Air Quality Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 1)

State of Oregon•Street, MD

18h•Hybrid

About The Position

Note: Effective Feb. 1, 2026, the compensation plan for this position will be increased to reflect a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) of 2.5%. The salary listed in this posting does not reflect the COLA. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality strives to build and sustain an inclusive and equitable environment that embraces and values diversity. Employees at all levels of the agency work together to foster fairness, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We strive to be a workplace where we share our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals, and while collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations. We celebrate and appreciate diversity, champion equity, and treat each other with respect and dignity. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, age, or physical or mental disability in the administration of our programs and activities. Visit DEQ’s Civil Rights and Environmental Justice page. Are you passionate about preserving, enhancing, and protecting Oregon’s environment? If so, please consider a career with the State of Oregon at the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). At DEQ, employees have the opportunity to work with a dynamic and supportive team of mission-focused individuals tasked with maintaining, restoring, and enhancing the quality of Oregon’s air, land, and water. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a full-time opportunity available for an Air Quality Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 1) in Portland, Oregon. Please consider joining an innovative team, and work to advance our agency’s mission to protect and improve Oregon’s environmental quality. About DEQ! The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is the primary regulatory agency of the government of the U.S. State of Oregon responsible for protecting and enhancing the state's natural resources. The Air Quality Division is responsible for protecting the air resources of the state through program planning and development, industrial source control, motor vehicle inspections, and control of other sources of air pollution. The Air Quality Division administers the federal air quality program, by delegation and approval from EPA, and state requirements. This position sits within DEQ’s Northwest Region’s Air Quality section. Regions provide the following services: compliance inspection of regulated entities; enforcement of permit requirements and administrative rules; issuance of air, water, and solid waste permits; investigation of complaints; issuance of subsurface permits in counties; response to spills or other incidents with environmental impacts; direct contact and liaison with other governmental entities, industries, and the public; and technical assistance to regulated entities and the public.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences, natural resources, physical science, or a closely related field, OR 3 years of experience in an environmental science or natural resources field.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated understanding of environmental justice and the historical impacts for marginalized and underrepresented communities; ability to take personal responsibility for increasing their knowledge of environmental justice and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Experience and knowledge in industrial source operations, compliance inspection methods, and air quality permitting; experience working with ACDP permits and sources.
Experience in providing technical assistance to industry, the public, and governmental agencies on environmental laws, procedures, and issues.
Experience investigating complaints, documenting violations, writing inspection reports, and writing enforcement referrals.
Demonstrated proficiency in MS Excel; demonstrated experience using and maintaining databases.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills; demonstrated ability to write reports and letters that are easily understood by the public.
Ability to deal diplomatically with upset or adversarial individuals in person and on the phone.
Experience in reviewing and interpreting environmental regulations, laws, and technical guidance.
Ability to calculate emissions using a formula and emission factors.

Responsibilities

You will process permits for well-defined industrial, commercial, and municipal air quality sources where the permit templates need minimal technical input.
You will provide assistance to such facilities and perform on-site inspections.
When deviations are noted, you will assist in determining compliance with air quality statutes and regulations of those sources.
You will investigate complaints and recommend specific actions to resolve those complaints.
In addition, you will recommend enforcement to the Northwest Region Air Quality program manager when violations of statutes, permits, or rules are observed and documented.

Benefits

DEQ cares deeply about employee wellness and benefits.
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).

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