Water Conservation Specialist I (Term Limited) - City of Greeley

Salary Range:       $25.35 - $34.47 Hourly

Job Summary:

*This position is a full-time, term-limited position funded for approximately 2 years from the date of hire, with the possibility of becoming permanent if additional funding is approved at a later date.  This position is benefit eligible.

Situated on the semiarid plains along Colorado's Front Range, the City of Greeley stands as a statewide pioneer in water conservation. Since its inception, Greeley has maintained a robust water conservation ethic with residents actively supporting the cause. Today, the City's Water Conservation Program stands at the forefront, effectively reducing water usage through proactive education, incentive programs, and innovative initiatives.

Greeley is seeking a talented Water Conservation Specialist I to serve in a two-year term-limited position. This position is full-time, benefit eligible, funded for approximately two years from the date of hire or the duration of the project, with the possibility of extension if additional funding is approved at a later date.  The Water Conservation Specialist I will report to the Water Conservation Manager in the Water & Sewer Treatment and Supply Division. The ideal candidate selected for this position is a passionate water conservation professional who aids the City’s priority goal of promoting wise water use. The successful candidate will be responsible for conducting irrigation and indoor water use assessments, recommending water conservation techniques and fixtures to Greeley Water customers, providing water conservation incentives that support the Water Conservation Teams’ objectives and goals, and assisting with community and customer engagement.  Working in local public service offers a unique opportunity to provide environmental water justice and directly impact the lives of the citizens in the community.

Experience, Knowledge, Skills:

Minimum Requirements

• Technical degree or higher related to industrial technologies, landscape management, or applied sciences.
• Two (2) years of documented experience in customer service.
• One (1) year of experience in the water industry conducting facility water assessments or outdoor irrigation audits, implementing public programs in water or environmental conservation, life sciences, or water resources.
• Ability to obtain a Certified Landscaped Irrigation Auditor (CLIA) and Certified Irrigation Technician (CIT) certifications within the first year of the hire.
• Valid driver’s license.
• A combination of related education, experience, certifications, and licenses that will result in a candidate successfully performing the essential functions of the job may be considered by the hiring authority.

Preferred

• Bilingual in Spanish.
• Industry certifications such as Sustainable Landscape Manager (SLM), Watershed Wise Landscape Professional (WWLP), Cross Connection Control technician certification, Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) or similar is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge of irrigation systems, methods, and best practices.
• Comprehensive knowledge and skill to implement water use (assessment) auditing methods and reporting.
• Knowledge of the business and organizational structure of Colorado municipalities. 
• Collaboration skills, including the ability to work with others from different areas and backgrounds to reach a common goal.
• Customer service skills, including the ability to actively listen, address customer needs, defuse tense situations, and maintain an open, flexible, and friendly demeanor.
• Ability to deliver a high level of commitment to customer service.
• Computer skills, including the ability to utilize Microsoft Office programs (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.) and the ability to learn new software and systems.
• Ability to develop and maintain water use reports, conservation and educational performance records, and water use files and databases.
• Interpersonal skills, including the ability to facilitate interaction, communication, and teamwork between others.
• Oral, written, and listening communication skills, including the ability to accurately interpret what others are saying and convey messages, information, concepts, and details accurately and clearly.
• Organizational skills, including the ability to set and meet goals and deadlines, manage appointments, create schedules, coordinate, and facilitate meetings, and make decisions.  
• Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple concurrent and competing tasks and responsibilities, and adapt to changing priorities while maintaining personal effectiveness.
• Ability to prioritize work, meet deadlines, and stay on task when completing special projects and daily assignments.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and reliable professional judgment, as well as collaboratively with a team to achieve desired results.
• Ability to maintain a strong work ethic, positive problem-solving attitude, and enthusiasm for the work performed.
• Ability to self-start and take initiative in completing daily tasks and longer-term special projects.
• Ability to focus on activities that have the greatest impact on meeting work commitments.
• Ability to establish and maintain partnerships with a variety of internal and external constituencies.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and ages
• Ability to navigate a complex political environment.
• Ability to work in a safe manner and reports unsafe activity and conditions.
• Ability to develop and maintain water use reports, conservation and educational performance records, and water use files and databases.

Essential Functions:

• Conducts indoor and outdoor residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and multifamily water assessments while developing incentivizes for customers to install high-efficiency equipment and fixtures to maximize water use efficiency.
• Assists in the development, implementation, and maintenance of rebate programs.
• Generates and distributes water assessment reports.
• Provides customers with technical support related to water conservation.
• Reviews irrigation and landscape plans on new commercial development.
• Performs irrigation audits and inspections on new commercial systems to assure certain performance levels prior to issuance of the certification of occupancy.
• Maintains the irrigation systems at City facilities and Water Conservation Demonstration Gardens.
• Uses advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) to assist customers with their water uses, portal registration, and assists with leak detection and correction.
• Provides public information on the City’s water conservation and efficiency programs.
• Makes public presentations to promote water conservation programs.
• Interprets and explains Federal, State, and Local rules and regulations to the public.
• Provides technical support for landscape and irrigation retrofits.
• Provides general physical labor to aid Water Conservation programs, events, and gardens.
• Assists and participates in public outreach and education.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:  May direct and supervise projects and work of seasonal water conservation staff.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements:

Work Environment

• Work location is a combination of office and field, sometimes in formal settings
  • April-October in the field 95% of the time traveling to different locations on a daily basis. During off-irrigation season (November-March) this position is in the office.
• Office work involves sitting/standing while talking on the telephone, working on the computer, reviewing, or checking reports or data at a table. 
• Field work requires abilities to stand, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, climb ladders, use handheld tools, and measuring water and water attributes.
• Employee is regularly exposed to outdoor work in various weather conditions.
• Occasional confrontation with public/participants for enforcement of building rules.
• Frequently exposed to wet and the/or humid conditions and moving mechanical parts.
• Exposure to dirt, dust, fumes, chemicals, electrical and plumbing materials, extreme weather conditions, and noise levels.
• Safety equipment such as hardhat, reflective safety vest, steel toe boots, and safety glasses to be used as needed.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and in a group.
• May occasionally work alone and/or evenings or early morning.

Physical Requirements

• Communication skills to adequately convey information to contractors, property owners, managers, other personnel, and the general public, in writing and on phone.
• Vision enough to read computer screens and written documents to assist the public and complete work assignments.
• Manual dexterity enough to accurately input, retrieve and verify work assignments and to operate hand and power tools, move objects.
• Duties may occasionally require moderate to heavy physical effort that includes stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling; frequent standing or walking; frequently lifting and/or moving up to 25 pounds and occasionally lifting and/or moving up to 50 pounds; maintaining arms and hands in the same position for repetitive tasks and frequently working with light objects and light hand tools.
• Ability to move over rough, uneven, and rocky surfaces.

EOE Statement: The City of Greeley provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

ADA Statement: We are committed to an inclusive and barrier-free search process. We provide accommodations for applicants requesting accommodation through the search process such as alternative formats of this posting.  Individuals with disabilities in need of accommodations throughout the search process should contact the ADA Coordinator at: HR@Greeleygov.com .

Conditions of Employment: Candidates must successfully complete all pre-employment screenings and employment eligibility verification. Pre-employment screenings include a drug test, a background and national sex offender search, a motor vehicle record search, and for some positions, a physical demands evaluation. For more information about City policies and practices during the recruitment process, including but not limited to EOE, Reasonable Accommodation, and pre-employment screenings, please visit our career page HERE.