Bachelor’s degree.
• A valid driver’s license and an acceptable driving record.

Requested Skills (Desired attributes):

You do not need to have all of the skills below to be eligible for this position. Please let us know which of these skills you do have by demonstrating them in your application.

• Experience working with diverse groups and communities; skill and experience in communication and outreach to underrepresented communities; ability to build partnerships across diverse community and stakeholder groups and interests.
• Experience managing a department with natural resources responsibilities, including program and strategic planning; knowledge of the federal and state laws governing water quality and natural resources management; familiarity with regulatory programs involving permitting and compliance.
• Experience building and supporting high-performing, collaborative teams that appreciate and encourage diverse thinking; proven experience fostering teamwork among subordinates; experience coaching, mentoring, and motivating subordinates.
• Experience in strategic planning, plan implementation, succession planning, outcomes-based management, project management, and change management, champions process improvement.
• Demonstrated skill in advising executives and other decision-makers; political awareness; excellent verbal and written communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.; ability to communicate clearly and effectively in stressful situations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead both technical and program development teams using data collection and analysis, goal setting, measure design, and report development to address statewide environmental challenges and opportunities.
• Bilingual (Spanish preferred) is a bonus.

How to apply:

Required: Attach a cover letter and a resume to your application. Demonstrate how you meet the qualifications and requested skills in your application. Applications without both requested documents attached will not move forward in the recruitment process.

• Your cover letter may be addressed to the hiring manager Isaak Stapleton. Here are some tips for your application/cover letter. Consider addressing the relevant experience you have that highlight the requested skills.

• Upon submitting your application, please be sure to check your account for pending questions and tasks such as declaring Veterans’ Points and attaching supporting.

• Current state employees – please apply through your employee Workday account.

What’s in it for you?

The opportunity to work in a productive and creative environment where no two days are ever the same! We offer a competitive benefits package including comprehensive medical, vision, and dental benefits for employees and their qualified family members, as well as paid sick leave, vacation leave, personal leave, and, 11 paid holidays a year. In addition, we offer membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), deferred compensation, and the opportunity to potentially receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).

Additional Information:

• Please ensure you’ve provided a thorough and updated application as it pertains to the position for which you are applying. The required application materials submitted at time of application will be used to determine salary based on a pay equity assessment. For further information, please visit the Pay Equity Project homepage.
• This position is Management Services – Supervisory position.
• This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies.
• The salary listed is the non-PERS qualifying salary range. If the successful candidate is PERS qualifying, the salary range will reflect the additional 6.95%. Please review the Classification and Compensation page for more details, or you may visit our website for information on Pay Equity.
• United States Employment Eligibility: The Oregon Department of Agriculture does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, all applicants will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States. The Oregon Employment Department is an E-Verify employer. If you are the successful candidate, you must present your I-9 acceptable documents (See page 3) for employment verification.

Questions/Need Help?

If you have questions about the recruitment or need an alternate format to apply, please contact Kristin Lamb at [email protected] or call 503-986-4585.