Closing Date: 14th September, 2026
Description:
Salary$46.33 - $74.12 Hourly
$96,358 - $154,173 Annually
This position is a Pay Band C12
Posting Details
Interviews are anticipated to be conducted within two weeks of closing date.
This position is located in the Litigation and Adjudication Program, Bureau for Pueblos/Tribes/Nations (PTN) in Santa Fe, NM. The Bureau works with the Tribal Liaison to manage and coordinate legal issues related to New Mexico's Pueblos, Tribes, and Nations. This includes negotiating water rights settlements; implementing water rights settlements; legislative activities related to tribal water rights; and assisting with water rights administration, adjudication, and enforcement issues related to tribal water rights.
***Applications submitted without work experience, or a resume will not be considered. If attaching a resume, the resume must include dates of employment for each job (month & year) and details of work experience/job duties. Please make sure to attach transcripts, degree, or licensure if required in the minimum qualifications. *****
OSE/ISC participates in the federal E-Verify program and will use this system to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. They must provide identification to confirm work eligibility on their first day of work.
To learn more about the Office of the State Engineer, please visit our website: https://www.ose.nm.gov/
Why does the job exist?
The purpose of this position is to oversee the OSE's legal work regarding the water rights of New Mexico's Pueblos, Tribes, and Nations. It requires coordinating interdisciplinary teams of legal and technical experts engaged in negotiating and implementing tribal water rights settlements, as well as working with legal and technical staff across the agency on other issues that intersect with tribal water rights, including water rights administration, adjudications, and enforcement.
The role also requires high-visibility external engagement with representatives from Pueblos, Tribes, and Nations, as well as state and federal legislative staff, and non-tribal parties to water rights negotiations (including acequias and municipalities).
This position requires deep knowledge of tribal water-rights law, and familiarity with existing water-rights settlements and New Mexico water issues is a major plus.
The position manages and coordinates the complex, specialized, and highly varied work of the technical and legal professionals in the Pueblos/Tribes/Nations (PTN) Adjudication Bureau.
The purpose of this position is to oversee the OSE's legal work regarding the water rights of New Mexico's Pueblos, Tribes, and Nations. It requires coordinating interdisciplinary teams of legal and technical experts engaged in negotiating and implementing tribal water rights settlements, as well as working with legal and technical staff across the agency on other issues that intersect with tribal water rights, including water rights administration, adjudications, and enforcement.
The role also requires high-visibility external engagement with representatives from Pueblos, Tribes, and Nations, as well as state and federal legislative staff, and non-tribal parties to water rights negotiations (including acequias and municipalities).
This position requires deep knowledge of tribal water-rights law, and familiarity with existing water-rights settlements and New Mexico water issues is a major plus.
The position manages and coordinates the complex, specialized, and highly varied work of the technical and legal professionals in the Pueblos/Tribes/Nations (PTN) Adjudication Bureau.
How does it get done?
Who are the customers?
Attorneys will represent the State of New Mexico. This involves working with client agency staff with the Office of the State Engineer and the Interstate Stream Commission.
Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate will have experience with:
Minimum Qualification:
Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law and five (5) years of experience in the practice of law. Must be licensed as an attorney by the Supreme Court of New Mexico or obtain a limited law license within six (6) months of hire (See Rule 15-304 NMRA). Individuals pursuing the limited law license may not engage in the practice of law until the limited law license has been granted.
Employment Requirements:
All Attorney classifications must be and remain licensed as an attorney, in good standing, by the Supreme Court of New Mexico, or licensed as an attorney and in good standing by the highest court of another state and eligible pursuant to the limited license provisions (See Rules 15-301.1 and 15-301.2 NMRA).
This position is required to drive a state vehicle. This position is required to drive a state vehicle. Must possess and maintain a valid New Mexico Driver's License. Must possess and maintain a current Defensive Driving Course Certificate from the State of New Mexico or must pass and receive Defensive Driving Course Certification within six (6) months of date of hire as a condition of continued employment.
Working Conditions:
Work is performed in an office setting with extensive computer and telephone usage to include working with faxes, copiers and printers. May be required to travel with constant deadlines, ability to handle the pressures, multiple demands and stress associated with work requirements.
Supplemental Information:
Do you know what Total Compensation is? Click here (http://www.spo.state.nm.us/total-compensation.aspx)
Agency Contact Information: Lara Katz, Deputy General Counsel 505-577-6178 Email (lara.katz@ose.nm.gov)
For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.
Bargaining Unit Position:
This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
- Manage the day-to-day operations of the Pueblos/Tribes/Nations (PTN) Bureau. This involves actively managing the legal and technical staff to ensure they have the support needed to perform their jobs and complete the tasks necessary to advance the state's objectives.
- Conduct, in close communication with relevant OSE/ISC leadership, negotiation and implementation tasks regarding tribal water rights.
- In coordination with the OSE General Counsel, develop and maintain the state's position on outstanding legal issues relating to tribal water rights.
- Assist the Tribal Liaison in responding to inquiries regarding tribal water rights, including water rights administration and enforcement issues, to ensure that the appropriate parts of the agency respond accordingly.
- Work with state and federal legislative teams to ensure passage of the appropriate legislation to implement tribal water rights settlements.
Attorneys will represent the State of New Mexico. This involves working with client agency staff with the Office of the State Engineer and the Interstate Stream Commission.
Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate will have experience with:
- Supervising and mentoring legal personnel;
- Water rights and natural resource issues, especially New Mexico's constitutional prior appropriation system;
- Representing agencies and clients before administrative tribunals, in trials and/or in judicial proceedings;
- Drafting and editing legal documents such as motions, interrogatories, and briefs, including performing needed legal research and analysis;
- Collaborating with legal and non-legal professionals to understand, communicate, and implement public agency policy; and
- Working with technical, engineering, hydrological, and other scientific experts.
Minimum Qualification:
Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law and five (5) years of experience in the practice of law. Must be licensed as an attorney by the Supreme Court of New Mexico or obtain a limited law license within six (6) months of hire (See Rule 15-304 NMRA). Individuals pursuing the limited law license may not engage in the practice of law until the limited law license has been granted.
Employment Requirements:
All Attorney classifications must be and remain licensed as an attorney, in good standing, by the Supreme Court of New Mexico, or licensed as an attorney and in good standing by the highest court of another state and eligible pursuant to the limited license provisions (See Rules 15-301.1 and 15-301.2 NMRA).
This position is required to drive a state vehicle. This position is required to drive a state vehicle. Must possess and maintain a valid New Mexico Driver's License. Must possess and maintain a current Defensive Driving Course Certificate from the State of New Mexico or must pass and receive Defensive Driving Course Certification within six (6) months of date of hire as a condition of continued employment.
Working Conditions:
Work is performed in an office setting with extensive computer and telephone usage to include working with faxes, copiers and printers. May be required to travel with constant deadlines, ability to handle the pressures, multiple demands and stress associated with work requirements.
Supplemental Information:
Do you know what Total Compensation is? Click here (http://www.spo.state.nm.us/total-compensation.aspx)
Agency Contact Information: Lara Katz, Deputy General Counsel 505-577-6178 Email (lara.katz@ose.nm.gov)
For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.
Bargaining Unit Position:
This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.