Hydrogeologist (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 welcomed. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may not meet every one of our listed qualifications. Lived experience may count towards the preferred qualifications listed below. 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 available for a Hydrogeologist (Natural Resource Specialist 4) in Bend, Oregon.
Please consider joining an innovative team, and work to advance our agency’s mission to protect and improve Oregon’s environmental quality. This position serves DEQ’s Eastern Region. DEQ’s 3 regions - Northwest, Western, and Eastern - issue permits for air, land and water quality, inspect regulated entities for compliance, enforce permit requirements and administrative rules, investigate complaints, respond to spills and other emergency incidents with environmental impacts, work directly with communities, other governmental entities, industries, and the public, and provide 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 provide DEQ with expertise in site characterization, groundwater monitoring, landfill gas monitoring, soil and groundwater contamination assessment, and corrective action for contamination problems. You will be responsible for the evaluation of risks to groundwater and surface water posed by proposed and existing hazardous and solid waste disposal sites. You will serve as technical expert in the hazardous and solid waste programs to determine the adequacy of environmental monitoring plans and reports, and to ensure that groundwater and gas monitoring programs installed and operated at hazardous and solid waste disposal facilities are capable of detecting the release of any contamination that is related to the facility. You will help evaluate land management and waste disposal activities to determine the risks to natural groundwater systems. In addition, you will work with non-point source programs to assist in management of DEQ’s Groundwater Management Areas.
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 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.
- Current registration as an Oregon Professional Geologist.
Candidates who are most competitive will also reflect the following:
- Experience with groundwater contamination and quality investigation and evaluation.
- Familiarity with landfills operations and agricultural science.
- Demonstrated proficiency in data management and analysis, statistics, GIS, and modeling.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to work with diverse stakeholders and communicate technical information to staff, many sectors of the public, and other natural resource agencies; professional-level presentation acumen.
- Experience in modeling a variety of simple to complex groundwater flow, fate, and transport problems.
- Experience with hazardous and solid waste programs, as well as non-point source programs.
- Experience evaluating and providing recommendations on complex technical and regulatory situations.
- Excellent project management skills
Working Conditions:
Work is performed in a professional office setting. Occasional statewide travel to facilities to meet permittees, observe and inspect work related to environmental monitoring, or attend meetings. Must possess a valid driver’s valid license. Occasional evening and weekend meetings may occur. This position conducts field activities that may involve exposure to unfavorable conditions such as contaminated soil, water, fumes, and airborne contaminants.
How to Apply: (complete the application in full)
- Internal Applicants (current State of Oregon employees): Apply through your employee Workday account. View this job aid for assistance.
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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.