The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a full-time opportunity for a Hazardous Waste Technical Assistance and Pollution Prevention Coordinator (Natural Resource Specialist 4) in Portland, Oregon.

Initial Posting Date: 09/11/2019

Application Deadline:09/29/2019

Agency:Department of Environmental Quality

Salary Range:$4,851 – $7,104

Position Type:Employee

Position Title:Hazardous Waste Technical Assistance and Pollution Prevention Coordinator (Natural Resource Specialist 4)

Job Description:

With more than 30,000 employees who are dedicated to making Oregon a fantastic place to live, work, and play, the State of Oregon enterprise is comprised of a diverse group of employees who are passionate about public service. At the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, 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 for a Hazardous Waste Technical Assistance and Pollution Prevention Coordinator (Natural Resource Specialist 4) 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. DEQ has a centralized policy and planning component and regional offices to accomplish its mission. 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.

What you will do!
The Hazardous Waste Technical Assistance and Pollution Prevention Coordinator provides technical assistance to businesses and industries in Northwest Region to ensure safe management and reduction of hazardous wastes, pollution prevention, and promotion of environmental management systems and sustainability. You will help businesses who request technical assistance by providing them with recommendations on how to identify, manage, and dispose of hazardous waste, as well as how to reduce the waste generated. You will also help businesses who are required to develop toxics use reduction and hazardous waste reduction plans by providing them advice and helping them reduce their wastes and meet their requirements to report their progress as required in Oregon’s Toxics Use Reduction and Hazardous Waste Reduction Act. Additionally, you will be responsible for leading efforts to develop and carry out outreach initiatives to priority business sectors, cross program, and pollution prevention initiatives and sustainability efforts for Northwest Region, as well as for coordinating with other staff in Northwest Region, other Regions, and Headquarters on these initiatives. You will help develop policy and guidance for the program, and provide RCRA training to groups and individuals in Northwest Region.

What’s in it for you!

The opportunity to join a dynamic team of mission focused individuals tasked with maintaining, restoring, and enhancing the quality of Oregon’s air, water, and land.  We offer medical, dental, and vision health benefits with paid sick leave, vacation, personal leave, and 10 paid holidays a year. Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program: If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, you may be able to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). Learn more to see whether you qualify at PSLF Program. If you are passionate about Oregon’s environment, apply today!
 

This is a full-time, AFSCME represented position.

What are we looking for?

• Bachelor’s degree in a physical science, environmental science, 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.
• Experience with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
• Experience assisting businesses with waste prevention, waste reduction, or environmental management systems.
• Understanding of the principles of pollution prevention, sustainability, green chemistry, waste reduction, and waste prevention.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; skill in writing concise and clear reports describing complex industries and regulatory determinations.
• Experience communicating complex technical information or controversial environmental issues to stakeholders and lay people; ability to communicate technical data to audiences unfamiliar with the subject matter.
• Experience with outreach initiatives, pollution prevention initiatives, and the development and implementation of toxics use reduction and hazardous waste reduction plans.
• Fluency in Spanish preferred.

How to Apply:

To apply for this position, please follow the “Apply” link above and complete the online application and all supplemental questions (including the question where you upload a cover letter).

Please be sure to attach a resume. A resume will not substitute for completing the work experience section of your application.

**Please be sure to check both your e-mail and Workday account for updates regarding this recruitment.**

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 once you’ve submitted your application via a pop-up with a veterans’ preference questionnaire.

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 ouye.madeline@deq.state.or.us or (503) 229-5107.

DEQ strives to create inclusive environments that welcome and value the diversity of the people we serve. DEQ fosters fairness, equity, and inclusion to create workplace environments where everyone is treated with respect and dignity regardless of race, color, religion, sex, disability, physical stature, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, political affiliation, and any other factor applicable by state or federal law