Drinking Water Protection Program Coordinator (Natural Resource Specialist 5)

State of Oregon • Portland, OR

10d • Hybrid

About The Position

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 a Drinking Water Protection Program Coordinator (Natural Resource Specialist 5) in Portland, Oregon. Please consider joining an innovative team, and working 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. Here is a video about DEQ: https://youtu.be/E-Cs6M9AAlU The Water Quality Division has a critical role in achieving the Department’s mission by developing policy, implementation tools, and implementation priorities for improving and protecting the quality of water in Oregon’s waterways. The Water Quality Division works cooperatively with the Department’s three regional offices and the Laboratory to deliver programs and services that protect and enhance the quality of the waters of the state to protect public health and the environment. The Standards, Source-water Protection, and Assessment Section is responsible for the implementation of DEQ’s Drinking Water Source Protection Program for source water protection. The section is also responsible for development and adoption of Oregon’s water quality standards, identification of outstanding resource waters and water quality limited waters, conducting a statewide water quality assessment and assembling a biennial status report on Oregon’s water quality, and providing scientific and technical assistance to the regions, laboratory, and other water quality program sections on water quality standards. For a visual representation of DEQ’s offices and their locations, view our DEQ Offices and Vehicle Inspection Testing Stations map . What you will do! You will coordinate the statewide implementation of the Drinking Water Source Protection Program, including leading and developing goals and strategies for DEQ’s Drinking Water Source Protection Program projects; leading the coordination of drinking water source protection activities with other state and federal agencies; working collaboratively with Oregon Health Authority to evaluate and solve implementation issues for the Drinking Water Source Protection program; and representing the Department at hearings and meetings with the Legislature, local government officials, other State agencies, and the public. DEQ and the Oregon Health Authority partner closely in Oregon’s Drinking Water Source Protection Program, combining expertise and resources to help communities safeguard drinking water through proactive planning and risk reduction. In addition, you will consult with other State, Federal, and local government agencies concerning natural resources-oriented studies, issues, and problems; work with other State and Federal natural resource agencies on joint strategy development; and develop cross-program strategies to evaluate emerging contaminants, nutrients, and other risks to drinking water sources. What’s in it for you! The opportunity to work in a productive and creative environment where no two days are ever the same! 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) . If you are passionate about Oregon's environment, apply today! This is a full-time, AFSCME represented position. This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies.

Requirements

• 8 years of experience in a natural resource or environmental field, with at least 1 year of experience at a technical or professional level performing activities in a natural resource program such as researching and analyzing data, conducting investigations, applying pertinent laws and regulations, or coordinating and monitoring project activities.
• Bachelor’s degree in physical science, environmental science, natural resources, or a closely related field may substitute for 3 of the required years of experience.
• Master’s degree in physical science, environmental science, environmental engineering, natural resource engineering, natural resources, or a closely related field may substitute for 4 of the required years of experience.
• Doctorate degree in physical science, environmental science, environmental engineering, natural resource engineering, natural resources, or a closely related field may substitute for 5 of the required years of experience.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated emotional intelligence and capacity to work well in a team environment and with diverse interest parties.
• Extensive knowledge of and experience with the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act, supporting federal and state laws, and associated regulations.
• Demonstrated understanding of and experience with environmental justice, including the historical impacts on marginalized and underrepresented communities; commitment to increasing personal knowledge of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Demonstrated experience building and sustaining relationships with diverse partners, including colleagues, interested parties, communities, organizations, and businesses.
• Extensive knowledge and experience with surface water/groundwater interactions, technical water quality issues, groundwater principles, nonpoint and point sources of contamination, and contamination transport.
• Extensive knowledge of current trends, emerging technologies, and evolving issues related to water quality, with the ability to anticipate and adapt to changing regulatory and technical landscapes.
• Strong skills in conflict resolution, negotiation, collaboration, and engagement, with the ability to break down barriers between programs and foster coordinated approaches to problem-solving.
• Proven leadership skills, including the ability to analyze, integrate, and balance multiple perspectives, backgrounds, and priorities; demonstrate flexibility, patience, and effective facilitation.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to convey complex policy and technical information in a clear, concise, and compelling manner; skill in preparing and presenting reports with both qualitative and quantitative analyses, supported by sound recommendations and conclusions.
• Demonstrated experience communicating complex policy and technical information to a variety of audiences.
• Experience with policy development, including identifying strategic objectives and outcomes, drafting policies, legislative proposals, and regulations related to water quality protection, management, and control.
• Excellent project management, analytical, and organizational skills, with experience in planning, leading, and implementing complex projects and programs; prior consulting or regulatory project management experience preferred.
• Ability to synthesize complex cross-program and cross-agency issues and apply multidisciplinary expertise to develop effective strategies and solutions.
• Demonstrated experience and ability to collaborate with others to achieve consensus on challenging decisions.
• Deep listening skills to understand the perspectives of others.

Responsibilities

• coordinate the statewide implementation of the Drinking Water Source Protection Program
• leading and developing goals and strategies for DEQ’s Drinking Water Source Protection Program projects
• leading the coordination of drinking water source protection activities with other state and federal agencies
• working collaboratively with Oregon Health Authority to evaluate and solve implementation issues for the Drinking Water Source Protection program
• representing the Department at hearings and meetings with the Legislature, local government officials, other State agencies, and the public
• consult with other State, Federal, and local government agencies concerning natural resources-oriented studies, issues, and problems
• work with other State and Federal natural resource agencies on joint strategy development
• develop cross-program strategies to evaluate emerging contaminants, nutrients, and other risks to drinking water sources

Benefits

• 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
• membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)
• opportunity to potentially receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level