Water Master (05104)

The first review of applications will be May 22, 2025. Please submit the following required documents on the State of Montana Careers website:

• Resume - Please include dates of employment and your supervisor’s name/phone number for each position.
• Cover Letter
• Three Professional References
• Writing Sample

When submitting the required documents, you must check the “relevant document” box to ensure your attachments are uploading correctly to the specific application for this position. Documents not requested will not be considered in the recruitment process. The Judicial Branch is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

An employee new to the Judicial Branch will serve a one-year probationary period. The successful applicant will be subject to a criminal background check. Travel may be required and working hours may include evenings & weekends.

The Montana Judicial Branch offers a variety of opportunities to help you make a difference in your community, and further your career. As a service-oriented employer, we seek employees with a passion for customer service to help us fulfill our mission to provide an independent, accessible, responsive, impartial, and timely forum to resolve disputes; to preserve the rule of law; and to protect the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitutions of the United States and Montana.

Benefits of working for the Judicial Branch:

• Work/life balance
• Family friendly policies
• Dedicated and caring colleagues
• Health coverage
• Retirement plans
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and Holidays (combination of up to 38 per year)
• Opportunities and room for professional growth
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness - Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the PSLF

This position is in Bozeman, MT. Bozeman exists as a crossroads between past and present, tame and untamed, mountainous wilderness and hometown warmth. A place where you can hike for miles without seeing a soul, stroll through our charming downtown, and enjoy breweries with breathtaking views—all in the same day.

Bozeman is a city in Montana's Yellowstone Country, neighborhood to Yellowstone National Park.  It is a college town set in the middle of the Rocky Mountains, with a vibrant community and a booming tourist attraction.  Bozeman is known for its world-renowned fly fishing, dramatic mountains for hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, skiing, hunting, and backcountry exploring, Yellowstone National Park, and impressive wildlife.  It is also trending as a tech hotspot.  Learn more by visiting https://www.visitmt.com/

Job Overview:

This is highly responsible legal and technical work in adjudicating water rights in specific basins for the Montana judicial system. As assigned, work may include legal research and writing; case management; drafting orders; and conducting conferences, mediations, and evidentiary hearings. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Chief and Associate Water Judges and is reviewed through productivity tracking, conferences and review of written orders and reports.

Job Duties: (Any one position may not include all of the duties listed, nor do the examples cover all the duties which may be performed)

• Review objections, counter-objections, and notices of intent to appear, and organize and consolidate water rights claims into cases; calendar, monitor, and enforce case management deadlines; address motions; conduct in person and telephonic status, scheduling, settlement, and prehearing conferences as required.
• Assist senior water masters and water judges in conducting hearings and other proceedings; travel to hearing site; tracks exhibits, prepare court minutes, orders, and proposed decisions as required. 
• When recording proceedings, the Water Master is responsible for the accuracy of court minutes, exhibit and witness lists, and the accurate indexing and recording of the proceedings.
• Participates in site inspections as required.
• Work with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to obtain technical assistance concerning existing water right claims as needed.
• After developing water right expertise and achieving suitable experience, the Water Master will conduct evidentiary hearings on water rights; rule on admissibility of evidence; prepare findings of fact, conclusions of law, recommendations, and Master’s Reports to determine the scope and extent of existing water rights, pursuant to the general requirements of applicable adjudication rules
• After developing water right expertise, achieving suitable experience, and completing the required training, the Water Master may conduct mediations as required.
• May assist district courts in the administration of decreed water rights ; may request assistance of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation in organizing water right information; may design or assist in the drafting of water right ditch lists and water commissioner billing records.
• Assist the Chief Water Judge and division water judges as required; may review hearing transcripts, tapes and exhibits; conduct legal research; and draft proposed orders and opinions.
• Travel as required by the duties of the position. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Behaviors):

• Knowledge of federal and state water law, water use, water rights, and legal precedents.
• General familiarity with the Montana Rules of Civil Procedure, Rules of Evidence, Supreme Court Water Claim Examination Rules, and Water Court Procedures.
•             Ability to perform legal research and legal writing and to draft orders, findings of fact, conclusions of law, and legal memorandums.
•             Ability to make effective legal and technical presentations when required.
•             Ability to work well with a variety of individuals including attorneys, water users, and natural resources staff is essential.
• Skill in the operation of a personal computer, and word processing, spreadsheet, and database software.

Working Conditions:

Work is performed primarily in an office setting, although some travel may be required to in person meetings and hearing sites.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk and hear.  Work is essentially sedentary with occasional walking, standing, bending, and carrying items under 25 pounds such as papers and files.

Licensure and Certification Requirements:

Admitted to the State Bar of Montana and in good standing. Montana driver’s license. Proof of insurance if using a personal vehicle on State business.