Environmental Specialist III - Environmental Justice

State of Delaware•Dover, DE

About The Position

Environmental Justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin or income, with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies; and the equitable access to green spaces, climate resilience, public recreation opportunities and information and data on potential exposures to environmental hazards. Environmental justice seeks equity for minority and low-income communities that may be disproportionately exposed – and vulnerable – to adverse environmental impacts. Simply put, practicing environmental justice ensures that everyone has an equal seat at the table where decisions are made. Click here for more information about Environmental Justice at DNREC. Summary Statement This position is responsible for overall data management, administrative support, and coordination for the Environmental Justice (EJ) Office of the Office of the Secretary. This position assists in the development and evaluation of program activities by researching emerging EJ policies and best practices as well as analyzing data and community feedback to identify potential areas of focus. Candidate works closely with internal staff to educate and inform them on current Title VI compliance. The EJ Specialist supports the development of reports using statistical software such as ArcGIS, Microsoft Office 365 Power Apps, Smart Sheets, and other technologies to curate information for a range of audiences. This position seeks to make complex topics and information understandable to a broad audience including EJ communities, public health stakeholders, and governmental agencies. Career Ladder Upon satisfactory completion of department promotional standards and job requirements, employees may be eligible to be promoted to the next level.

Requirements

Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:
Possession of a Bachelor’s degree or higher in Environmental Planning, Biology, Environmental Science, Natural Science, Architectural History/Historical Preservation, Archaeology/Anthropology, or related field.
Two years’ experience in performing environmental specialist work which includes the analysis and assessment of environmental and/or cultural impacts of projects and/or programs.
Two years' experience in analyzing and evaluating data.
Two years’ experience in technical report writing.
Two years’ experience in ensuring compliance with environmental laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures.
One year experience in environmental project management which includes planning, developing, implementing, managing and evaluating environmental projects to ensure objectives are met.

Nice To Haves

Applicants who do not possess the preferred qualification will still be eligible to compete for this position if job requirements are met.
Experience in oral and written proficiency in Spanish and/or Haitian Creole

Responsibilities

Performs environmental specialist work in an environmental specialty area such as wildlife/endangered species, wetlands and vegetation, noise, air quality, civil rights, architecture/historic properties, and archaeology sites.
Provides guidance and technical assistance to engineering and project personnel, representatives from local, state and federal agencies, and project stakeholders to incorporate environmental and sociocultural considerations into project and/or program activities.
Ensures that State project and/or program plans, construction and maintenance are all in compliance with local, state and federal laws, rules and regulations related to water quality, wetlands, air quality, noise, wildlife, civil rights, historic preservation, and recreational sites.
Conducts research, field studies and evaluations for compliance with regulatory requirements; observes, collects, analyzes, reviews and interprets data, technical reports, and regulatory submissions to make recommendations on project and/or program alternatives.
Prepares technical reports, documentation on consultation efforts, project effect documentation, permits, and Memorandums of Agreement.
Coordinates and negotiates with local, state and federal regulatory agencies to obtain necessary permits or approvals and ensure project delivery of proposed construction related activities that may affect environmental or cultural resources.
Makes recommendations and negotiates mitigation efforts with project managers, regulatory agencies and other project stakeholders; ensures these commitments are met.
Meets with engineering and other project personnel, state agency personnel, project stakeholders and regulatory agencies to resolve resource compliance issues and keep project/programs moving to completion.
Formulates plans and policies to preserve and enhance the social and natural environment.
May meet with community leaders, special interest groups, resource agencies, the general public, or other affected parties to provide outreach and education on environmental impacts, mitigation, and environmental stewardship using a variety of forums such as seminars, workshops, conferences, newsletters, assessments, and analytical reports.
May review draft environmental or cultural legislation proposals, regulations, or rule changes and provide comments regarding the proposed changes as they relate to the development of projects and/or programs.