WEST Consultants, Inc., a premier firm in water resources engineering, is seeking driven and ambitious applicants for a Watershed Staff Engineer position in our Red Rock, Arizona, office.

Why WEST?

For over 36 years, WEST has built a superior reputation for delivering top-quality water resources services to government and private sector clients. We provide a dynamic work environment where our team members are recognized as experts in hydrology, hydraulics, geomorphology, sediment transport, and water quality modeling. Known for developing innovative modeling tools and handling complex projects, WEST also offers professional training courses and specialized services, including hydro-meteorological sciences, flow measurement, hydrologic data collection, irrigation and drainage engineering, and land management.

At WEST, our growth is driven by a passion for helping achieve sustainable solutions to complex water issues, balancing the needs of the users with those of the environment. Joining our team means becoming part of a culture that values collaboration, camaraderie, and continuous learning. At the heart of our philosophy lies a commitment to our clients, ensuring their needs are not just met but exceeded at every turn.

Position Overview:

The successful candidate will apply knowledge of holistic land management and scientific and engineering principles to rehabilitate and restore degraded land resources experiencing desertification problems such as dust storms, wildfires, proliferation of invasive species, soil loss and erosion, and flooding. The selected candidate will be an advocate for holistic land management and green infrastructure practices, demonstrating how planned grazing, land planning, ecological monitoring, and other regenerative practices can restore our communities, land, and watersheds. Soil health is the core of the work in both urban and rural contexts.

This job requires a self-directed and analytical individual to design and direct holistic land management practices at project sites. The ideal candidate will perform quality control and quality assurance at different project stages. They must also have the flexibility and critical thinking necessary to meet the high standard of care to achieve effective land rehabilitation results and to inform course-correcting decisions to re-plan and adjust management practices as appropriate.

Qualifications:

Candidates should possess the following qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree or higher in the field of engineering is required.
• PE or EIT or active pursuit preferred.
• Accreditation in land management and/or permaculture design.

Additional Desired Qualifications

• Soil health training and/or experience.
• Envision Sustainability Professional and/or Certified Floodplain Management accreditation.
• QGIS and CAD proficiency

Core Responsibilities:

This position is anticipated to be about 80% engineering work and 20% field work to implement determined designs, plans, and other holistic land management methods. Core duties and responsibilities may include:

Performing design work for:

• Land planning (sizing paddocks, designing water infrastructure, power considerations, etc.).
• Grazing plans.
• Hydraulic structures.
• Systems for scour countermeasures and streambank erosion protection.
• Green infrastructure.

Implementing and overseeing implementation of designs and plans of holistic land management and green infrastructure methods being developed on demonstration site(s), including managing trials and QA/QC of lab work.

• Managing the demonstration site(s) to provide visitors/clients with an optimal experience, managing transactions of agricultural products, etc.
• Developing, calibrating, and validating hydrologic and hydraulic numerical models.
• Using CAD and GIS tools to pre- and post-process data.
• Organizing, manipulating, and evaluating data using spreadsheets or other engineering software.
• Delineating floodplains and creating flood hazard maps.
• Assisting with ecological monitoring and collecting data such as rain and stream gage, water quality, groundwater elevation readings, and infiltration testing.
• Assisting with financial planning.
• Providing in-field services to support the implementation of holistic land management and green infrastructure designs and plans, which may include, but are not limited to, the installation of permanent fencing systems, assembling and moving mobile fencing systems, constructing animal handling facilities, installing and maintaining watering points for livestock, using tools of the trade to complete certain tasks, operating farm equipment, installation and monitoring of certain gauges or meters to inform planned grazing decisions, site reconnaissance to inspect project conditions, construction observation, and vegetation maintenance.
• Preparing technical reports, memoranda, and manuals.
• Working closely with internal project teams, clients, and other stakeholders on specific assignments or for other meetings.
• Expanding engineering and land management skills, both technical and non-technical, from continuous learning.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skill Requirements:

• Ability to work independently, manage time, and work in a team.
• Ability to work on multiple assignments simultaneously, with strong organizational, communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Interest in working with animals or agricultural practices.
• Practical decision-making, adaptability, trainability, and investment in regenerative agriculture.
• Physical capacity to perform functions of lifting/pushing/pulling/moving of heavy objects, agility and responsiveness to make quick, precise adjustments to environment or machinery controls, and stamina to be physically active for long periods of time in working conditions described below.

Schedule and Working Conditions:

• Work schedule: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday–Friday; nights/weekends may be necessary.
• Working outdoors in temperatures that range from 32–110 °F, depending on the season.
• Noise conditions: Normal to Low.
• Working with livestock and standard farm equipment/machinery is required.
• Travel is required.

Rewarding Work Culture:

WEST offers a dynamic work environment with meaningful work in a team-based culture, providing competitive pay and comprehensive benefits that empower our employees and their families to achieve their financial, health, and security goals.

• Market-priced compensation that values qualifications and performance.
• Share in the firm’s success with cash bonuses.
• Fast benefits eligibility.
• Flexible work with remote, hybrid, and in-office options.
• Training and education assistance to support career goals.

https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4150378243/

Josefine Fleetwood (She/Her), Employer Relations Manager

Oregon State University | College of Engineering  

School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering

School of Nuclear Science and Engineering

Department of Biological and Ecological Engineering

116 Johnson Hall  - Room 112

541-737-7286

Josefine.fleetwood@oregonstate.edu