Position Summary
The Southwest Environmental Finance Center () is searching for a Water Utility Trainer and Specialist to join our team. This position is intended for early-career professionals and will provide training and technical assistance to primarily small water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities in . Ideal candidates will have familiarity with water resources and/or water or wastewater utilities and a willingness to learn how to develop and provide training and/or technical assistance on topics related to regulatory compliance, operations and maintenance, financial management, or funding. This position is project specific, and grant funded, but could extend beyond existing projects if future funding becomes available.
The Southwest EFC was created by the . Environmental Protection Agency in 1992. We provide training and technical assistance to water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities on a variety of technical, managerial, and financial topics. Our clients include tribal, local, state, and federal institutions around the country including the . territories. We strive to work with the entities we serve rather than for the entities we serve to build capacity and support sustainable utility management.
This position with the University of New Mexico offers including leave (annual, sick, family & medical leave, ; 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.
, 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:
- Support technical assistance efforts for water, wastewater, and/or stormwater utilities on technical, managerial, or financial topics. The assistance may be in-person, completely remote, or a combination thereof and the successful applicant will be comfortable in any of these settings.
- Deliver training—both in-person and virtual—on managerial, financial, and technical topics for water, wastewater, and/or stormwater utilities. Training content may be drawn from the Southwest EFC’s existing curriculum or developed in collaboration with other staff. The candidate will train in conjunction with Southwest EFC staff initially and for a specified period of time depending on the skill level and comfort of the chosen candidate.
- Prepare and contribute to multimedia deliverables including podcasts, educational videos, blogs, templates, and supplemental educational material. Participate in the review and editing of a wide range of materials to ensure clarity, consistency, and technical accuracy.
- Collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders, including utility personnel (operators, managers, board members), community organizations, and local, tribal, state, and federal agencies, on a broad spectrum of environmental and infrastructure-related topics.
- Travel as required throughout EPA Region 6 states (New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana), and occasionally nationwide to support training, technical assistance, and stakeholder engagement activities (up to 25%).
Conditions of Employment
- 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.
Minimum Qualifications
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.
Preferred Qualifications
- 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.
- Familiarity with a state’s clean water revolving fund, drinking water revolving fund or other funding sources.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Comfortable with public speaking or willingness to become comfortable.
- Highly organized and ability to work independently.
- Ability to work with limited supervision after an initial training period.
Additional Requirements Campus Main - Albuquerque, NM Department Center for Water & the Environment (281A) Employment Type Staff Staff Type Term - Full-Time Term End Date one year from date of hire Status Exempt Pay Monthly: $3,802.93 - $5,097.73 Benefits Eligible This is a benefits eligible position. The University of New Mexico provides a comprehensive package of benefits including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. In addition, UNM offers educational benefits through the tuition remission and dependent education programs. See the home page for a more information.