Environmental Manager

State of Indiana•Lowell, IN

12d•$53,222•Hybrid

About The Position

Work for Indiana Begin a fulfilling career with the State of Indiana by joining one of the largest employers in the state, offering a range of opportunities across 60+ agencies. At the state, you'll find competitive compensation, a robust benefits package and a commitment to work-life balance. Most importantly, you'll have the chance to make a real and measurable impact on the lives of Hoosiers across Indiana. About Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM): Our mission is to implement federal and state regulations to protect human health and the environment while allowing the environmentally sound operations of industrial, agricultural, commercial, and governmental activities vital to a prosperous economy. We issue air, water, and solid and hazardous waste permits that restrict discharges to environmentally safe levels. Staff members inspect and monitor regulated entities; provide compliance and technical assistance; monitor and assess air, land, and water quality; use enforcement actions as necessary to ensure compliance; and respond to incidents involving spills to soil or waters of the state. Role Overview: The position listed exists within the Northwest Regional Office, External Partner Services division of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. The position works with the Office of Air Quality (OAQ) and is responsible for effectively using a variety of compliance and enforcement tools and resources to improve air quality in Indiana. The incumbent will work independently as an environmental compliance and enforcement staff member to ensure that regulated sources maintain compliance with state and federal laws, regulations, and standards. The incumbent conducts permitted facility compliance inspections, investigates complaints, determines sources of air pollution, analyzes problems, and recommends actions to bring sources into compliance, including gathering evidence and serving as an expert witness at adjudicatory proceedings. The role also requires applying appropriate enforcement responses to return noncompliant sources to compliance, maintaining broad knowledge of relevant laws, regulations, environmental health sciences, and environmental protection practices. Additional duties include reviewing reports and proposed permits, taking enforcement actions according to agency policies and SOPs, and serving as a subject-matter expert for an assigned inspection sector. The position will be stationed at IDEM's Northwest Regional Office located in Valparaiso, Indiana. The position will report the Valparaiso office. The position will be responsible for inspections and responding to complaints within an assigned work area. The assigned work area may be in any of the 12 counties (Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, Jasper, Starke, Pulaski, Marshall, Fulton, Carroll, Cass, and Miami) covered by the Northwest Regional Office. The position involves frequent daytime travel. Minimal overnight travel may be required. A valid Indiana driver’s license is required. A vehicle is provided for daily travel while on duty. Salary: The salary for this position traditionally starts at $53,222.00 but may be commensurate with education and work experience. Use our Compensation Calculator to view the total compensation package. A Day in the Life: The essential functions of this role are as follows: Serves as an environmental expert and provides guidance to regulated communities, government officials, attorneys and staff responsible for a variety of programs and program elements. Project Management: Performs project management duties to ensure effective and timely management of program area needs, attends meetings, and responds to telephone calls, e-mails, etc., as required. Acts as a technical point-of-contact for assigned programs administering environmental programs which may include, but not limited to, environmental media sampling, data analysis, technical writing, work plan and report preparation, technical reviews, etc. Permits: Researches state and federal guidance, laws, and regulations related to permits. Contacts applicants to request additional information to process applications, when necessary. Responds to comments from applicants, defends permit terms and conditions, and interacts with permittees to resolve permitting issues. Attends and participates in public meetings and hearings regarding permit actions throughout Indiana and/or appears in legal appeals of permit actions. Inspection: Conducts surveys, inspections and investigations of facilities and sites, review projects/situations, reads plans, interprets findings, and cites appropriate violations of state and federal regulations. Provides technical and regulatory guidance to the regulated community in their assigned geographic area. Enforcement & Compliance: Uses all compliance, enforcement tools, and resources available to ensure that regulated sources return to compliance with state and federal laws, regulations, and standards in a timely manner. Support Services: Works to support the various programs in assigned agency in multiple capacities. Sampling: Assists with the preparation of sampling and analysis work plans. Conducts field work as necessary following agency/section Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for assigned sites. Technical Analysis & Testing: Conducts technical analysis and/or provides technical insights to assess environmental impacts with goals to meet state and national regulations. Outreach Coordination: Communicates effectively with responsible parties, consultants, and/or their representatives, affected stakeholders, and interested parties such as citizens, public officials, and interest groups in a courteous and professional manner regarding permits, laws, questions, and program-related inquiries. Essential functions of this position require travel on most workdays to inspect, audit, examine, survey, or investigate clients, customers, or other regulated entities and write reports at various sites depending on business needs. Employee reports to the agency’s office for occasional meetings or events. Number and timing of work hours may vary daily or weekly to accommodate operational needs and staffing concerns at the client’s or customer’s worksite, minimize expenditures for repeated visits to complete the work, and allocate resources to complete assigned work effectively. The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice. This position is exempt from overtime compensation for additional work hours which may be required to complete essential functions or other assigned work. Exempt employees may work more than 75 hours in a pay period without additional compensation and must report a minimum of 75 hours per pay period of work hours and/or paid leave taken to receive their base biweekly salary.

Requirements

Broad knowledge of theories, environmental protection principles and practices, specialty area, and program area.
Thorough knowledge of chemistry, biology, hydrology, mathematics, engineering, and other environmental sciences as they relate to program area.
Thorough knowledge of soil, water, air sampling, laboratory analysis and interpretation as it relates to program area.
Ability to conduct surveys, inspections and investigations of facilities and sites, review projects/situations, read plans, interpret findings, and make recommendations.
Ability to prepare documents for administrative and regulatory action.
Excellent research and writing skills for preparing accurate, precise, clear, and thorough reports.
Ability to effectively interact and orally communicate with parties with diverse levels of environmental expertise particularly for purposes of meetings, hearings, and negotiating critically sensitive issues.
Ability to interpret and apply legal terminology and practices, and the ability to apply these in a variety of conditions and situations.
At least five (5) years of environmental or environmental public health experience applying the outlined knowledge, skills, and abilities in a similar role may be considered.
Ability to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
A valid Indiana driver’s license is required.

Nice To Haves

A degree is not required.

Responsibilities

Serves as an environmental expert and provides guidance to regulated communities, government officials, attorneys and staff responsible for a variety of programs and program elements.
Performs project management duties to ensure effective and timely management of program area needs, attends meetings, and responds to telephone calls, e-mails, etc., as required.
Acts as a technical point-of-contact for assigned programs administering environmental programs which may include, but not limited to, environmental media sampling, data analysis, technical writing, work plan and report preparation, technical reviews, etc.
Researches state and federal guidance, laws, and regulations related to permits.
Contacts applicants to request additional information to process applications, when necessary.
Responds to comments from applicants, defends permit terms and conditions, and interacts with permittees to resolve permitting issues.
Attends and participates in public meetings and hearings regarding permit actions throughout Indiana and/or appears in legal appeals of permit actions.
Conducts surveys, inspections and investigations of facilities and sites, review projects/situations, reads plans, interprets findings, and cites appropriate violations of state and federal regulations.
Provides technical and regulatory guidance to the regulated community in their assigned geographic area.
Uses all compliance, enforcement tools, and resources available to ensure that regulated sources return to compliance with state and federal laws, regulations, and standards in a timely manner.
Works to support the various programs in assigned agency in multiple capacities.
Assists with the preparation of sampling and analysis work plans.
Conducts field work as necessary following agency/section Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for assigned sites.
Conducts technical analysis and/or provides technical insights to assess environmental impacts with goals to meet state and national regulations.
Communicates effectively with responsible parties, consultants, and/or their representatives, affected stakeholders, and interested parties such as citizens, public officials, and interest groups in a courteous and professional manner regarding permits, laws, questions, and program-related inquiries.
Conducts permitted facility compliance inspections, investigates complaints, determines sources of air pollution, analyzes problems, and recommends actions to bring sources into compliance, including gathering evidence and serving as an expert witness at adjudicatory proceedings.
Applies appropriate enforcement responses to return noncompliant sources to compliance.
Reviews reports and proposed permits.
Takes enforcement actions according to agency policies and SOPs.
Serves as a subject-matter expert for an assigned inspection sector.

Benefits

Competitive compensation
Robust benefits package
Commitment to work-life balance
Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans
Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards
Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution
Deferred compensation 457(b) account (similar to 401(k) plan) with employer match
Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options
A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to: 150 hours of paid New Parent Leave and up to eight weeks of paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothers
Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave
Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off
12 paid holidays, 14 on election years
Education Reimbursement Program
Group life insurance
Referral Bonus program
Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits
Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
Free Parking for most positions
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