Division Environmental Officer

State of North Carolina•Division Office Pitt, NC

2d•$67,122 - $117,465•Onsite

About The Position

This position will be responsible for ensuring that Division Maintenance and Construction projects tasked by the Division Engineer are in compliance with environmental laws and regulations. Responsible for ensuring all necessary biological, natural resource, wetlands and protected species issues have been thoroughly investigated and technical input provided to the Division Project Development Unit and other Units in support of environmental documents for selected projects located in the Division. Conduct field investigations of plant and animal species in diverse habitats located within and adjacent to transportation corridors. Identify jurisdictional wetlands from non-jurisdictional uplands within transportation corridors. Conduct rare species surveys. Prepare technical reports, biological assessments, minimum criteria determination checklists, and categorical exclusions. Determine what environmental regulation permits are required. Schedule project familiarization conference with state and federal regulation agencies. Prepare and submit permit applicants and exhibits to regulatory agencies. Negotiate permit conditions with regulatory agencies. Advise design engineers and project managers of unusual or sensitive environmental resources. This position will also identify and help manage environmental risks to ensure project delivery. Assist in development of strategic environmental plans and initiatives to enhance project schedules and project design feasibility. Mediate disputes between regulatory agencies and transportation construction managers. Advise transportation construction manager of deficiencies in environmental regulation compliance. Advise successful bidders about regulatory requirements. Conduct preconstruction and permit review meetings with environmental agencies, contractors, and NCDOT personnel to review and interpret permit conditions and environmental commitments for Division projects. Assist construction and maintenance engineers in ensuring environmental compliance with waste and borrow site reclamation plans. Conduct training as required for Division staff on pertinent environmental topics and provide informal training on environmental issues during site visits. Serve as a point of contact for State and Federal agencies, wildlife refuges, primate environmental entities, local government officials and board of Transportation members. Assist in the assessment of potential National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and best management practice (BMP) sites for NPDES Permit compliance. Submit requests through the Etracs systems and maintain documentation in project files. Considerable knowledge of technical and scientific concepts of natural science and environmental science as they apply to transportation planning and environmental assessment. Working knowledge of wetland systems, biological communities and the relationship of highways, bridges, and highway development to streams and wildlife. Considerable knowledge of federal and state regulations governing the work supervised. Ability to plan, conduct and review projects of a technical nature and prepare technical reports, biological assessments and other environmental documentation as required by state and federal laws. Ability to handle with tact, consistency and professional judgment the diversity of public contacts and demands of consultation and enforcement. Ability to plan, organize and direct work operations and work with tight deadline constraints. Ability to train and supervise subordinate staff. Ability to review and critique the work of others.

Requirements

Considerable knowledge of technical and scientific concepts of natural science and environmental science as they apply to transportation planning and environmental assessment.
Working knowledge of wetland systems, biological communities and the relationship of highways, bridges, and highway development to streams and wildlife.
Considerable knowledge of federal and state regulations governing the work supervised.
Ability to plan, conduct and review projects of a technical nature and prepare technical reports, biological assessments and other environmental documentation as required by state and federal laws.
Ability to handle with tact, consistency and professional judgment the diversity of public contacts and demands of consultation and enforcement.
Ability to plan, organize and direct work operations and work with tight deadline constraints.
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 three years of progressive experience in environmental work; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of state and federal environmental regulations relating to SEPA and NEPA guidelines and preparation of related environmental documentation.
Experience with the preparation of 404 and 401 and permit applications and related exhibits.
Experience conducting natural resource field evaluations such as stream and wetland delineation, threatened and endangered species surveys, and basic knowledge of SHPO issues.
Experience serving as environmental liaison between NC DOT staff, consultants, resource agencies, environmental regulators, and the general public (stakeholders) with consistency and sound judgment.
Experience planning, conducting and reviewing projects of a technical nature and evaluate construction and maintenance projects for environmental compliance and stewardship.

Responsibilities

Ensuring Division Maintenance and Construction projects are in compliance with environmental laws and regulations.
Investigating biological, natural resource, wetlands, and protected species issues and providing technical input for environmental documents.
Conducting field investigations of plant and animal species in diverse habitats.
Identifying jurisdictional wetlands.
Conducting rare species surveys.
Preparing technical reports, biological assessments, minimum criteria determination checklists, and categorical exclusions.
Determining required environmental regulation permits.
Scheduling project familiarization conferences with regulatory agencies.
Preparing and submitting permit applications and exhibits.
Negotiating permit conditions with regulatory agencies.
Advising design engineers and project managers of sensitive environmental resources.
Identifying and managing environmental risks to ensure project delivery.
Assisting in the development of strategic environmental plans and initiatives.
Mediating disputes between regulatory agencies and construction managers.
Advising construction managers of deficiencies in environmental regulation compliance.
Advising successful bidders about regulatory requirements.
Conducting preconstruction and permit review meetings.
Assisting engineers in ensuring environmental compliance with waste and borrow site reclamation plans.
Conducting training for Division staff on environmental topics.
Serving as a point of contact for State and Federal agencies, wildlife refuges, environmental entities, local government officials, and board of Transportation members.
Assisting in the assessment of potential NPDES and BMP sites for NPDES Permit compliance.
Submitting requests through the Etracs system and maintaining documentation.
Training and supervising subordinate staff.
Reviewing and critiquing the work of others.