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POSITION TITLE:                              Umatilla Basin Hydrologist 

 

SALARY:                                             Pay Range: 10 - 11 

                                                            $70,129.60 to $91,536.36 annual

                                                            DOE/DOQ

                                                                        

DEPARTMENT:                                   Natural Resources, Water Resources Program

 

LOCATION:                                         Position located at Nixyáawii Governance Center, Mission, Oregon, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

 

EMPLOYMENT STATUS:                    Full Time with benefits package

                                                            Exempt Status

 

SUPERVISED BY:                                Water Resources Program Manager

 

OPENING DATE:                               August 18, 2026

 

CLOSING DATE:                                Open Until Filled; First Review to Be Held September 30, 2026

 

CTUIR MISSION STATEMENT 

 

Exercise the Tribe’s sovereign authority to achieve the maximum protection of resources identified in the Treaty of 1855, to protect newly acquired lands wherein the Tribe has a vested interest, to protect the lands of all the citizens and residents of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. This position will protect human life, water, land, air, and wildlife by exercising professional skills and abilities in the protection of the resources of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. 

 

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES MISSION STATEMENT 

 

To protect, restore, and enhance the First Foods - water, salmon, deer, cous, and huckleberry - for the perpetual cultural, economic, and sovereign benefit of the CTUIR.  We will accomplish this utilizing traditional ecological and cultural knowledge and science to inform: 1) population and habitat management goals and actions; and 2) natural resource policies and regulatory mechanisms.

 

WATER RESOURCES PROGRAM MISSION

 

To ensure that ground and surface waters are available to satisfy CTUIR treaty rights, the needs of CTUIR members, and the citizens of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. The Water Resources Program implements CTUIR Water Code procedures and regulations to promote sustainable water use and management.

 

 

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES

The Umatilla Basin Hydrologist supports the CTUIR Water Resources Program in understanding, protecting, and managing groundwater and surface-water resources on the Umatilla Indian Reservation and throughout the Umatilla Basin. The position collects, organizes, analyzes, maps, models, and communicates hydrologic information used for water planning, Tribal Water Code implementation, drought preparedness, climate adaptation, water-right protection, and protection of First Foods.

A major initial focus of the position will be advancing the Upper Umatilla Basin groundwater-flow modeling effort from the completed hydrogeologic framework and conceptual groundwater model toward development, calibration, and application of a numerical groundwater-flow model. Under the direction of the Water Resources Program Manager, the Hydrologist will help develop the funding, technical partnerships, scopes of work, and project approach needed to support the modeling effort. The Hydrologist will organize and update model-input datasets; coordinate with consultants, universities, agencies, and other technical partners; contribute to or lead preparation of grant proposals and funding requests; support construction and evaluation of the numerical model; document assumptions, limitations, and uncertainty; and apply model results to priority water-management questions.

The position also supports streamflow and groundwater monitoring, watershed assessments, data management, grant development, technical reporting, and interdisciplinary projects involving water quality, fisheries, habitat, forestry, climate, drought, and post-fire watershed response. The position is intended to provide an opportunity for an early-career hydrologist or recent graduate with strong quantitative and technical-writing skills to expand groundwater-modeling experience while progressively assuming responsibility for model development, project coordination, and proposal development.

To achieve organizational goals for the benefit of the CTUIR community, the Hydrologist works closely with CTUIR policy makers, the Tribal Water Commission, other DNR Programs and Tribal departments, universities, consultants, federal and state agencies, other tribes, and non-governmental partners.

 

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Groundwater and Hydrologic Analysis

  1. Conducts and supports groundwater and surface-water investigations to improve understanding of hydrologic systems and support CTUIR water-resource management, planning, and decision-making.
  2. Compiles, quality-controls, manages, and evaluates hydrologic, hydrogeologic, spatial, and other environmental data; identifies data limitations and recommends additional monitoring, analysis, or investigation as needed.
  3. Supports the development, refinement, and application of conceptual, analytical, and numerical hydrologic models and other technical tools used to evaluate groundwater conditions, water budgets, groundwater-surface-water interactions, water availability, and potential effects of water-management actions.
  4. Works with CTUIR staff, consultants, universities, agencies, and other partners to develop technical approaches, scopes of work, funding strategies, and collaborative investigations related to groundwater and surface-water resources.
  5. Develops and evaluates hydrologic analyses and management scenarios and prepares maps, technical memoranda, reports, presentations, and other documentation describing methods, assumptions, limitations, results, and implications for CTUIR water-resource priorities.

 

Hydrologic Monitoring, Analysis, and Data Management

  1. Assists with the design, operation, evaluation, and improvement of groundwater-level, streamflow, and related hydrologic monitoring networks, including field data collection and equipment installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and documentation.
  2. Processes, quality-controls, analyzes, and summarizes hydrologic and environmental data using GIS, statistical, time-series, water-budget, and watershed-analysis methods.
  3. Develops and maintains data-quality objectives, QA/QC procedures, data-management protocols, geodatabases, metadata, and technical documentation to ensure data are accurate, defensible, accessible, and usable over time.
  4. Coordinates with the Water Quality Coordinator and other DNR staff on interdisciplinary analyses involving groundwater, streamflow, water quality, aquatic habitat, climate, watershed condition, and related resource-management questions.

 

Grant and Project Development

  1. Leads or coordinates preparation of grant proposals and other funding requests for groundwater, surface-water, monitoring, modeling, drought, climate, and watershed projects.
  2. Develop project concepts, technical narratives, methods, scopes of work, schedules, deliverables, partnership roles, supporting analyses, and budget information in coordination with the Water Resources Program Manager and other CTUIR staff.
  3. Identifies potential funding opportunities, coordinates contributions from internal and external partners, incorporates reviewer and partner feedback, and assists with grant work plans, progress reports, contract deliverables, project tracking, and budget reconciliation.

 

Program, Policy, and Collaborative Support

  1. Provides hydrologic analysis and technical support for Tribal Water Code implementation, water-management planning, drought preparedness, climate adaptation, water-right protection, post-fire response, First Foods, and other Water Resources Program priorities.
  2. Prepares and presents technical information and recommendations for the Water Resources Program Manager, Tribal Water Commission, DNR leadership, Tribal forums, community members, technical audiences, and partner organizations.
  3. Collaborates with CTUIR Programs and Departments, federal and state agencies, other tribes, universities, consultants, local governments, and non-governmental organizations on water-resource investigations, planning, and management.
  4. Contributes technical information to work plans, budgets, grant reports, Commission and Committee updates, intergovernmental correspondence, and other Water Resources Program products.
  5. Maintains and expands professional knowledge of hydrology, hydrogeology, groundwater modeling, data analysis, and water-resource management through training, professional development, and participation in relevant professional forums.
  6. Performs other related duties as assigned by the Water Resources Program Manager.

 

SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY:

None at time of hire. The position may provide technical direction to interns, technicians, contractors, or project partners and may assume limited supervisory responsibility as experience, project needs, and funding allow.

SIGNATORY AUTHORITY:

None, except as specifically delegated in writing by the Water Resources Program Manager or DNR Director.

ACCESS TO SENSITIVE AREAS:

May have access to confidential or sensitive natural-resource, water-use, cultural-resource, legal, personnel, or project information when required for the proper performance of assigned duties. The employee must follow all applicable CTUIR confidentiality, records-management, data-security, and information-sharing requirements.

REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: (It is the responsibility of the applicant to demonstrate in writing that they meet the following minimum qualifications.)

1.    Bachelor's degree in hydrology, hydrogeology, geology, water-resources engineering, environmental science, or a closely related field. A master's degree in a related field is preferred.

2.    Relevant graduate research, thesis or capstone work, internships, fieldwork, or substantial academic projects may be counted as qualifying experience. No post-degree professional experience is required for applicants with a relevant master's degree.

3.    Foundational knowledge of hydrology, hydrogeology, groundwater-surface-water interactions, watershed processes, or water-resource science.

4.    Demonstrated experience managing, analyzing, or interpreting environmental or water-resource data through employment, coursework, research, internships, assistantships, or similar experience.

5.    Experience using GIS software to prepare maps, manage spatial data, or conduct geospatial analysis.

6.    Demonstrated technical writing and organizational ability. Must be able to prepare clear technical documents, organize complex information, meet deadlines, and incorporate review comments.

7.    Ability to lead or progressively assume leadership in preparing grant proposals, research proposals, scopes of work, work plans, project schedules, and related funding materials. Prior professional grant-writing experience is preferred but is not required when the applicant demonstrates comparable skills through graduate or academic work.

8.    Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with technical and nontechnical audiences and to work respectfully and collaboratively with people from diverse professional, cultural, and community backgrounds.

9.    Ability to carry out assigned projects efficiently, manage multiple priorities, work independently with appropriate guidance, and seek assistance when needed.

10.  Ability and willingness to conduct fieldwork near streams, wells, and monitoring equipment and to work outdoors in variable weather and terrain.

11.  Must be able to learn CTUIR governmental structures, the Water Resources Program mission, Tribal Water Code responsibilities, Treaty Rights, First Foods, and applicable organizational policies and procedures.

12.  Must have working knowledge of standard office software, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, and the ability to learn additional technical software and data systems.

13.  Must have a valid state driver's license, reliable transportation, and meet Tribal insurance requirements.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

1.    Graduate coursework or research in groundwater hydrology, hydrogeology, groundwater modeling, groundwater-surface-water interaction, water-resources engineering, or related discipline.

2.    Experience with MODFLOW or another numerical groundwater-modeling platform through coursework, graduate research, an internship, or professional employment.

3.    Experience constructing or evaluating one or more components of a numerical groundwater model, such as model grids, hydrogeologic layers, boundary conditions, recharge, pumping, stream-aquifer interaction, calibration targets, parameter estimation, sensitivity analysis, uncertainty analysis, or scenario simulations.

4.    Experience using Python, R, MATLAB or similar software for data processing, model construction, calibration, automation, visualization, or reproducible workflows.

5.    Experience with ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, geodatabases, or spatial analysis of hydrogeologic and water-resource information.

6.    Experience analyzing groundwater levels, well logs, aquifer tests, pumping records, streamflow, baseflow, recharge, climate, or other environmental datasets.

7.    Experience developing grant proposals, research proposals, scopes of work, project budgets, or funding applications through employment, graduate research, internships, assistantships, or academic projects.

8.    Experience preparing technical reports, theses, model documentation, journal manuscripts, posters, presentations, or other products that communicate scientific methods and results.

9.    Knowledge of Columbia River Basalt Group aquifer systems, structurally controlled groundwater flow, semiarid watersheds, agricultural water use, drought, climate impacts, or post-fire hydrology. Experience working with Tribal governments, rural communities, natural-resource agencies, universities, consultants, or interdisciplinary teams is also preferred.

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

1.    Ability to perform extended computer and office work, including data analysis, technical writing, and participation in virtual and in-person meetings.

2.    Ability to travel by automobile and airplane for fieldwork, meetings, conferences, seminars, and training.

3.    Ability to walk, stand, bend, and work near or in streams, around wells, and on uneven, steep, wet, muddy, icy, or slippery terrain.

4.    Ability to work outdoors during hot, cold, windy, smoky, rainy, or otherwise inclement conditions when appropriate safety requirements can be met.

5.    Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds of field or monitoring equipment, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Pursuant to Tribal Worker’s Benefit Code, Section 4.02.A., all workers shall disclose any pre-existing physical or mental disorder and/or disability that could potentially affect or impair the worker’s ability to perform in a reasonable and safe manner the activities involved in the position in which they work. Disclosure shall be made in the employment application or interview before commencing employment or before commencing new job duties after job reclassification, reassignment, promotion, demotion, or other change in job duties. The content of such disclosure shall be made promptly by the covered worker after submitting a claim for benefits under this Code.

SELECTION PROCESS:

 

Tribal Personnel Policies Manual, Section 3.01: Employment Preferences 

  1.  

The Tribe's employment preferences shall be as follows: 

 

1.  Indian Preference. It shall be the policy of the Tribe to provide preference in hiring opportunities within the Tribal government to CTUIR members and to other Indians enrolled in federally recognized tribes. This CTUIR member and Indian preference shall be applicable in all employee hiring, promotion, and transfer decisions. 

2. Veteran’s Preference. It shall be the policy of the Tribe to provide preference in hiring opportunities to veterans honorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces. 

3. The employment preferences set forth in this section shall apply to all Tribal programs regardless of the program's funding source and shall apply to all classes of positions referenced in §3.05. 

4. Except for the employment preferences authorized under this section, it shall be the policy of the Tribe that no employee or job applicant shall be discriminated against in pursuit of employment or career growth due to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or national origin. 

 

All CTUIR Tribal positions are competitive.  All employment applications and supportive employment material will be evaluated based on the relevance of the applicant’s qualifications and experience as it applies to this position.  Applicants who demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualifications and experience most relevant to this position will be considered qualified to compete for this position and be eligible for an interview. 

 

DRUG FREE WORKPLACE:

 

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation has a “Drug Free Workplace Policy” and will conduct Pre-Employment Drug Testing.  A pre-employment drug test is required before any employment offer is to be made.  All tribal employees classified as safety sensitive are subject to random Alcohol and Drug testing pursuant to the Tribal Personnel Policies Manual.

 

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 

 

Complete Tribal employment applications will be accepted until 4:00 P.M., on the posted closing date as found on Page 1 of this announcement or postmarked by that date.  ONLY THOSE TRIBAL EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION PACKETS WHICH ARE COMPLETE, WITH ALL ADDITIONAL REQUIRED INFORMATION, AS FOUND IN THE “REQUIRED EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION PACKET MATERIAL” BELOW WILL BE CONSIDERED.  Employment application packets received after the application deadline will not be considered. 

 

It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide sufficient evidence to show they fully meet the qualification requirements.

 

REQUIRED EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION PACKET MATERIAL:

 

  1. Completed Tribal Employment application.
  2. Cover letter explaining your qualifications and experience relevant to the functions of this position.
  3. Personal resume identifying your qualifications and experiences relevant to the functions of this position.
  4. Completed CTUIR’s Supplemental Application Form if applicable.
  5. High School Diploma/GED or copy of official college transcripts (if applicable). 
  6. Tribal and Indian preference:   Must provide copy of Tribal Enrollment Card, Certificate of Indian Blood or such with Federally Recognized Tribe.
  7. Veteran’s preference: Must provide proof of honorable service and discharge or completed Form DD214.
  8. Technical writing sample, generally 5-20 pages. Acceptable examples include a thesis chapter, graduate research paper, technical memorandum, field or laboratory report, hydrologic assessment, modeling project summary, research or grant proposal, capstone report, or peer-reviewed publication. The sample does not need to have been professionally published or funded.

 

APPLICANT RESPONSIBILITY

 

It is the absolute responsibility of the applicant to provide sufficient evidence to show they fully meet the minimum qualification requirements.  Applicants failing to meet the minimum qualifications are not granted interviews. If it is questionable as to whether an applicant meets the minimum qualifications, an interview may be granted solely to make that determination.

 

OBTAIN AND SUBMIT APPLICATION TO:

            Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

            Office of Human Resources

Staffing and Recruiting

46411 Timíne Way

            Pendleton, OR. 97801

            Phone: (541)429-7180

            Email: HumanResources@ctuir.org

 

To be considered, application package must be post marked by the closing date.