Department Information
This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.
This is a term-limited position with an anticipated end date of 12/31/2026.
The position may be extended depending upon funding availability and will be eligible for full benefits.
The position may be extended depending upon funding availability and will be eligible for full benefits.
Are you interested in investing in a career that makes a difference?
Consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. It’s our mission to manage and conserve Colorado’s natural resources for the benefit of people today – and tomorrow. That means we have to balance development with conservation so the state we all love provides similar opportunities for our children and their children.
We invite you to explore our website at https://dnr.colorado.gov/about-us to find out more about the work we do to manage Colorado’s natural resources for today – and tomorrow.
The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply.
In addition to offering rewarding, meaningful work, we offer:
- Medical, Vision and Dental plans
- Strong, flexible retirement plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus pre-tax and Roth 401K and 457 plans
- Paid life insurance
- Short- and long-term disability coverage
- Employee Wellness programs
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Health Savings Accounts
- 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave
- Flexible work schedule options and remote-work options
- Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system
- Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
About Colorado Energy & Carbon Management Commission (ECMC):
The mission of the Colorado Energy & Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) is to regulate the development and production of the natural resources of oil and gas in the state of Colorado in a manner that protects public health, safety, welfare, the environment and wildlife resources. Our agency seeks to serve, solicit participation from, and maintain working relationships with all those having an interest in Colorado's oil and gas natural resources.
The Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission’s (ECMC) Orphaned Well Program (OWP) identifies, prioritizes, and addresses oil and gas wells, locations, and production facilities known as “Orphaned Wells” or “Sites” for which there are no known responsible parties or for which financial assurance instruments have been claimed. If not addressed, these wells and sites have the potential to impact surface and groundwater resources, impair a surface owner’s farming, ranching, or development activity, harm wildlife, or endanger the public.
Description of Job
This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.
This is a term-limited position with an anticipated end date of 12/31/2026.
The position may be extended depending upon funding availability and will be eligible for full benefits.
The position may be extended depending upon funding availability and will be eligible for full benefits.
Position Summary: ECMC rules require that oil and gas operators submit forms with designs and plans for work at oil and gas wells and sites. With no active operators, OWP staff are responsible for submitting these forms and preparing similar plans, designs, specifications, and technical procedures for the work at orphaned wells and locations.
This Position is responsible for design and implementation of Phase 4 activities (surface reclamation) and for ensuring that this work complies with ECMC’s rules and policies, Federal Grant requirements, and industry professional standards. In many situations, orphaned wells and sites do not meet current standards because of lack of maintenance since the sites were operational or lesser standards were in place at the time of construction. For complex projects, policies, precedents, or standard practices exist, but they may be inadequate, and this position is responsible for interpreting existing policy objectives and formulating specific tactical solutions unique to each project. These tactical plans require unique talents for this position that are critical to the success of the OWP and ECMC’s mission to prevent and mitigate adverse environmental impacts including those related to public health and wildlife resources.
This Position is also responsible for designing and implementing tactical plans for reclamation specifications and tracking stormwater management plan inspections. These tactical initiatives require unique talents that are critical to the success of the OWP and the agency’s mission to prevent and mitigate adverse environmental impacts. This Position manages surface reclamation work with contractors to ensure conformance with ECMC rules, standard industry practices, and bid specifications tailored to unique situations at each location. This includes the development of budgets and staff scheduling for deployment at multiple, concurrent OWP projects. This Position assigns work tasks, monitors work flow, work quality, and creates budgets for projects in Eastern Colorado. Work includes response to and investigation of complaints related to orphaned sites alleging impacts to public health, safety, welfare, and the environment. Site investigations include preparing work plans, collecting field data, making scientific observations, interpreting results, compiling data, preparing comprehensive reports, maintaining data in the group system, and making presentations. This position also works with procurement to hire third-party consultants and experts to assist with site work.
Project Management: This Position is an individual contributor and an OWP Reclamation Project Leader, responsible for field performance, work prioritization, and scheduling of contractors and ECMC Staff on temporary assignment from other work units. Primary project management duties include:
- Manage projects by maintaining and improving existing systems for project tracking to show daily work performed and daily cost accounting.
- Approve scope and quantity changes in the field when work is in progress.
- Report project status and incidents to the OWP Supervisor and the Engineering Manager.
- Explain work processes and train other individuals in the field, and serve as a resource and guide by advising others on how to use OWP processes procedures.
- Participate as a member of a collaborative problem-solving team to ensure that projects are prioritized and performed in a safe manner.
- Work observation duties are performed in field settings; training and team problem solving are performed in field and office settings.
- This Position is responsible for contractor procurement, writing project proposals and scopes of work, reviewing bids and cost estimates, and establishing master ordering agreements for reclamation work.
- Serves as an OWP Leader for design and preparation of initial reclamation plans, stormwater permits, stormwater management plans, and weed control plans.
- Writes and manages stormwater permits as required by local agencies and CDPHE.
- Consults and collaborates with ECMC staff and local officials (e.g., soil conservation districts), including county officials for weed control plans.
- Conducts pre-construction and post-construction monitoring inspections until suitable vegetation is established and stormwater controls are removed, often after multiple growing seasons.
- Evaluates and analyzes agronomic and vegetation conditions at orphaned sites to prepare specifications for reclamation designs.
- Prescribes additional preparatory work when existing conditions are not conducive to vegetation growth, including collection and laboratory analysis of soil samples for pH, Soil Adsorption Ratio, and nitrogen to evaluate the necessity of using soil amendments versus continued monitoring for another growing season.
- Distills complex information and data, including soil conditions, observed soil attributes, and laboratory results, applying appropriate ecological concepts and field experience to determine the most effective means by which to reclaim or prevent the need for additional reclamation.
- Work in some jurisdictions requires this Position to conduct public meetings or presentations, meetings with landowners, or meetings with other regulatory agencies to disseminate information related to planned or completed work. Work includes consideration of comments and suggestions from other agencies and interested parties.
- Coordinates and collaborates with other technical and administrative staff for multidisciplinary projects.
- Consults with Supervisors of other work units to ensure that qualified resources are available when needed for timely completion of the project.
Work locations are located throughout the Northwest portion of Colorado. Daily travel to work locations in a state fleet vehicle will be required on a regular basis. Occasional travel and overnight travel to the Western slope for training and meetings is also required. There is also potential for out of state travel on a case by case basis.
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.
This is a term-limited position with an anticipated end date of 12/31/2026.
The position may be extended depending upon funding availability and will be eligible for full benefits.
The position may be extended depending upon funding availability and will be eligible for full benefits.
Minimum Qualifications:
Six (6) years of experience in an occupational field related to the work assigned to the position which includes oil and gas production field construction, operations, remediation and reclamation.
OR
Two (2) years of experience in an occupational field related to the work assigned to the position which includes oil and gas drilling and production field operations.
AND
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Ecology, Geology, Engineering, Hydrogeology, Geochemistry, Environmental Sciences or a closely related field.
Substitutions: Additional appropriate experience will substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis. Additional appropriate education will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.
Please note: The required experience must be substantiated within the work experience section of your application. Your resume will not be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications; only the work experience section of your application will be reviewed to determine this. “See Resume” statements on the application will not be accepted. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.
Class Code: Environmental Protection Specialist
Preferred Qualifications:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Excellent personal computer skills using the MS Office software suite and Google applications, will be necessary for success in this position.
- Relevant state experience related to the position.
- Familiarity with ECMC website, maps, rules, and regulations.
- Current or former State experience relevant to this position.
- Experience evaluating and implementing plans for site decommissioning, remediation, and reclamation of oil and gas locations.
- Experience meeting with contractors, landowners, and conducting pre-bid meetings
Working with general public, professional, consultants, and staff, with sensitivity to their needs, priorities and commitments.
Conditions of Employment:
- This is a term-limited position with an anticipated end date of 12/31/2026.
-
The position may be extended depending upon funding availability and will be eligible for full benefits.
- Work locations are located throughout the Northwest portion of Colorado. Daily travel to work locations in a state fleet vehicle will be required on a regular basis. Occasional travel and overnight travel to the Western slope and Front Range for training and meetings is also required.
- There is also potential for out of state travel on a case by case basis.
- Colorado residency is required at the time of application.
- Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify their application from the current position. (Please Note: Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with DNR).
- Travel within area of responsibility throughout the State and to and from Denver
- Must possess and maintain a valid Colorado's driver's license.
- Able to travel with occasional overnight stays within Colorado.
- May require travel for field work or offsite meetings.
- This position works independently from an office at home.
- Occasional contact with oil-contaminated media; PPE required and provided.
- You must be legally eligible to work in the United States to be appointed to this position. DNR does not sponsor non-residents of the United States
Supplemental Information
The Assessment Process
- All applications received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed by an HR Specialist against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement.
- Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process. Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position will be a structured application review by Subject Matter Experts.
- Resumes, cover letters and other attachments are not considered as part of initial reviews, therefore, it is important todocument in your application your education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications as outlined in the job announcement.
- Please thoroughly answer all supplemental questions (if listed) since question responses may be evaluated for content, writing ability, spelling, grammar, and effective communication.
- This recruitment may involve additional testing and/or exams to arrive at the top group for interviews.
- This recruitment may be used to fill more than one vacancy at this level and reporting location.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.
The Department of Natural Resources is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, at [email protected]
The Department of Natural Resources is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, at [email protected]
ADAAA Accommodations
Any person with a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided a reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an employment assessment. To request accommodation, please contact our Benefits Specialist at [email protected] at least five business days before the date that any accommodation will be required to allow us to evaluate your request and prepare for the accommodation. You may be asked to provide additional information, including medical documentation, regarding functional limitations and type of accommodation needed. Please ensure that you have this information available well in advance of the assessment date.
Any person with a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided a reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an employment assessment. To request accommodation, please contact our Benefits Specialist at [email protected] at least five business days before the date that any accommodation will be required to allow us to evaluate your request and prepare for the accommodation. You may be asked to provide additional information, including medical documentation, regarding functional limitations and type of accommodation needed. Please ensure that you have this information available well in advance of the assessment date.
E-Verify
DNR uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more aboutE-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
Toll–Free Applicant Support - Technical Help
If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV at 855-524-5627, Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). The Human Resources Office will be unable to assist with technical issues.
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