NM Interstate Stream Commission Attorney/Transactional Attorney (OSE/ISC #10117027)

$37.19 - $66.94 Hourly

$77,354 - $139,238 Annually

This position is a Pay Band LH

Posting Details

THIS POSTING WILL BE USED FOR ONGOING RECRUITMENT AND MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME. APPLICANT LISTS MAY BE SCREENED MORE THAN ONCE.

To learn more about the Office of the State Engineer, please visit our website: https://www.ose.state.nm.us/

The State Engineer has authority over the supervision, measurement, appropriation, and distribution of all surface and groundwater in New Mexico, including streams and rivers that cross state boundaries.

The NM Interstate Stream Commission Legal Bureau is responsible for representing the State of New Mexico through the Interstate Stream Commission, in administrative, state, and federal court litigation, and transactional work, involving issues of water and environmental law, including the Endangered Species Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act. The Legal Bureau provides advice and representation to the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission in all legal proceedings and on transactional matters to ensure compliance with laws, rules, and regulations. The Legal Bureau provides support and advice for technical personnel and coordinates contract work as needed

Why does the job exist?

The primary purpose is to provide professional legal assistance on complex matters of water and environmental law. This includes assistance involving interstate compact administration, drafting real property agreements and other agreements involving real property, water, and environmental law. This position provides legal support and advice to Basin Managers, Attorney Supervisor and Director regarding, interstate compact administration, property law, multi-party contracts and administrative proceedings.

How does it get done?

Provide legal assistance to the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission and to its Director, Program and Basin Managers and staff in environmental, real property and water law. This includes providing legal assistance to support Lower Rio Grande Groundwater Conservation Program activities strategic water reserve activities and Inspection of Public records requests.

Provide legal assistance and advice to as requested to the Basin Managers. This work includes procurement, contracts, and complex transactional matters to ensure compliance with the law and agency requirements. In addition, this position will perform legal research and analysis of laws, legal precedents, legal issues, and rules/regulations.

Provide legal advice to the Director and the Basin Managers on matters impacting the agency and the state. This work includes providing legal advice involving interstate stream compacts, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Indian Water Rights Settlements. This includes explain and/or interpret laws, rules, and regulations to agency personnel; advise the Director and the Interstate Stream Commission as to the legal appropriateness of proposals and potential actions or courses of action; research, analyze and interpret changes in legislation, laws, rules, court decisions and precedents to determine, anticipate, evaluate, and assess possible agency impact; and participate with Basin Managers to develop and implement strategic plans to meet the agency mission.

Provide professional legal services to Basin Managers and technical staff to draft memorandums, documents, correspondence, contracts, multi-party agreements, memorandum of agreement and perform policy analysis of rules, regulations, and guidelines. This includes the provision of legal advice in complex litigation matters, interpretation of legal research, and analysis.

Perform special legal projects for the Attorney Supervisor as assigned and directed.

Who are the customers?

This position will provide legal assistance to the Interstate Stream Commission, the Director and to its Bureaus, Programs, staff and the State of New Mexico in water and environmental law. This work includes providing advice and support activities to the Director and staff on transactional matters to ensure compliance with Interstate Compacts, State and federal law and Agency requirements. This position requires that you work cooperatively with Program and Bureau technical staff to draft memorandum, documents, correspondence, contracts, complex multi-party agreements, policy analysis, regulations and guidelines, and participate in negotiations on specialized and technical areas of water, Interstate Compacts and environmental law. This work includes aiding Program and Bureau staff and the Director to draft, and implement multi-party agreements, and responding to requests under the Inspection of Public Records Act. Work in this position also includes representing the Interstate Stream Commission as necessary in administrative and legal proceedings involving Interstate Compacts, providing assistance to support efforts such as Strategic Water Reserve activities, Groundwater Protection Program activities, Interstate Compact administration activities and Indian Water Rights settlements. You may be asked to review documents and provide advice to the Director, staff and/or the Attorney Supervisor to ensure compliance with state law and Agency requirements.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate would have:
1. Significant transactional experience prioritizing and completing multiple complex projects concurrently and working under tight deadlines with discernment.
2. Broad experience drafting complex agreements for governmental entities involving issues of Interstate Compact administration, tribal and non-governmental organizations in environmental and water law.
3. Experience drafting complex real property agreements including, but not limited to easements, assignments, deeds, title and sale and other agreements involving issues of environmental and water law.
4. Experience in providing legal support and advice to state and local government, and municipal entities, including procurement law, multi-party contracts and administrative proceedings.
5. Experience working with technical personnel involving issues of environmental and water law.
6. Experience working with and drafting agreements with subdivisions of state government including Acequias, Conservancy and Irrigation Districts, political subdivisions and other special water districts.
7. Experience working with federal government agencies on issues of environmental and water law.
8. Experience working with Tribes, Pueblos, and Nations related to Indian Water Right Settlements and water law.
9. Experience with Inspection of Public Records Act and Open Meeting Act requirements for public entities.
10. Able to work independently with little direct supervision on a day-to-day basis.

Minimum Qualification

Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law. 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).

This position is required to drive a state vehicle. 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

This position will work primarily in an office setting with extensive exposure to personal computer and telephone usage with extended periods of sitting. Some in state and out of state travel will be required. May have to attend ISC Commission meetings Court and Administrative proceedings. Some site visits to reservoirs and irrigation works may be required. Some after hours and weekend work may be required. May be stressful at times.

Supplemental Information

Do you know what Total Compensation is? Click here

Agency Contact Information: Christopher Shaw (505) 470-6377 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.