Water Utility Trainer and Specialist - req# 30975

***THE BEST CONSIDERATION DATE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 10.14.2024***

The Southwest Environmental Finance Center (Southwest EFC), within UNM’s Center for Water and the Environment, is searching for a Water Utility Trainer and Specialist to join our team to primarily provide training but also technical assistance to small water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities in EPA Region 6. Ideal candidates will be comfortable working with a variety of audiences and will have previous experience working with or for water utilities as well as developing and providing training and/or technical assistance on topics related to the operation and maintenance of water utilities and/or the Safe Drinking Water Act and/or the Clean Water Act. This position is project specific, and grant funded, but could extend beyond existing projects if future funding becomes available. While this position may work a hybrid schedule at times, note that this is not designated as a remote work position, and it is anticipated that the successful applicant will live in Albuquerque or the surrounding area to accommodate working in the office on UNM’s main campus.

The Southwest EFC was created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992. We provide solutions to environmental problems via training and technical assistance delivery on a variety of topics associated with drinking water, wastewater, storm water, air quality, and other environmental topics. Our clients include tribal, local, state, federal, and corporate institutions around the country including the U.S. territories. We strive to work with the entities we serve rather than for the entities we serve.

This position with the University of New Mexico offers competitive benefits including leave (annual, sick, family & medical leave, etc.); health benefits (medical, dental, vision, and prescription drugs); educational benefits (tuition-remission); life, short and long-term disability, and AD&D insurance; retirement plans, etc.

Albuquerque, the largest city in New Mexico, is located along the Rio Grande, adjacent to the Sandia Mountains. A high desert city, the climate is mild most of the year, enabling a full range of outdoor activities year-round. Albuquerque is an inclusive, diverse city with a fabulous climate, low-cost lifestyle, and excellent outdoor recreation.

Position Duties:

• Deliver training (in-person and virtually) on managerial, financial, and technical topics for water, wastewater, and/or stormwater utilities. Training materials may come from the pre-developed EFC training portfolio, be created in consultation with other SW EFC staff or be created by the chosen candidate depending on the expertise of the chosen candidate. The candidate may train in conjunction with SW EFC staff initially and for a specified period of time depending on the skill level and comfort of the chosen candidate.
• Provide technical assistance to water, wastewater, and/or stormwater utilities on managerial, financial, and technical challenges. The assistance may be in-person, completely remote, or a combination thereof and the successful applicant will be comfortable in any of these settings. The successful candidate should also be comfortable working in diverse communities, including remote, rural, small, EJ, and tribal.
• Use independent judgement to design, organize, and execute a variety of tasks including data analysis and organization, project management, and quality control.
• Develop, review, and edit progress reports and client deliverable reports.
• Collaborate with diverse entities (including but not limited to utilities, universities, community groups, environmental groups, and tribal, local, state, and federal agencies) on a wide range of environmental topics.
• Ability to travel throughout New Mexico and other EPA Region 6 states or nationally (up to 25%).

See the Position Description for additional information.

• May require discipline-specific licensure and/or professional certification, as specified by the department in the preferences.
• Employees who provide services or work in patient care or clinical areas are required to be in compliance with the University's influenza vaccination requirement.

Bachelor's degree; at least 3 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.

Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

• Knowledge and/or experience with water supply, treatment, storage, and distribution systems.
• Knowledge and/or experience with wastewater collection, treatment and NPDES permitting.
• Familiarity with the Safe Drinking Water Act and/or Clean Water Act.
• Creation and delivery of technical training to a wide range of audiences.
• Highly organized and ability to work independently.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Comfortable with public speaking or willingness to become comfortable.
• Ability to work with limited supervision after an initial training period.
• Willing to be part of a team and work collaboratively with various staff from the SW EFC, the university, the SW EFC collaborators, community members, and water/wastewater system personnel.

Only applications submitted throughthe official UNMJobs site will be accepted. If you are viewing this jobadvertisement on a 3rd party site, pleasevisit UNMJobs to submit an application.

Positions posted with a Staff Type of Regular or Term are eligible for the Veteran Preference Program. See the Veteran Preference Program webpage for additional details.

The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.

The University of New Mexico requires all regular staff positions successfully pass a pre-employment background check. This may include, but is not limited to, a criminal history background check, New Mexico Department of Health fingerprint screening, New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department fingerprint screening, verification of education credentials, and/or verification of prior employment. For more information about background checks, visit https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3280.html. Refer to https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3200.html for a definition of Regular Staff.