Job Details

Onsite Resource Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 3 – Environmental Health Specialist / Natural Resource Specialist 3 – Underfill)

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality strives to build and sustain an inclusive and equitable environment that embraces and values diversity. Employees at all levels of the agency work together to foster fairness, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We celebrate and appreciate diversity, champion equity, and treat each other with respect and dignity. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color,national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, age, or physical or mental disability in the administration of our programs and activities.

Are you passionate about preserving, enhancing, and protecting Oregon's environment? Ifso, 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 an Onsite Resource Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 3 – Environmental Health Specialist / Natural Resource Specialist 3 – Underfill) in Medford, Oregon. Please consider joining an innovative team, and work to advance our agency's mission to protect and improve Oregon's environmental quality.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is the primary regulatory agency of the government of the U.S. State of Oregon responsible for protecting and enhancing the state's natural resources. The Water Quality Division's mission is to protect and improve Oregon's water quality. Protecting Oregon's rivers, lakes, streams, and groundwater quality keeps these waters safe for a multitude of beneficial uses such as drinking water, fish habitat, recreation, and irrigation. This is accomplished by developing and implementing water quality standards and clean water plans; regulating sewage treatment systems, industrial dischargers, and individual onsite septic systems; collecting and evaluating water quality data; providing grants and technical assistance to reduce non-point pollution sources; and providing loans to communities to build treatment facilities.

Over 30% of Oregonians dispose of wastewater from their homes and businesses through the use of septic systems. The siting, design, installation, and ongoing operation and maintenance of septic systems, as well as sewage disposal service licensing, are regulated through the Onsite Wastewater Management Program. Without this oversight, septic systems can fail or malfunction and sewage may be disposed of improperly, thus polluting Oregon's land and waterways with raw sewage and creating public health hazards. The Onsite Wastewater Management Program (septic systems) is administered through intergovernmental agreements for 33 counties and is directly administered by DEQ in 3 counties. This position will support Jackson, Josephine, and Curry Counties.

You will serve as an Onsite Wastewater Management Program technical expert in the evaluation, inspection, and permitting of onsite septic systems in Jackson, Josephine, and Curry Counties. Hundreds of onsite applications are submitted to the Medford office each year from individual homeowners, small businesses, and licensed installers. In addition to these applications, the Medford office receives technical questions from the public regarding the program's requirements and the care and maintenance of septic systems. The office also receives complaints regarding potential septic system violations, some of which can lead to enforcement actions. In addition, local interested parties occasionally request the assistance of the local onsite technical expert to attend meetings and present information.

The opportunity to work in a productive and creative environment where no two days are ever the same! DEQ cares deeply about employee wellness and benefits. 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.

Minimum qualifications for Natural Resource Specialist 3 – Environmental Health Specialist:

• 6 years of experience in a natural resource or environmental field
• 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
• Registration by the Oregon Health Licensing Agency as an Environmental Health Specialist or Waste Water Specialist. See the Environmental Health Registration Board's requirements for registration. (Continued employment in this position will be contingent upon the successful applicant maintaining the required registration)
• 10 hours of soil science courses in Introductory Soil Science, Soil Morphology, Physical Geology, and Geomorphology

Minimum qualifications for Natural Resource Specialist 3 – Underfill:

• 6 years of experience in a natural resource or environmental field
• 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
• Registration by the Oregon Health Licensing Agency as an Environmental Health Specialist Trainee or Waste Water Specialist Trainee. See the Environmental Health Registration Board's requirements for registration. (Applicants do not need to have current registration at the time of hire, but must demonstrate that they meet the requirements to obtain a trainee registration within 30 days of employment.)
• Substitutions: Bachelor's degree in physical science, environmental science, natural resources, or a closely related field may substitute for 3 of the required years of experience. Master's degree in physical science, environmental science, natural resources, or a closely related field may substitute for 4 of the required years of experience. Doctorate degree in physical science, environmental science, natural resources, or a closely related field may substitute for 5 of the required years of experience.

The underfill option is available to you if you do not meet the minimum qualifications for the Natural Resource Specialist 3 – Environmental Health Specialist upon hire. In order to retain this appointment, you must be able to meet the minimum qualifications for the Natural Resource Specialist 3 – Environmental Health Specialist by obtaining your Environmental Health Specialist or Waste Water Specialist registration by the Oregon Health Licensing Office and by completing 10 hours of soil science courses within 3 years of employment. Continued employment in this position will be contingent upon the successful applicant maintaining the required registration.

If hired as an underfill, you will be brought in at the Natural Resource Specialist 3 salary scale instead of the Natural Resource Specialist 3 – Environmental Health Specialist salary scale.

Candidates who are most competitive will also reflect the following desired attributes:

• 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.
• Knowledge and skill in the classification, characteristics, and behavior of soils and the transport of water and wastewater through soils is required.
• Knowledge of onsite wastewater treatment system technology and requirements for permitting; experience inspecting and evaluating onsite septic systems.
• Experience investigating environmental complaints.
• Experience reviewing design plans for new construction, alterations, and repairs of wastewater treatment systems.
• Experience regulating sewage treatment systems including issuing permits and authorizations for new construction, alterations, or repairs of onsite septic systems.
• 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 experience building and fostering relationships with a diverse group of partners including colleagues, interested parties, communities, organizations, and businesses.

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 Medford 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. At DEQ sites, you will have access to a workspace, however, it may be shared with other employees. This position requires frequent travel by car statewide for meetings, trainings, public hearings, conferences, workshops, seminars, and field visits (such as wastewater treatment facilities, land application sites, and spill or complaint sites). During field visits, there is the potential for exposure to pollutants, pathogens or hazardous materials, chemicals, contaminated soil and water, fumes, airborne contaminants, challenging field conditions (st