Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Initial Posting Date: 04/20/2023
Application Deadline: 05/07/2023
Agency: Department of Environmental Quality
Salary Range: $4,688 – $7,175
Position Type: Employee
Position Title: Air Quality Permit Writer and Inspector (Natural Resource Specialist 3 / Natural Resource Specialist 2 – Underfill)
Job Description:
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality strives to build and sustain an inclusive environment that embraces and values diversity. Employees at all levels of the agency work together to foster fairness, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, veteran, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or physical or mental disability. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may not meet every one of our listed preferred qualifications. Lived experience may count towards the preferred qualification. If you are excited about this position, we encourage you to apply. If you are unsure as to whether or not you meet the qualifications of this position, please contact us to discuss your application.
Are you passionate about preserving, enhancing, and protecting Oregon’s environment? If so, please consider a career with the State of Oregon at the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). At DEQ, employees have the opportunity to work with a dynamic and supportive team of mission-focused individuals tasked with maintaining, restoring, and enhancing the quality of Oregon’s air, land, and water. Here is a video about DEQ: https://youtu.be/E-Cs6M9AAlU
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a full-time opportunity available for an Air Quality Permit Writer and Inspector (Natural Resource Specialist 3 / Natural Resource Specialist 2 – Underfill) in Portland, Oregon.
This position is identified for potential reduction during the 23-25 legislative session. There is no certainty in reductions being implemented at this time. The final determination will be after legislative session ends late June 2023.
Please consider joining an innovative team, and work to advance our agency’s mission to protect and improve Oregon’s environmental quality. There are 3 regions (Northwest, Western, and Eastern); this position is in Northwest Region. The Regions provide the following services: compliance inspection of regulated entities; enforcement of permit requirements and administrative rules; issuance of air, water, and solid waste permits; investigation of complaints; issuance of subsurface permits in counties; response to spills or other incidents with environmental impacts; direct contact and liaison with other governmental entities, industries, and the public; and technical assistance to regulated entities and the public.
Click here to view a map of all of the DEQ offices.
What you will do!
You will draft permits for industrial, commercial, and municipal air quality sources; perform on-site compliance inspections; assist and provide direction in determining compliance with air quality statutes and regulations; provide technical assistance; investigate complaints; interact with stakeholders; complete complex analyses and evaluations of air pollution issues; and prepare enforcement actions in response to source violation of state law and permit conditions. In addition, you will serve as a resource on simple and complex General, Basic, Simple, and Standard ACDP permitting, compliance, and enforcement activities, and occasionally function as a team leader to fulfill air quality responsibilities.
What’s in it for you!
The opportunity to work in a productive and creative environment where no two days are ever the same! We offer a competitive benefits package that offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans for the employee and their qualified family members, as well as paid sick leave, vacation leave, personal leave, and 11 paid holidays a year. In addition, we offer membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and you have the opportunity to potentially receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). If you are passionate about Oregon’s environment, apply today!
This is a full-time, AFSCME represented position.
This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies.
What are we looking for?
Minimum Qualifications for Natural Resource Specialist 3:
- Bachelor’s degree in physical science, environmental science, natural resources, or a closely related field, AND 3 years of experience in a natural resource or environmental field (an equivalent combination of education and experience is acceptable)
- At least 1 year of experience at a technical or professional level performing activities in a natural resource program such as researching and analyzing data, conducting investigations, applying pertinent laws and regulations, or coordinating and monitoring project activities
Minimum Qualifications for Natural Resource Specialist 2:
- Bachelor’s degree in physical science, environmental science, natural resources, or a closely related field, AND 2 years of experience in a natural resource or environmental field (an equivalent combination of education and experience is acceptable)
The underfill option is available to you if you do not meet the minimum qualifications for the Natural Resource Specialist 3 upon hire. In order to retain this appointment, you must be able to meet the minimum qualifications for the Natural Resource Specialist 3 within 3 years of employment.
Candidates who are most competitive will also reflect the following:
- Experience drafting air quality permits.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to provide clear, concise, and compelling communication of policy and technical information tailored to the needs of diverse audiences; skill in writing and presenting clear and concise reports that include qualitative and quantitative analyses, recommendations, and conclusions to diverse audiences.
- Demonstrated understanding of environmental justice and the historical impacts for marginalized and underrepresented communities; ability to take personal responsibility for increasing their knowledge of environmental justice and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
- Expert experience and knowledge in source operations, compliance inspection methods, and source permitting, including the ability to correctly interpret and implement NSPS, NSR/PSD, BACT, MACT, and other requirements and standards
- Understanding of the principles of pollution control.
Working Conditions:
This position will be based out of DEQ’s Portland office, however, the successful candidate may be eligible for hybrid work. The logistics of hybrid work will need to be worked out with the Hiring Manager prior to your hire and may be changed at any time given specific job duties and business needs. DEQ will provide necessary hardware (laptop, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and cell phone) for an employee to successfully work from home.
Statewide travel and occasional evening and weekend meetings may be required. Regular field visits are made to sites to observe, inspect, and evaluate permitted and unpermitted facilities’ procedures and environmental impacts. During field activities, particularly at industrial sites, there may be exposure to pollutants, chemicals, contaminated soil and water, fumes, and airborne contaminants. The position requires working outdoors, at times during inclement weather, and may require walking, including up and down stairs, and standing for long periods of time. At DEQ sites, you will have access to a workspace, however, it may be shared with other employees.
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Please Note: In addition to your related work experience and education, DEQ will use the desired attributes and minimum qualifications above, under the “What are we looking for?” section to determine whom to interview. Please make sure your attributes and minimum qualifications are clearly demonstrated in your application material.
Veterans Information:
DEQ provides veterans’ preference points to all eligible veterans. For more information on veterans’ preference, please visit Veterans Resources, or call the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs at: 1-800-692-9666. For privacy reasons, please do not attach veterans’ preference documents when initially applying. You will be asked to submit those at a later time.
Pay Equity:
As an employer, the State of Oregon complies with HB 2005, the Pay Equity Bill. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected class in the payment of wages, and we do not screen applicants on the basis of their current or past compensation. Please visit http://www.oregon.gov/das/hr/pages/equity.aspx for more information. Please note: the salary listed is the non-PERS qualifying salary range. If the successful candidate is PERS qualifying, the salary range will reflect an additional 6.95% (6% goes to PERS and .95% covers payroll taxes). Please review the Classification and Compensation page for more details.
Work Authorization:
DEQ does not offer visa sponsorships. On the first day of employment, all hires will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States. In addition, hires will have three business days from their first day of employment to present documents that establish employment authorization and identity. DEQ is an E-Verify employer and will use E-Verify to confirm that hires are authorized to work in the United States.
Questions/Need Help?
If you have questions about the recruitment or need assistance to participate in the application process, please contact Grecia Lora Motz, Human Resources Analyst, at grecia.loramotz@deq.oregon.gov or (503) 863-0621. TTY users: please use the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.
Are you interested in an Informational Interview with DEQ to learn more about working at DEQ, how current DEQ employees got to where they are today, and what opportunities there may be for you at DEQ? Please go here and complete the form: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/about-us/Pages/humanresources.aspx. Please note that informational interviews are not tied to an open recruitment. If you complete the form above, you will be put in the queue to have an informational interview with a Hiring Manager from our Informational Interview Registry.