Environmental Specialist III - Augusta

State of Maine•Augusta, ME

23h•$27 - $38

About The Position

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is seeking candidates for an Environmental Specialist III position vacancy within the Division of Water Quality Management, Bureau of Water Quality. This position is a wastewater discharge permit writer in the Division of Water Quality Management (DWQM). The position reviews applications & drafts wastewater discharge permits for a variety of industrial, commercial, and municipal discharges and overboard discharge permits for a variety of commercial and residential dischargers, as well as other point source dischargers. The position interacts closely with compliance, enforcement, and technical engineering staff in the DWQM and water quality engineers and biologists in the Division of Environmental Assessment (DEA). This position also interacts with federal and state regulatory agencies as well as the regulated community and other interested parties. There will be some remote work opportunities available with this position based upon Department approval and the DEP Telework policy.

Requirements

A six (6) year combination of education and/or experience in environmental, biological, physical science, or engineering which includes two (2) years of environmental experience.
Qualifying education must include at least 15 credit hours of science or engineering coursework from an accredited educational institution.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of the laws and regulations applicable to the design and operations of wastewater treatment facilities.
Knowledge of water pollution issues and science.
Ability to understand and follow verbal and written instructions and manage multiple projects.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Ability to identify and analyze problems, reach logical conclusions, and make sound decisions; and to solve problems independently.
Ability to use tact and diplomacy to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
Exceptional skill collaborating with diverse internal and external stakeholders to resolve issues and complete complex projects within established timelines.
Experience in technical writing.

Responsibilities

Reviews applications & drafts wastewater discharge permits for a variety of industrial, commercial, and municipal discharges
Drafts overboard discharge permits for a variety of commercial and residential dischargers, as well as other point source dischargers
Interacts closely with compliance, enforcement, and technical engineering staff in the DWQM and water quality engineers and biologists in the Division of Environmental Assessment (DEA)
Interacts with federal and state regulatory agencies as well as the regulated community and other interested parties.

Benefits

Work-Life Balance – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($11,857.68-$13,950.24 annual value), depending on salary.
Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%.
Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value).
Retirement Plan – The State of Maine contributes 14.11% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
Gym Membership Reimbursement – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts – Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness – The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program.
Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive forty-two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Voluntary Deferred Compensation – Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.