Environmental Specialist II

Title: Environmental Specialist II

Location: Wake County United States

Job Description:

Agency

Dept of Environmental Quality

Division

Water Resources

Job Classification Title

Environmental Specialist II (NS)

Position Number

60035517

Grade

NC14

Description of Work

Environmental Specialists (ES) with the Water Quality Regional Operations Section (WQROS) of DEQ's Division of Water Resources (DWR) are our professional "boots on the ground" who go out to the field to inspect facilities, investigate complaints, collect samples, respond to environmental emergences, and provide technical assistance, outreach, and training. The positions require frequent coordination with the regulated community, permittees, other stakeholders, and the public at large.

Field work requires the ability to perform tasks required for physical inspections; walking through rough, steep, and uneven terrain; and tolerating exposure to noise, extreme weather conditions, dust, fumes, machinery, insects, small animals, snakes, chemical substances, etc. State-owned vehicles are used, so ES must have a valid driver's license. Occasional overnight travel may be required. Some environmental emergencies may require a response to occur after hours and/or weekends, on a limited basis.

Back in the office, ES complete the required data entry and preparation and/or review of documents related to field inspections, permits and/or certifications, complaint investigations, compliance and enforcement actions, and keep their knowledge of rules and regulations current. This requires proficiency with computers, internet research, word processing software and spreadsheets.

The two primary areas of focus for this Environmental Specialist II position at the Raleigh Regional Office are 401 Water Quality Certifications and Riparian Buffer Determinations and Authorizations. These include specialized tasks that require input from an experienced specialist in streams, wetlands, and water quality impacts associated with construction and development around streams and wetlands.

Key Responsibilities:

• • Review and evaluate applications for 401 certifications and buffer authorizations, and draft 401 certification and buffer authorization letters
• • Review projects for environmental impacts related to riparian buffer and 401 issues
• • Perform stream buffer determinations
• • Perform compliance inspections and enforcement for permitted facilities
• • Investigate and assess citizen complaints and environmental emergencies (including carrying the emergency phone on a rotating basis), and implement enforcement actions as needed
• • Other tasks as assigned by supervisors, which include but are not limited to report review, enforcement actions, permitting, environmental sampling, and public outreach associated with other programs under the jurisdiction of the DWR

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Recruitment Range: $52,592.00 - $59,177.00

Supplemental Information

The Division of Water Resources:

The Division of Water Resources (DWR) is responsible for protecting North Carolina's drinking, surface, and ground water for all waterbodies including lakes, streams, rivers, wetlands, and aquifers. This environmental stewardship is accomplished through actions including permitting issuance, investigations, regulatory compliance, and enforcement, monitoring and field assessments, certifications, laboratory analysis and testing, planning, water quality standards management, educational outreach, and other efforts. The Division comprises six sections: Water Quality Regional Operations, Water Sciences, Public Water Supply, Water Quality Permitting, Water Quality NPDES Permitting, and Water Planning. Click here to learn more about the Division of Water Resources.

The Water Quality Regional Operations Section focuses on service to the regional surface water and groundwater concerns of citizens, local governments and business communities. Regional office staff issue permits for sewer extensions, wetland and stream impacts, and well construction. Regional offices personnel also conduct permitted facility inspections and incident investigations.

This position currently qualifies for a hybrid telework option with routine office and remote workdays. The NC Department of Environmental Quality trusts our employees to be self-motivated and successful in hybrid/remote roles. Telework options are subject to change at the discretion of management.

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an "equivalent combination of education and experience." If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

Bachelor's degree in one of the agricultural, biological, engineering, environmental, or natural resource sciences or a closely related curriculum from an appropriately accredited institution and two (2) years of experience related to the area of assignment, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.