Water Utility Trainer and Specialist at University of New Mexico – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Requisition ID: req35405

Working Title:
Water Utility Trainer and Specialist

Position Grade:
13

Position Summary:
The Southwest Environmental Finance Center (Southwest EFC) is searching for a Water Utility Trainer and Specialist to join our team. This position will provide training and technical assistance to primarily small water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities in EPA Region 6. Ideal candidates will have previous experience working with or for water or wastewater utilities as well as developing and providing training and/or technical assistance on topics related to regulatory compliance, operations and maintenance, financial management, or funding. This position is project specific, and grant funded, but could extend beyond existing projects if future funding becomes available. Fully remote work for applicants based outside of the immediate Albuquerque area will be considered.

The Southwest EFC was created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992. We provide training and technical assistance to water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities on a variety of technical, managerial, and financial topics. Our clients include tribal, local, state, and federal institutions around the country including the U.S. territories. We strive to work with the entities we serve rather than for the entities we serve to build capacity and support sustainable utility management.

This position with the University of New Mexico offers competitive benefits including leave (annual, sick, family & medical leave, etc.); health benefits (medical, dental, vision, and prescription drugs); educational benefits (tuition-remission); life, short and long-term disability, and AD&D insurance; retirement plans, etc.

Albuquerque, the largest city in New Mexico, is located along the Rio Grande, adjacent to the Sandia Mountains. A high desert city, the climate is mild most of the year, enabling a full range of outdoor activities year-round. Albuquerque is an inclusive, diverse city with a fabulous climate, low-cost lifestyle, and excellent outdoor recreation.

Position Duties:

1. Provide technical assistance to water, wastewater, and/or stormwater utilities on technical, managerial, or financial topics. The assistance may be in-person, completely remote, or a combination thereof and the successful applicant will be comfortable in any of these settings.
2. Design and deliver training-both in-person and virtual-on managerial, financial, and technical topics for water, wastewater, and/or stormwater utilities. Training content may be drawn from the Southwest EFC's existing curriculum, developed in collaboration with other staff, or created independently based on the candidate's expertise. The candidate may train in conjunction with Southwest EFC staff initially and for a specified period of time depending on the skill level and comfort of the chosen candidate.
3. Prepare and contribute to multimedia deliverables including podcasts, educational videos, blogs, templates, and supplemental educational material. Participate in the review and editing of a wide range of materials to ensure clarity, consistency, and technical accuracy.
4. Contribute to project management tasks, progress reporting, proposal development, and data analysis.
5. Collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders, including utility personnel (operators, managers, board members), community organizations, and local, tribal, state, and federal agencies, on a broad spectrum of environmental and infrastructure-related topics.
6. Travel as required throughout EPA Region 6 states (New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana), and occasionally nationwide to support training, technical assistance, and stakeholder engagement activities (up to 25%).

See the Position Description for additional information.

Conditions of Employment:

• May require discipline-specific licensure and/or professional certification, as specified by the department in the preferences.
• Employees who provide services or work in patient care or clinical areas are required to be in compliance with the University's influenza vaccination requirement.

Campus:
Main - Albuquerque, NM

Benefits Eligble:
This is a benefits eligible position. The University of New Mexico provides a comprehensive package of benefits including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. In addition, UNM offers educational benefits through the tuition remission and dependent education programs. See the Benefits home page for a more information.

Department:
Center for Water & the Environment (281A)

Employment Type:
Staff

Staff Type:
Term - Full-Time
Term End Date:
one year from date of hire

Status:
Exempt

Pay:
Monthly: $5,833.33 - $6,808.53

Benefits Eligible:
This is a benefits eligible position. The University of New Mexico provides a comprehensive package of benefits including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. In addition, UNM offers educational benefits through the tuition remission and dependent education programs. See the Benefits home page for a more information.

ERB Statement:
As a condition of employment, eligible employees working greater than .25 FTE as determined by the New Mexico Education Retirement Act must make mandatory retirement contributions. For more information, review the Benefits Eligibility at a Glance grid.

Background Check Required:
Yes
For Best Consideration Date:
1/20/2026

Application Instructions:
Only applications submitted throughthe official UNMJobs site will be accepted. If you are viewing this jobadvertisement on a 3rd party site, pleasevisit UNMJobs to submit an application.
Please include a current resume and cover letter detailing how your experience matches the position described above, including any preferred qualifications. Three references may be requested from candidates who are invited to interview for the position. References will only be contacted after the interview if a candidate is a finalist for the position. Official transcripts will be required for hire. Please see minimum qualifications for specifics.Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree; at least 3 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.

Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge and/or experience with water supply, treatment, storage, and distribution systems.
• Knowledge and/or experience with wastewater collection, treatment and NPDES permitting.
• Familiarity with the Safe Drinking Water Act and/or Clean Water Act.
• Familiarity with a state's clean water revolving fund, drinking water revolving fund or other funding sources.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Comfortable with public speaking or willingness to become comfortable.
• Highly organized and ability to work independently.
• Ability to work with limited supervision after an initial training period.