Lead groundwater-level monitoring across the San Luis Valley, where aquifer sustainability decides the future of farming.
Rio Grande Water Conservation District · Alamosa, CO (onsite, heavy fieldwork) · From $28.85/hr (~$60,000), non-exempt
Based on a real posting (view original, posted October 2026 (applications due November 20, 2026), accessed November 3, 2026; more at rgwcd.org). Postings close. Interview for it anyway.
The role
Lead the district’s monthly groundwater-level monitoring program across the San Luis Valley.
Verify, analyze, and report data in coordination with the USGS and the Colorado Division of Water Resources, and investigate odd readings.
Plan and coordinate field projects with staff, contractors, and landowners.
Oversee installation and maintenance of monitoring wells, and calibrate field instruments.
Keep detailed field logs and maintain equipment and vehicles.
What they’re looking for
A bachelor’s degree in hydrology, natural resources, environmental science, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
Field data collection experience, plus GPS, GIS, and mobile data tools.
Preferred: 2+ years of hydrologic fieldwork, groundwater monitoring, and well installation experience.
Preferred: familiarity with Colorado groundwater management.
Ability to work independently outdoors in all weather.
Know the employer
The Rio Grande Water Conservation District works on groundwater sustainability in the San Luis Valley. There, decades of irrigated agriculture and drought have drawn down the aquifers, and farmers formed groundwater sub-districts to bring them back into balance.
Interview room
Candidate: stop reading here. Everything below is for the panel.
Panelists: open only your own seat. Each seat’s questions were written for this job. Ask one of them, then follow up in your character’s style.
Every round, each panelist draws a mood card. Keep it secret and play it lightly.
Tap to draw. Draw again each round.
NoteSeat A · Riley, the Technical Lead (click to open)
Here, you are: The district’s lead hydrogeologist. You work with the State’s groundwater model.
Ask one of these:
“A well that’s been steady for ten years reads 15 feet lower this month. Walk me through what you do before that number goes in a report to the State.”
“How would you set up QA/QC for monthly readings from 100+ wells measured by different staff?”
Then follow up: when they use a buzzword (modeled, analyzed, managed, data-driven), ask “What specifically did you do?” or “How would you know if that was wrong?”
More about Riley
Story. A data feed your team depends on broke again last week, and you’ve been patching it ever since. You’ve been burned by hires who listed “R” and “GIS” on their résumé and then couldn’t clean a messy spreadsheet.
Quirks. Friendly but literal. You ask for numbers (“How many sites? How many years?”) and take notes.
Listen for: specific tools and steps, real QA/QC habits, and honesty about gaps.
NoteSeat B · Pat, Search Committee Chair (click to open)
Here, you are: General Manager. You own the budget, the trucks, and the field schedule.
Ask one of these:
“It’s February, it’s −10°F, and you have 60 wells to measure this week with one truck. How do you plan the week?”
“We need a new monitoring well, but the budget only covers half of it. What are our options?”
Then follow up: politely interrupt idealistic answers with “That sounds great in a seminar. What’s the version we can deliver by Friday?” If an answer runs past about 90 seconds: “Give me the headline.”
More about Pat
Story. You chair this search committee. Your puppy chewed up a corner of the carpet overnight, so the morning started early, and you have a budget meeting right after this. You love good science that ships on time.
Quirks. You keep an eye on the clock.
Listen for: prioritization, concrete deliverables, and concise answers.
NoteSeat C · Morgan, the Team & Mission Lead (click to open)
Here, you are: Subdistrict outreach coordinator who works with irrigators across the Valley.
Ask one of these:
“Many of our monitoring wells are on private land, and some landowners aren’t happy with the district right now. How do you keep access and trust?”
“Tell me about a time you had to deliver bad news to someone whose livelihood depended on it.”
Then follow up:“What would the other person say happened?” or “What did that teach you about how you work?” After each answer, pause for a few seconds before speaking.
More about Morgan
Story. Last week you ran a field day for a group of ninth-graders, and it reminded you how hard it is to explain this work simply. You’ve seen strong scientists struggle because they couldn’t explain their work to a non-scientist or get along with the person at the next desk.
Quirks. Warm, and comfortable with silence.
Listen for: a real story (STAR), empathy, self-awareness, and plain language.
NoteSeat D · Dale, the Outside Stakeholder (pods of 5) (click to open)
Here, you are: A potato grower in the San Luis Valley who pays subdistrict fees to pump less water.
Ask one of these:
“I’m paying fees to pump less water. What do these measurements actually do for me?”
“You’re not from the Valley. Why should anyone here trust you with our wells?”
Then follow up: say “Huh?” every time they use an acronym or jargon without explaining it.
More about Dale
Story. You’re not on staff. You drove a couple of hours to sit in on this panel because this hire will be working with you.
Quirks. Plainspoken and skeptical, but not hostile. If they actually listen, you warm up.
Listen for: plain language, respect, and whether they ask you questions.
NoteSeat A+B · Riley-Pat, the Hiring Manager (pods of 3) (click to open)
Pods of 3 only. You’re both Riley and Pat. Ask one Seat A question and one Seat B question from this job, and use both follow-ups: “What specifically did you do?” and “What’s the version we can deliver by Friday?”