Initial Posting Date:
04/30/2021
Application Deadline:
05/23/2021
Agency:
Department of Environmental Quality
Salary Range:
$5,614 – $8,619
Position Type:
Employee
Position Title:
Agency Toxics Coordinator (Natural Resource Specialist 5)
Job Description:
Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, veteran, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or disability, and is committed to workplace diversity.
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 available for an Agency Toxics Coordinator (Natural Resource Specialist 5) in Portland, Oregon.
Please consider joining an innovative team, and work to advance our agency’s mission to protect and improve Oregon’s environmental quality. The Land Quality Division supports the agency’s mission by managing environmental cleanups, assessing cleanup sites, promoting manufacturing and recycling of non-toxic commercial products, safely managing the disposal of solid and hazardous wastes, overseeing the state’s underground storage tank and heating oil tank programs, ensuring timely response and cleanup of spills of oil and hazardous materials, and regulating safe discharge of ballast water to state waters. Click here to view a map of all of the DEQ offices.
What you will do!
You will serve as DEQ’s primary resource on toxics, providing policy and technical leadership and coordination on toxic chemical issues that cross the Air, Land, and Water programs. You will be responsible for developing and advancing DEQ’s Toxics Reduction Strategy (TRS) and Safer Alternatives efforts to achieve measurable reductions in chemicals negatively impacting Oregon’s environments, ensuring all communities have the opportunity to thrive. You will do this by working with staff and leadership across all of DEQ’s programs. You will collaborate with other Oregon state agencies and local governments, agencies in other states, Federal agencies, Tribal governments, and NGOs at the local, state, and national level to understand trends, best practices, and opportunities for proactive interventions. As the Agency expert, you will have independent decision making authority in working with many of these entities.
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 10 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, or closely related field, AND 5 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 coordinating and monitoring project activities, developing policy, applying pertinent laws and regulations, conducting investigations, or researching and interpreting data. .
Candidates who are most competitive will also reflect the following:
- Experience in toxics reduction and toxic chemicals; knowledge of chemistry, toxicology, risk assessment, and pathway exposure.
- Experience in environmental justice and understanding the cumulative and disproportionate impacts to underrepresented communities
- Good working knowledge of regulations affecting air, land, and water quality, including permitting differences, different approaches to applying regulations, and differences in implementing federal policies.
- Ability to respectfully analyze, appreciate, and synthesize multiple perspectives, backgrounds, and priorities; flexibility, patience, and good facilitation skills; skilled at enabling teamwork.
- Strong program analysis skills; ability to evaluate current and potential future needs, and visualize and communicate any necessary recommendations; creative; innovative.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills; skill in writing clear and concise reports describing complex industries and regulatory requirements. Audiences range from technical experts to DEQ leadership to the general public.
- Ability to communicate effectively with staff, many sectors of the public, and other natural resource agencies, including communicating technical information; professional level writing and presentation acumen.
Working Conditions:
Work is primarily in an office setting with occasional travel throughout the state for meetings, presentations, and educational seminars. Occasional travel out of state to attend national conferences and meetings may be necessary. Statewide travel is required and long, varied, working hours are involved.
How to Apply: (complete the application in full)
- External Applicants Click on the “Apply” button and submit your application. Click this link for the External Candidate job aid, and view this video for additional information.
- Internal Applicants (current State of Oregon employees): Apply through your employee Workday account. View this job aid for assistance.
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- Be sure to attach a resume and cover letter.
- Allow yourself plenty of time to complete and submit the application, resume, and cover letter.
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- This posting closes at 11:59 PM on the close date listed.
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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, please go here: https://www.oregon.gov/jobs/Pages/Veterans.aspx. 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.
Work Authorization:
DEQ does not offer visa sponsorships. Within three days of hire, all applicants will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-9, confirming authorization 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 madeline.ouye@deq.state.or.us or (503) 347-5759. TTY users: please use the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.