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Job Description
Announcement Number: 327992654
901 S. Stewart Street, Suite 2002
• Carson City, Nevada 89701
• p: (775) 684-2800
• f: (775) 684-2811
• water.nv.gov
April 3, 2025
Unclassified Position Announcement
Chief Administrative Law Judge
The Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Division of Water Resources is
seeking qualified applicants for the position of Chief Administrative Law Judge. This is an
unclassified, full-time position within the Division of Water Resources.
Recruitment: This is an open competitive recruitment, open to all qualified persons.
Approx. Annual Salary: $167,014.00 Salary is based on the Employee/Employer Paid Retirement
Compensation Schedule.
Resumes Will Be Accepted Until: Recruitment Needs Are Satisfied.
Qualified individuals are encouraged to apply immediately. Hiring may occur early in the
recruiting process. Recruitment will close without notice when a sufficient number of resumes are
received, or a hiring decision has been made.
Recruiting For: An immediate vacancy in Carson City, Nevada.
The POSITION: Under the direction of the State Engineer and Deputy Administrators of the
Nevada Division of Water Resources the candidate will supervise and coordinate all work of the
Hearings Section of the Nevada Division of Water Resources. The candidate is responsible for
reviewing files of water rights, especially in contested matters, to determine, in coordination with
other Administrative Law Judge(s) whether an administrative hearing is appropriate. The
candidate is also responsible for scheduling and conducting hearings at the State Engineer's or
Deputies' request to create a record prior to acting on certain matters under consideration,
including water right applications, protested water right applications, basin designations,
development of administrative regulations, compliance and enforcement matters, hearings
relating to the adjudication of pre-statutory vested water rights, petitions to review cancelled
permits, and hearings on State Engineer proposed orders, among others. The candidate will
coordinate with other appropriate Division staff and make determinations regarding who else
will participate in the administrative hearings. Following the hearing, the candidate will, in
cooperation with technical staff, prepare draft written decisions that include draft rulings and
orders based on the State Engineer's evaluation of the evidence. The candidate is also
responsible for reviewing written decisions prepared by water resource specialists on
applications to appropriate water or change water rights, for formatting, technical accuracy and
legal defensibility based upon Nevada legal precedence and policy considerations of the
Division. Included in these responsibilities is drafting scheduling order, prehearing orders, and
other procedural orders relating to matters pending at the Division. The candidate is also
responsible for preparing or directing the preparation of all records on review for the Attorney
STATE OF NEVADA
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Joe Lombardo, Governor
James A. Settelmeyer, Director
Adam Sullivan, P.E., State Engineer
Nevada Division of
WATER RESOURCES
901 S. Stewart Street, Suite 2002
• Carson City, Nevada 89701
• p: (775) 684-2800
• f: (775) 684-2811
• water.nv.gov
General's deputies and reviewing all pleadings to be filed on behalf of the State Engineer in
litigation challenging State Engineer decisions and rulings, ensuring the analysis presented
adequately represents the position taken by the State Engineer. This also includes assisting
Deputy Attorneys General in preparing for any scheduled oral arguments or other court hearings.
The candidate must be highly organized with both time and resource management.
Additionally, the candidate is responsible for supervising other, potentially non-attorney,
Administrative Law Judges and an administrative assistant assigned to the Hearings Section.
The candidate will perform all work performance evaluations for supervised staff, update work
performance standards as needed, and address disciplinary matters related to supervised staff if
needed. The candidate will also assist the deputies and the State Engineer in reviewing the work
performed by the Compliance and Enforcement team, reviewing notices of alleged violation for
further action, and working with the team to make recommendations for enforcement actions
against violators of Nevada's water laws. The candidate will work daily with Division staff on
analysis of water rights issues and help train staff on how to draft rulings. The candidate will
likewise assist the Adjudication Section, including assisting with analysis of issues and legal
questions arising during an adjudication and drafting orders of determination.
The candidate serves as the custodian of records for the State Engineer and Division and is
responsible for responding to public records requests and assuring compliance with document
retention policies. This includes any records subpoenas and preparing administrative records for
litigation. The candidate is also responsible for tracking the status of all litigation involving or
related to matters involving the State Engineer and Division.
The candidate must be able to work in a team environment with other engineers, attorneys, and
scientists who collaborate in the State Engineer's decision-making process. The candidate will
report directly to a Deputy Administrator.
Minimum Qualifications:
Graduation from an accredited law school and four years of legal work experience in water,
natural resources and/or environmental law or related field, or an equivalent combination of
education and experience demonstrating an aptitude for the position.
Preferred: Admission to the State Bar of Nevada in Good Standing.
Additional Position Experience
At least two years of experience with the administrative hearing or judicial processes required.
Familiarity with NRS 233B administrative rulemaking preferred. Experience and willingness to
utilize the multitude of features and capabilities of Microsoft Office 365 is desired.
Special Notes:
• Candidates are required to possess and maintain, as a condition of employment, a valid
Nevada driver's license.
• In and out of the state travel is required for this position.
Submit Cover letter and Resume/Direct Inquiries To:
Adam Sullivan, P.E., State Engineer
Nevada Division of Water Resources
Email: asullivan@water.nv.gov
Closing Date/Time: Until recruitment needs are satisfied -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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State of Nevada
Show moreThe presence of Nevada's earliest inhabitants, beginning about 12,400 years ago, is marked by many petroglyphs and archaeological sites. Baskets, decoys, and ingenious traps are evidence of the resourcefulness of these early people in a harsh and arid environment.
European explorers traveled through Nevada in the early 19th century, but it was not until 1851 that the first settlements were established. An Act of Congress created the Territory of Nevada on March 2, 1861. James W. Nye of New York was appointed Nevada's first Territorial Governor by President Abraham Lincoln later that year. On October 31, 1864, President Lincoln proclaimed Nevada's admission to the Union as the 36th state. The State's first elected Governor, Henry Blasdel, took office on December 5, 1864.
Today, Nevada is the nation's seventh largest state in land area. Several hundred mountain ranges cross its landscape, many with elevations over 10,000 feet. In contrast, the State's lowest point (along the Colorado River) is only 470 feet above sea level. From majestic mountains to desert valleys, nature has endowed Nevada with diverse and unique ecosystems.
The Nevada Legislature has honored the State's natural resources and cultural heritage with a variety of State designations described below.
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