Environmental Specialist II

Agency

Dept of Environmental Quality

Division

Water Resources

Job Classification Title

Environmental Specialist II (NS)

Position Number

60035427

Grade

NC14

About Us

The primary mission of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is to provide science-based environmental stewardship for the health and prosperity of all North Carolinians. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is the lead stewardship agency for the protection of North Carolina's environmental resources. The organization, which has offices from the mountains to the coast, administers regulatory programs designed to protect air quality, water quality, and the public's health, and works to advance in all-of-the-above energy strategy that fits North Carolina's needs. DEQ also offers technical assistance to businesses, farmers, local governments, and the public and encourages responsible behavior with respect to the environment through education programs provided at DEQ facilities and through the state's school system. DEQ touches the lives of all North Carolinians in many ways to enhance and ensure our quality of life.

Description of Work

Environmental Specialists with the Water Quality Regional Operations Section (WQROS) of DEQ’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) are professional staff members carrying out complex multi-disciplinary responsibilities such as permitting and/or certifications, field investigations, compliance, enforcement, complaint investigations, emergency response, technical assistance, outreach, and training for their assigned program area(s). Program areas include Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, NC Riparian Buffer Program, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), non-discharge, animal feeding operations, wastewater collection systems, and surface water quality and groundwater.

The primary areas of focus for this Environmental Specialist II position at the Raleigh Regional Office are the Pretreatment Program, Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Testing Program, and NPDES permitted facilities.

This position can be field intensive and will require frequent coordination with the regulated community, permittees, and the public at large. Position requires occasional overnight travel; ability to perform tasks required for physical inspections; ability to walk through rough, steep, and uneven terrain, and tolerate exposure to noise, extreme weather conditions, dust, fumes, machinery, insects, small animals, snakes, and chemical substances; proficiency with computers, internet research, word processing software and spreadsheets; and driving a state-owned vehicle, which requires a valid North Carolina driver's license. Some emergencies may require a response to occur after hours and/or weekends, on a limited basis.

Key Roles/Responsibilities:

-- Lead role in Pretreatment Program: includes on-site compliance evaluation inspections of waste disposal systems including industrial, municipal, and residential waste systems, reviewing Pretreatment Annual Reports, coordinating with central office, etc.

-- Lead role in Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Testing Program: includes periodically performing split sampling (advanced level of field work/sampling) to determine accuracy of WET testing and compliance with permit limits, ensuring compliance with WET requirements, enforcement-related tasks as necessary

-- Plan and conduct assigned inspections for NPDES wastewater treatment plants (pretreatment program, major, minor, industrial, single-family, and general permitted NPDES systems), non-discharge facilities, collection systems (major, minor, and deemed permitted by regulation), riparian buffer/stream determinations, and stream standard complaints

-- Assist staff, regulated communities, and central office permit writers with difficult complex permitting processing issues, BIMS support, and the development and assessment of compliance approaches and initiatives.

-- Compliance determinations and documentation: includes thorough technical review of data, evidence, plans, restoration plans, permits and schedules, etc.; writing, processing, and preparing/drafting documents such as inspection reports, information request letters, inspection letters, Notices of Violation, enforcement actions (civil penalty assessments, settlement agreements, Special Orders by Consent, injunctions, etc.), and violations resolution.

-- Investigate public complaints, reports of illegal discharges, and environmental incidents, provide emergency response for water quality-based emergencies, and take action as needed to address any identified compliance issues

-- Data management in the Division’s Basinwide Information Management System (BIMS), outreach, training, technical assistance, sampling, and other duties as assigned by the Regional and/or Assistant Regional Supervisor.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Recruitment Range: $52,592.00 - $56,940

Important: This posting closes at 11:59:59 PM the night BEFORE the End Date above.

Supplemental Information

The Division of Water Resources:

The Division of Water Resources (DWR) is responsible for protecting North Carolina’s drinking, surface and groundwater 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.

If you have student loans, becoming a state employee includes eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Visit www.studentaid.gov to learn more.

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.

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

Recruiter:

Deborah J Williams

Recruiter Email:

hrrecruitment@deq.nc.gov