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

Requisition ID: req35563

Working Title:
Water Utility Trainer and Support Specialist

Position Grade:
11

Position Summary:
The Southwest Environmental Finance Center (Southwest EFC) is searching for a Water Utility Trainer and Support Specialist to join our team. This position is intended for early-career water resources professionals who are looking for an entry level position with room for growth. The work will involve providing training and technical assistance to primarily small water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities in EPA Region 6 and across the broader United States and US Territories. Ideal candidates will have familiarity with water resources and/or water or wastewater utilities and a willingness to learn how to develop and provide 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 our intention is to renew staff term contracts annually pending continued funding and satisfactory performance.

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.

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. Participate in technical assistance efforts for 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. Assist with and deliver training-both in-person and virtual-on managerial, financial, and technical topics for water, wastewater, and/or stormwater utilities. Training content will be drawn from the Southwest EFC's existing curriculum or developed in collaboration with other staff. The candidate will deliver training in conjunction with more senior 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. 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.
5. 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.
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: $3,844.53-$5,399.33

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:
1/28/2026

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 as 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: Successful completion of at least 60 college-level credit hours; 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:

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Civil Engineering, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Water Resources, or other related field.
• 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 both independently and in a team environment.