Job Type: Permanent
Salary Details: $5,395 – $8,292 / month
Deadline: Jun 29, 2023
Location: Bend, Eugene, Klamath Falls, Medford, Pendleton, or The Dalles
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.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a full-time opportunity available for a Water Quality Project Manager, 401 Hydropower (Natural Resource Specialist 4). This position will be located in Bend, Eugene, Klamath Falls, Medford, Pendleton, or The Dalles, Oregon. The finalist may choose the work location.
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 can be located in the Eastern or Western 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. Although the position is home based in Eastern or Western Region, the program work is statewide.
What you will do!
You will serve as a senior project manager for 401 water quality certification for hydroelectric, hydropower, small hydropower, and other related projects as required under the Clean Water Act for projects requiring licensing to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), a state water right, or 404 permit by the USACE. You will also lead technical staff in reviewing and certifying or rejecting projects and ensure that they are consistent with basin management plans and TMDLs being developed. In addition, you will act as a subject matter expert and ensure coordination with other state and federal agencies that have overlapping or complementary jurisdiction, and represent DEQ in determining which of the conditions proposed by other state agencies should be included under Clean Water Act section 401 authority, making determinations regarding fish and wildlife protection, recreation, geological hazard and erosion potential, and instream flow requirements.
What are we looking for?
Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in physical science, environmental science, natural resources, or a 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:
- 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.
- Experience interpreting rules, regulations, laws, agency guidance, and agency procedures; experience developing and recommending policy for water quality programs; experience and knowledge of state enforcement practices.
- Experience representing an agency or organization in meetings with the public, regulated community, and/or other organizations.
- Experience with coordinating program development and leading collaborative projects between multiple groups.
- Excellent project management skills; experience with project management, such as overseeing and coordinating a complex statewide environmental program.
- 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.
- Experience with 401 Water Quality Certification portfolios.
- Demonstrated understanding of hydropower licensing and water quality regulation.
- Experience using scientifically-accepted water quality analytical techniques, including water quality modeling.
- Experience with developing agreements/contracts and tracking budgets.
- High proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, and Access), as well as computer programs such as Google Earth and Acrobat; strong GIS skills.
Working Conditions
DEQ believes in a diverse and inclusive work environment. All employees are expected to contribute to a work environment that collectively values and benefits from respecting its diversity and promotes a culture of inclusiveness.
This position will be based out of DEQ’s Eastern or Western Regions, 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. At DEQ sites, you will have access to a workspace, however, it may be shared with other employees.
This position requires occasional travel for site visits, meetings, field work, trainings, conferences, and public hearings, some of which may include evening work or overnight stays. During field activities, there may be exposure to construction sites, adverse weather, contaminated soil and water, airborne contaminants, and pollutants.