Req # 163970. Salary Range: $4,993 – $7,641/month. Application closes: October 13, 2024.

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 status, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or physical or mental disability. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may not meet every one of our listed preferred qualifications. Lived experience may count towards the preferred qualification. 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 committed to reducing climate pollution, improving public health, and increasing local resiliency? Are you skilled in project management, grant administration, and contracting? If so, please consider applying for two Materials Management Climate Grant Analyst (Program Analyst 2) positions with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

The Materials Management Climate Grant Analysts will play an important role in DEQ’s Materials Management Program, which is focused on reducing the environmental and social impacts of materials and products throughout their full life cycle. The two positions will support implementation of Oregon’s Climate Equity and Resilience Through Action (CERTA) grant, which is a significant new federal funding opportunity U.S. EPA awarded to Oregon DEQ to implement a wide range of climate investments across the state.   

These full-time opportunities are based in Portland, OR. These positions will be limited duration for 3 years with the potential of being extended or made permanent pending Budget and Legislature approval.

The Materials Management Program is part of DEQ’s Land Quality Division. Land Quality programs support DEQ’s mission through a wide range of environmental work, such as assessing and managing environmental cleanups, safely managing the disposal of solid and hazardous wastes, and responding to spills of oil and hazardous materials. Consider joining a dedicated team and helping advance our agency’s mission to protect and improve Oregon’s environmental quality.

Here is a video about DEQ: https://youtu.be/E-Cs6M9AAlU. Click here to view a map of all of the DEQ offices.

What you will do!

You will provide project management, administration, and coordination of Oregon’s federally funded Climate Equity and Resilience Through Action (CERTA) grant administered by DEQ’s Materials Management Program. You will be responsible for ensuring successful implementation of actions outlined in Oregon’s Climate Pollution Reduction (CPRG) grant application. You will focus on implementation of grant measures associated with building reuse and space-efficient housing, food waste infrastructure, and/or landfill methane controls. You will collaborate with Materials Management Program subject matter experts; interface with agency procurement and budget staff dedicated to contract and RFP review; lead program work to establish contracts and agreements with sub-awardees and other partners; track implementation status and milestones; and perform necessary reporting of project status, greenhouse gas reductions, and co-pollutant reductions.

What’s in it for you!

You will get the opportunity to protect the public and the environment by implementing exciting new programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. You will also get to collaborate with dedicated co-workers in an organization that is continuously changing and improving. You will have 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 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.

What are we looking for?

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in a business or public administration, behavioral or social sciences, or a related degree, AND 2 years of experience coordinating or administering a program (an equivalent combination of education and experience is acceptable).

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

  • Environmental Justice and DEI: Demonstrated understanding of environmental justice and the historical impacts for marginalized and underrepresented communities; ability to take personal responsibility for increasing your knowledge of environmental justice and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
  • Grant and Contract Management: Knowledge of and experience with requirements for managing and administering federal and state (or city or county) grant awards and pass-through funding, including the ability to successfully complete the Oregon Contract Administration Training Certificate within 2 months of hire.
  • Project Management: Experience with project management processes and best practices; demonstrated experience managing complex projects including organizing, planning, tracking deadlines, identifying potential problems, recommending solutions, and coordinating work of others.
  • Organizational Skills: Excellent problem solving, organizational, time management, and analytical skills.
  • Fiscal Management and Reporting: Experience paying attention to sound fiscal management and reporting requirements; experience tracking and reporting program metrics and performance.
  • Program Evaluation: Experience conducting in-depth evaluations of program operations, conducting research, and adapting or creating new procedures to solve program issues.
  • Relationships and Collaboration: Demonstrated experience building and fostering relationships with a diverse group of partners including colleagues, interested parties, communities, organizations, and businesses; skill in conflict resolution, negotiation, and collaboration.
  • Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills; skill in writing and presenting clear and concise reports that include qualitative and quantitative analyses, recommendations, and conclusions to diverse audiences.

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 the DEQ’s Headquarters in Portland, however, the successful candidate is 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 meetings, conferences, trainings, presentations, and public hearings, some of which may include evening work, weekend work, and/or overnight stays.

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 knowledge article 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 on veterans’ preference, please visit Veterans Resources, or call the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs at: 1-800-692-9666. For privacy reasons, please do not attach veterans’ preference documents when initially applying. You will be asked to submit those at a later time.

Equal Pay Analysis:

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. Please note: the salary listed is the non-PERS qualifying salary range. If the successful candidate is PERS qualifying, the salary range will reflect an additional 6.95% (6% goes to PERS and .95% covers payroll taxes). Please review the Classification and Compensation page for more details.

Work Authorization:

DEQ does not offer visa sponsorships. On the first day of employment, all hires will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States. In addition, hires will have three business days from their first day of employment to present documents that establish employment authorization and identity. DEQ is an E-Verify employer and will use E-Verify to confirm that hires are authorized 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 DEQ’s Recruitment Team at jobs@deq.oregon.gov or 503-229-5107. TTY users: please use the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.

Req ID: 2024-30906. Salary Range: $57,969-$72,401 per year. Application closes: no data.

Department Overview

The Oregon Rural Practice-based Research Network (ORPRN) was established in 2002 at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. ORPRN’s mission is to improve health and equity for all Oregonians through community engaged research, education, and policy. ORPRN facilitates a broad variety of clinical health care research, quality improvement projects, and practice transformation efforts in rural Oregon, and across the state. ORPRN is committed to building and sustaining a diverse, equitable, inclusive and anti-racist organization. We do so by evaluating how we develop and support our workforce, the partnerships we uphold and how we engage in our work throughout Oregon.

ORPRN facilitates a broad variety of health care research, quality improvement projects, and practice transformation efforts throughout Oregon through the work of the Practice Facilitators. Practice Facilitators are located regionally around the state.

The Practice Facilitator I (PF1) works under the direction of a project manager or principal investigator, providing project coordination and practice facilitation support on small to moderate-sized research, implementation science projects, and technical assistance programs. The PF1 assists with scheduling, recruitment, data collection, data entry, documentation, and practice facilitation with limited complexity. In addition, the PF1 begins to foster relationships with clinical practices and community partners, and engage in relevant community events to support ORPRN’s regional presence.   

The Practice Facilitator I conducts research with regional clinics and communities, builds quality improvement infrastructure with the clinics, and fosters community engagement. Travel around Oregon is required for this position.

Function/Duties of Position

  • Project Coordination & Research Support
    • Assist in coordinating small to medium-sized projects and/or programs, monitoring study activities, timelines, and deliverables.
    • Organize meetings: schedule, prepare agendas, take notes.
    • Contribute to the development and implementation of study and quality improvement protocols.
    • Participate in the collection, tracking, and/or analysis or qualitative and/or quantitative data.
    • Participate in dissemination activities, including publication of manuscripts and presentations at professional conferences.
    • Support qualitative data collection, writing of grants through research literature review, collecting letters of support, drafting sections of grant proposals, and creating other supporting documents.
  • Practice Facilitation & Building Quality Improvement (QI) Infrastructure with Regional Clinics
    • Engage inter-professional clinic teams in practice transformation: train in use of QI skills, tools and systems; participate in team QI meetings; coach and motivate clinic teams.
    • Support practices to develop skills for population-based health and data-driven quality improvement; assist practices and provide tailored support to clinic teams to guide implementation of projects and/or programs
    • Facilitate clinic group discussions to set priorities and aid decision making.
    • Teach QI tools and strategies to peers at ORPRN; participate in ORPRN QI curriculum development.
  • Community & Partner Engagement
    • Promote community research priorities and support community members in initiating and conducting research; build clinical research capacity.
    • Foster relationships with community organizations to bridge project work, reporting local needs, identifying topics or issues for future research, building list of contacts, and developing trust across the community.
    • Serve as primary regional liaison, representing ORPRN with OHSU, regional health systems, critical access hospitals, Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs), and community health improvement organizations.
    • Work with partners to identify new projects, identify community priorities for evaluation, and plan for ongoing work.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (such as research, health sciences, public health, social sciences, or other related fields) AND 1 year of relevant experience OR
  • Equivalent combination of training and experience
  • 1-year relevant experience with a Bachelor’s Degree
  • Basic knowledge of practice facilitation concepts and skills
  • Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office programs, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
  • Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing
  • Excellent organization skills

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience in research data collection or research project coordination 
  • 1 or more year experience in practice facilitation or quality improvement
  • 1 or more year in a primary care setting
  • Experience in outreach, patient recruitment, or participant recruitment 
  • Ability to create or modify spreadsheets, data entry forms, and reports
  • Experience with survey tools
  • Experience with electronic health records
  • Knowledge of quality improvement methods
  • Experience with PCPCH
  • Experience with REDCap
  • Experience with other research software

All are welcome

Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.

First position: Project Manager, Safer Chemicals

Overall Function

The Project Manager, Safer Chemicals is a critical support role in the development, execution, and communication of EDF Safer Chemicals initiative projects. The Safer Chemicals initiative seeks to drive significant reductions in the use and exposure to toxic chemicals especially among vulnerable populations and communities at greatest risk by securing lasting solutions that target long-standing inequities in exposures and associated health impacts.  The project manager will work across teams, participating on advocacy on chemicals policy as well as managing policy and science projects internally and with external partners. They will also support strategy development, donor communications, and team coordination across the Safer Chemicals Initiative.  The Project Manager, Safer Chemicals will report to the Senior Manager, Safer Chemicals and will work closely with senior Health Directors.

Key Responsibilities

  • Support EDF Safer Chemicals initiative with focus on relevant policy analysis, writing, and translating environmental health policy work for broader consumption.
  • Play a key role in advancing advocacy goals through representing EDF through meetings with policymakers, presentations, interviews, as well as internally with EDF staff.  
  • Support and manage ongoing projects with internal and external partners, including from academia, NGO partners, industry, and community-based organizations.
  • Contribute to strategic planning, donor reports and other communications to current and prospective EDF donors.
  • Participate in advancing EDF Diversity, Equity & Inclusion goals in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered to address the environmental and organizational challenges in alignment with EDF values.
  • Develop work plans, negotiate project agreements and scopes of work, identify and procure necessary resources, and manage project work and deliverables.
  • Develop and apply appropriate means for measuring the success of Safer Chemicals projects.
  • Contribute to reports, fact sheets, blog posts, and other materials for general and specific audiences on the topics of focus.
  • In addition to these responsibilities, the Project Manager will play an integral role in other activities including fundraising, project evaluation, identifying new opportunities, thought-leadership development, meeting facilitation, and disseminating and communicating sector results.
  • Additional relevant responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree and at least 4 years of related experience or advanced degree (preferably Master of Public Health or Master of Environmental Science) with 2 more years of related work experience in environmental health, policy analysis, environmental advocacy or related fields.
  • A broad understanding of environmental health science and policy including the health impacts of chemical exposure and environmental justice; familiarity with EPA regulatory policy and/or the Toxic Substances Control Act preferred.
  • Experience managing relationships and working in partnerships, including with community-based organizations, to support more inclusive policy development and implementation.
  • An ability to work on multiple projects concurrently, both independently and as a member of small teams in an energetic and creative environment.
  • Demonstrates self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
  • Strong analytical skills and experience supporting highly visible work.
  • Strong organizational skills and ability to juggle many tasks and deadlines and to respond quickly to changing opportunities in a fast-paced environment.
  • Proficiency in the use of PCs and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.).

2nd Position: Research Analyst, Safer Chemicals

OVERALL FUNCTION

The Research Analyst will be a key team member of EDF’s Safer Chemicals strategic initiative. The Safer Chemicals initiative seeks to drive significant reductions in the use and exposure to toxic chemicals especially among vulnerable populations and communities at greatest risk by securing lasting solutions that target long-standing inequities in exposures and associated health impacts. The Research Analyst will conduct chemicals-focused research primarily to support EDF’s work to ensure health-protective implementation of the nation’s main chemical safety law, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), as amended by the Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act, as well as other relevant statutes that support efforts to reduce exposures to toxic chemicals. Working within our team of attorneys, scientists, and policy specialists, the Research Analyst will also assist with the development and implementation of policy solutions to protect public health and the environment from toxic chemicals. The Research Analyst will report to the Scientist, Healthy Communities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Conduct scientific and policy-related research on key chemical risk evaluation and risk management issues related to TSCA and other environmental statutes.
  • Track, collect, and analyze information from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) and other chemical databases to support specific policy and advocacy needs, including EPA’s reviews of, and actions on, chemicals under TSCA.
  • Synthesize findings of analyses in various formats (e.g., memos, data analyses) to support EDF comments on EPA activities and related advocacy.
  • Participate in advancing EDF Diversity, Equity & Inclusion goals in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered to address the environmental and organizational challenges in alignment with EDF values.
  • Monitor legislative activity, including TSCA oversight, and support congressional outreach related to toxic chemicals.
  • Contribute to science communication by developing or supporting public facing materials (e.g., reports, fact sheets, blog posts) for general audiences on chemical and TSCA-related topics.
  • Represent EDF in external forums with a high degree of professionalism.
  • Additional relevant responsibilities as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor’s degree and at least three years of experience or Master’s degree (preferably Master of Public Health or Master of Environmental Science), and related work experience in environmental health, policy analysis, environmental advocacy or related fields;
  • Ability to collect, manipulate, and analyze scientific data and participate in preparation of reports;
  • Ability to synthesize, interpret and communicate scientific information in an advocacy setting;
  • Demonstrated research, communication and writing skills;
  • Ability to work independently and to support a multi-disciplinary team, using judgment required to plan, prioritize, and organize diversified workload;
  • Ability to work with colleagues and partners of varied backgrounds and experience;
  • Demonstrates self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.
  • Highly proficient in the use of PCs and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.); and
  • Familiarity or experience with the following subject areas is desirable but not required: (i) TSCA statute and implementation; (ii) chemical toxicity, exposure and risk assessment issues; and (iii) environmental justice.

We offer a strong total rewards package encompassing competitive salary, robust benefits, and professional development opportunities consistent with a modern global organization. We take into account factors such as candidate experience, skills, training, internal team equity and local norms.