Closing Date: 12th November, 2025
Description:
Salary$44.98 - $71.96 Hourly
$93,552 - $149,683 Annually
This position is a Pay Band C12
Posting Details
The Office of the State Engineer oversees the administration of the waters of the State of New Mexico. In addition, the OSE conducts statutory stream system adjudications on behalf of the State in order to comprehensively determine the water rights of the various stream systems throughout the State.
The Northern/Pecos Adjudications Bureau is responsible for handling multiple stream system adjudications. This includes litigating individual water rights claims, as well as general stream system issues. Bureau staff conduct trials, mediations, and other legal proceedings; work with experts to establish the elements of water rights claims; and engage in robust public outreach and engagement, including public meetings.
This posting will be used for ongoing recruitment and may close at any time. Applicant lists may be screened more than once.
Why does the job exist?
This purpose of this position is to lead the Pecos/Northern Adjudication Bureau in the Office of the State Engineer, which conducts water rights adjudications across the state. These adjudications are being conducted to judicially determine the water rights of all claimants in various stream systems throughout New Mexico. In addition to dealing extensively with legal and technical issues related to water law and water rights, these cases involve complex questions of civil procedure.
This purpose of this position is to lead the Pecos/Northern Adjudication Bureau in the Office of the State Engineer, which conducts water rights adjudications across the state. These adjudications are being conducted to judicially determine the water rights of all claimants in various stream systems throughout New Mexico. In addition to dealing extensively with legal and technical issues related to water law and water rights, these cases involve complex questions of civil procedure.
How does it get done?
Who are the customers?
The Office of the State Engineer and the State of New Mexico.
Ideal Candidate:
The ideal must be able to:
Minimum Qualification:
Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law and five (5) years of experience in the practice of law, to include one (1) year of supervisory experience. Must be licensed as an attorney by the Supreme Court of New Mexico or qualified to apply for limited practice license (Rules 15-301.1 and 15-301.2 NMRA). For more information on limited practice licenses, please visit http://nmexam.org/limited- license/.
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).
Working Conditions:
Work is performed in an office setting: late hours, weekends, on-call and callback work may be required. Will be exposed to regular periods of video display terminal and keyboard usage and stressful situations. Travel is required. Possible exposure to irate clientele. Incumbent will work under stress and frequent time constraints.
Supplemental Information:
Do you know what Total Compensation is? Click here
Agency Contact William Fanning, (505) 470-4415, Email
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 Pecos/Northern Adjudication Bureau, including assigning tasks, monitoring performance and evaluating the work product of the legal staff in the Bureau. In substantive terms, this involves overseeing the legal strategy and positions taken in all cases handled by the bureau.
- Direct and coordinate the technical experts involved in the litigation.
- Work with other managers in the agency to cooperate in successfully carrying out the agency's mission.
- Perform additional legal support to the agency and General Counsel as needed.
The Office of the State Engineer and the State of New Mexico.
Ideal Candidate:
The ideal must be able to:
- Manage well and have good management skills to work well with others to support their team by being approachable, setting clear expectations and providing feedback.
- Work under tight deadlines with need for accuracy;
- Provide legal assistance with drafting, reviewing, and evaluating legal water rights documents for adjudication proceedings;
- Review and approve pleadings, motions, memoranda, and briefs to be filed in the adjudication matters within the bureau;
- Provide legal advice related to water rights conflicts and problems;
- Have experience in all phases of civil litigation, including motion practice, discovery, trial, and appeals;
- Work with experts and managers to jointly carry out the agency's mission.
- Experience providing legal advice to governmental entities and representing these entities in litigation in district court.
Minimum Qualification:
Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law and five (5) years of experience in the practice of law, to include one (1) year of supervisory experience. Must be licensed as an attorney by the Supreme Court of New Mexico or qualified to apply for limited practice license (Rules 15-301.1 and 15-301.2 NMRA). For more information on limited practice licenses, please visit http://nmexam.org/limited- license/.
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).
Working Conditions:
Work is performed in an office setting: late hours, weekends, on-call and callback work may be required. Will be exposed to regular periods of video display terminal and keyboard usage and stressful situations. Travel is required. Possible exposure to irate clientele. Incumbent will work under stress and frequent time constraints.
Supplemental Information:
Do you know what Total Compensation is? Click here
Agency Contact William Fanning, (505) 470-4415, Email
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.
