Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Application Deadline: 06/22/2022
Agency: Department of Environmental Quality
Salary Range: $5,233 – $8,043
Position Type: Employee
Position Title: Basin Coordinator (Natural Resource Specialist 4)
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/iP3K7JoLe1k
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a full-time opportunity for a Basin Coordinator (Natural Resource Specialist 4) in Portland, Oregon. This position is limited duration through June 30, 2023 with the potential of being extended or being made permanent pending budget and Legislature approval.
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 the 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 develop and implement Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) in Northwest Region. You will provide technical assistance and review for TMDL implementation activities (ex: modification of permits and development of Nonpoint Source Implementation Plans) in basins with TMDLs. You will ensure that Implementation Plans required by the TMDL to be submitted by responsible parties are developed, submitted, and approved in a satisfactory and timely manner, and in accordance with state and federal laws and statutes, administrative rules, and guidelines. In addition, you will develop and/or modify TMDLs or technical reviews for parameters listed on the 303(d) list for waters in the Willamette Valley. Your primary Basin Coordinator responsibilities will focus on the Clackamas, Molalla, and Sandy Basins.
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: Bachelor’s degree in a physical science, environmental science, natural resources, or closely related field, AND 4 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.
Candidates who are most competitive will also reflect the following:
- Experience in the development and implementation of TMDLs and Water Quality Monitoring Plans
- Experience using scientifically-accepted water quality analytical techniques, including water quality modeling.
- Experience ensuring compliance through field work, complaint evaluations, and conducting inspections.
- Ability to communicate effectively with staff, many sectors of the public, and other natural resources agencies, including communicating technical information; professional level writing and presentation acumen.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills; skill in writing clear and concise reports.
- Experience and strong ability to work collaboratively within a team and across teams.
- Experience interpreting rules, regulations, laws, agency guidance, and agency procedures.
Working Conditions:
Work is primarily in an office setting. Occasional in-state travel (some overnight) required to attend public meetings, some of which may be in the evening. Work will involve occasional use of boats and other equipment during inclement weather conditions to collect water samples and make water quality measurements. Work may require visiting wastewater facilities, waste disposal sites, and construction sites with the possible exposure to pollutants and chemicals. Occasional work in, on, and near streams, rivers, and lakes, in a variety of weather conditions, including heat, cold, wind, precipitation, and darkness.
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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 Maddy Ouye, Human Resources Analyst, at maddy.ouye@deq.oregon.gov or (503) 347-5759. 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.