Description

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  Western 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.  
• Permits Designs and Plans: This position will track and monitor hundreds of locations.

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.
• Scoping, Planning, Performance, and Scheduling: This position defines the scope, budget and staff resources for OWP reclamation projects.

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.

Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

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.

Responsibility with required travel planned for the specific region in the NORTHWEST COLORADO

Requirements

Six (6) years of relevant experience in oil and gas operations, including expertise in performing or overseeing reclamation of oil and gas locations involving tasks such as, soil and vegetation sampling, species-level vegetation monitoring, and the development implementation, review, and monitoring of reclamation and stormwater management programs.

OR

Education and Experience:

A combination of related education inRange Ecology, Biology, Botany, Ecology, Ecosystem Science, Wildlife Biology, Agricultural Science or a related field and/or specific relevant reclamation experience in oil and gas operations, including expertise in performing or overseeing reclamation oil and gas locations involving tasks such as, soil and vegetation sampling, species-level vegetation monitoring, and the development, implementation, review, and monitoring of reclamation and stormwater management programs.equal to six (6) years.

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.