Environmental Remediation Coordinator (Operations and Policy Analyst 3)

State of Oregon • Street, MD

3d • 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 an Environmental Remediation Coordinator (Operations and Policy Analyst 3) 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 Land Quality programs support this mission by assessing and managing environmental cleanups, promoting manufacturing and recycling of non-toxic commercial products, safely managing the disposal of solid and hazardous wastes, administering the state’s underground storage tank and heating oil tank programs, and responding to spills of oil and hazardous materials. 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 play a key role in implementing the State of Oregon vs. Monsanto Settlement Fund by providing expertise in environmental remediation and supporting the Environmental Restoration Council. This fund was created through legislation (SB 1561) passed in the February 2024 Legislative Session. The legislative intent for this fund is that earnings are used to supplement efforts by recognized tribal governments, executive branch agencies, and disproportionately impacted communities for environmental remediation or restitution projects, or for purposes or projects having a nexus with environmental harms to air, water, soil, or other natural resources or human health caused by environmental contamination, particularly the presence of PCBs. You will report directly to the Land Quality Administrator and work as part of a closely coordinated, interagency team that includes the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to develop rules, establish grant programs, and identify environmental restoration priorities that benefit human health and the environment. You will lead outreach and engagement efforts, particularly with disproportionately impacted communities, to ensure transparent and effective investment of settlement funds. In addition, you will work across agencies to integrate priorities into programs and adapt program implementation based on interested party feedback. 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

• 7 years of experience performing professional-level evaluative, analytical, and planning work.
• Substitutions: Bachelor’s degree in business or public administration, behavioral or social sciences, finance, political science, or a closely related field may substitute for 3 of the required years of experience.
• Master’s degree in business or public administration, behavioral or social sciences, finance, political science, or a closely related field may substitute for 4 of the required years of experience.
• Doctorate degree in business or public administration, behavioral or social sciences, finance, political science, or a closely related field may substitute for 5 of the required years of experience.

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 conducting in-depth evaluations of program rules, policies, and operations, and adapting or creating new procedures to solve program issues.
• Education and experience in natural sciences; experience implementing a technical environmental science program for a government agency.
• Environmental science, natural resources, or community focused public policy program and project management and analysis experience, including development, implementation, and evaluation of projects; or experience developing program performance metrics.
• Strong research and policy analysis skills and experience.
• Excellent program or project management skills, including the ability to track and coordinate project tasks and participation by project team members.
• Demonstrated experience building and fostering relationships with a diverse group of partners including colleagues, interested parties, communities, organizations, and businesses.
• 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.
• Highly motivated; a willingness to take initiative; ability to work creatively to find solutions; innovative; and excellent problem-solving skills involving detailed thinking for solving complex issues.
• Experience with community engagement; experience coordinating committees representing diverse perspectives in order to reach a common goal.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to provide clear, concise, and compelling communication of policy, program, or technical information tailored to the needs of diverse audiences; skill in writing and presenting clear and concise program briefs or reports that include analyses, recommendations, and conclusions to diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Implementing the State of Oregon vs. Monsanto Settlement Fund by providing expertise in environmental remediation and supporting the Environmental Restoration Council.
• Developing rules, establishing grant programs, and identifying environmental restoration priorities that benefit human health and the environment.
• Leading outreach and engagement efforts, particularly with disproportionately impacted communities, to ensure transparent and effective investment of settlement funds.
• Working across agencies to integrate priorities into programs and adapt program implementation based on interested party feedback.

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).

What This Job Offers

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