Senior Hydrogeologist

FT / PT Status – Full-Time
Salary – $39.02 - $58.61 Hourly Wage
Remote Work / In-Office – Hybrid

Recruiter – Coral Ortega | [email protected] | 801-538-4624
Application Deadline – 5/13/2026 6:00 PM MDT

Are you a licensed Professional Geologist (or on the path to becoming one) with a passion for protecting vital water resources? The Division of Water Quality is seeking a technical expert to lead complex hydrogeologic projects and ensure the safety of Utah’s groundwater.

Key Responsibilities

Perform the duties of a project manager and technical expert over multiple complex projects.
Review hydrogeologic studies, compliance reports, and groundwater monitoring data to support permitted sites.
Review, analyze, and interpret hydrogeologic data, including aquifer properties and flow conditions, groundwater quality, aquifer geochemistry, and contaminant migration.
Develop and draft ground water discharge Permits and administer existing discharge permits.
Conduct inspections on permitted and unpermitted sites and prepare Inspection reports.
Provide excellent customer service to internal and external customers, including permittees, local health departments, local government, and industry.
Use management systems to track and measure work progress.
Implement and complete compliance actions to enforce permit requirements.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

Must have or be able to obtain a Utah Professional Geologist (P.G.) License within 6 months of hire.
A minimum of 5 years of experience working in environmental regulatory programs with preference for the Clean Water Act, the Utah Water Quality Act or other federal, state or local environmental regulations.
Thorough knowledge of modern hydrogeological principles, and practices and applications employed in hydrogeology, including determination of aquifer characteristics, the interaction between surface and subsurface flows, groundwater flow mechanics, contaminant transport, and subsurface characterization methods.
Experience with compliance activities related to review and evaluation of hydrogeologic site characterization, groundwater monitoring well networks, and adequacy of engineering containment design and construction.
Experience preparing and evaluating groundwater monitoring quality assurance and/or sampling and analysis plans.
Experience with interpretation of hydrogeologic data to determine possible groundwater contamination
sources.
Experience preparing technical reports and memoranda to communicate technical issues, research, or investigation results and interpretations.
Strong verbal and written communication skills to inform the public of regulatory requirements, environmental risks, and planned agency actions.
Have the ability to use logic to analyze or identify underlying principles, reasons, or facts associated with information or data to draw conclusions.
Understand principles, theories, and practices of environmental and physical sciences. Be able to find,
gather and collect information or data; read and interpret data from scientific instruments or equipment.

Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in geology, hydrology, geological engineering, or related field, plus five (5) years of full-time paid professional employment directly related to groundwater protection and environmental regulatory activities, OR an equivalent combination of related education and paid professional employment directly related to the above tasks.
Applicants with advanced degrees may be given preference.

Supplemental Information:

Risks which require the use of special safety precautions and/or equipment, e.g., working around operating machines, working with contagious diseases or hazardous chemicals, etc.
Work requires physical exertion. May require the ability to stand; walk over rough surfaces; bend, crouch, stoop, stretch, reach, lift moderately heavy items (up to 50 lbs.) in a recurring manner and/or for long periods of time.

About the Role

Location –
195 North 1950 West
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84116
United States
Background Check Required – You must successfully pass a criminal history check.
Drug Test Required – No
Schedule Code – B - Competitive Career Service

Why You Should Join Our Team
In Utah, we believe hard work is important, but balance is essential. Finding work/life balance is a vital element to our culture. To find out more about WHY Utah, click here. Other benefits may include:

Job Stability: Enjoy the security and reliability of employment within a well-established organization.
Career Growth: Develop valuable skills and gain opportunities for leadership within a large organization.
Meaningful Work: Contribute to an important service that benefits the community and supports organizational goals.
Supportive Work Environment: Be part of a team that values cooperation, strong work ethics, and mutual support.

The Agency
For more information about the Department of Environmental Quality and the Water Quality Division, click here.

EEO Statement
The State of Utah is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. For accommodations, please contact (801) 957-9390.