Environmental Specialist II

Agency

Dept of Environmental Quality

Division

Office of Continuous Improvement

Job Classification Title

Environmental Specialist II (NS)

Position Number

65040210

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

*This position is Exempt from the Human Resources Act (EHRA) with the exception of Articles 6 and 7. This is a full-time position (40 hours per week) with applicable State Benefits.*

This position provides permitting support, regulatory oversight, technical assistance, regulatory guidance and education to the public and permittees for various program areas, including 401 Water Quality Certifications, State buffer rules, water quality standards and water resource protection. Acts as alternate team lead or lead support for the Asheville Regional Office (ARO) 401/wetland team coordinating inspections, reviewing enforcements, facilitating team meetings, ensuring team members are training, mentoring new staff and providing guidance on more complex permitting decisions.

Other Key Responsibilities:
Perform outreach to regulated community and government partners as resources allow to promote education of applicable regulations with the goal of preventing non-compliant activities.

Perform compliance inspections and provide technical assistance and regulatory guidance for applicants requesting 401 Water Quality Certifications (WQC) and buffer authorizations.

Communicate inspection results with permittees, owners, officials or workers and prepare inspection reports and related correspondence.

Review and process WQC applications, including assisting with stormwater management plan (when required by a 401) review as necessary.

Respond to citizen complaints and inspect sites where water quality standards and other rules have possibly been contravened.

Communicate regulatory guidance, technical assistance and water quality education to permittees, applicants and the general public.

Issue Notices of Violation and assess civil penalties, when necessary, provide any additional guidance, support or documentation to restore compliance with regulations.

Assist central office staff with complex Individual Permit (IP) reviews.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Recruitment Range:  $52,592 - $81,235

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

The Office of Continuous Improvement:

The Office of Continuous Improvement (OCI) enhances the performance of the DEQ by fostering compliance and efficiency across diverse projects. OCI leverages business processes, data analysis, compliance, and engineering expertise to drive improvement. 

Embedded within DEQ divisions, OCI works to develop and strengthen processes and workflows that support DEQ's mandate to deliver federal funding effectively and equitably for infrastructure, energy, and resilience projects. OCI is charged with helping DEQ teams solve challenges, provides data strategy, technical support, and policy expertise.

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. 

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 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:

Jean Buchanan

Recruiter Email:

hrrecruitment@deq.nc.gov