Environmental Program Consultant

Agency

Dept of Environmental Quality

Division

Office of Continuous Improvement

Job Classification Title

Environmental Program Consultant (NS)

Position Number

65040389

Grade

NC18

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.*

The primary purpose of this position is to develop and implement process improvement strategies and policies for the Office of Continuous Improvement and the Division of Water Infrastructure.

This position will assist in improving and developing policies and procedures (i.e. document and data management policies), ensuring collaboration when developing and implementing new process improvement strategies and work with staff to facilitate a smooth transition in the operations of programs. This position reviews various programs in DWI to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the services being provided. This process includes the review and evaluation of documentation and deliverables, reviewing and evaluating state and federal law requirements and reviewing data management tracking needs to determine consistency and process reengineering requirements. The position interacts and coordinates with both internal and external stakeholders including DWI executive leadership, local units of government, consultants, and other State agency representatives.

Other Key Responsibilities:
--Serve as the Division’s record retention officer acting as the critical bridge internal offices, compliance, and business operations teams.

--Ensure that physical and digital records are stored efficiently, protected securely, and disposed of legally.

--Responsible for legal compliance and risk management.

--Monitor regulatory changes and update policy and processes.

--Collaborate with various IT teams (internal and external for EBS and LaserFiche) to ensure storage systems are secure, backups are functioning, and automated deletion schedules are programmed correctly in the software.

--Conduct compliance audits.

--Develop and train staff and provide Division support by acting as the internal consultant on how to manage specific operational data.

--Identify inefficiencies and develop standard operating procedures or update policies to implement process improvement.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Recruitment Range:  $63,927 - $101,703

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) partners with programs across the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) by combining expertise in business process improvement, data strategy, compliance, grants management, and engineering.   OCI helps strengthen the systems and processes that support the Department's mission.

Working collaboratively with DEQ divisions, OCI develops and enhances workflows that enable the effective and efficient administration of grant funding for infrastructure, resilience, and disaster recovery initiatives. The office is also charged with working with divisions on data strategy, grant contract management, and grant disbursements.

Division of Water Infrastructure:

The mission of the Division of Water Infrastructure (Division) is to effectively manage the state and Federal funding programs it administers and to assist eligible applicants in meeting drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater needs to protect public health and the state’s water resources.  The Division administers multiple loan and grant programs including all programs within the Water Infrastructure Fund as described in GS 159G. These programs must be operated consistently with federal and state requirements. The Division supports the State Water Infrastructure Authority which awards the federal and state funding available for planning and construction of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure projects. All funding programs are state-wide. Funded projects may include a wide range of water infrastructure types including potable water lines, potable water treatment plants, wastewater collection lines (sanitary sewers), reclaimed water facilities, wastewater treatment plants, stormwater facilities, stream restoration projects, etc. that require a variety of technical disciplines to review. 

Division of Water Infrastructure (DWI) Process Engineering Unit (PEU) develops and implements process improvement for all Division programs to better ensure staff have the tools, resources and support to meet DWI mission and goals. The objectives of the PEU unit are to serve as the Division lead for process consistency and improvement in all programs, data management, document management and ensuring collaboration with internal and external stakeholders when developing and implementing process improvement.

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.

Master'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 three years of experience related to the area of assignment; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

A valid driver's license is required.

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