Environmental Specialist I or II

ROC•Eugene, OR

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) is hiring an Environmental Specialist I or II to develop, recommend, and implement plans, strategies, programs, and projects that manage or mitigate operational environmental impacts, improve environmental performance, and leverage resources to extend the reach and value of EWEB’s environmental management strategies. The Environmental department is described as a welcoming, supportive team committed to learning, empowerment, and taking ownership of work as new issues and regulations emerge. Environmental Specialist I duties include responding in the field to environmental emergencies and spills; developing procedures and providing compliance training; conducting environmental audits and hazardous-waste determinations; coordinating hazardous and special-waste disposal; monitoring and reporting water and air quality; mapping and documenting field data in databases or GIS; integrating water-quality, stream-flow, water-rights, industrial-facility permit, and non-point-source data; and supporting utility-wide environmental permitting. Permitting work may include joint permit applications, project resource reviews, construction monitoring, and wetland mitigation and monitoring. The role also supports compliance at EWEB-owned hydro facilities by monitoring compliance issues, coordinating license and permit needs, auditing ongoing compliance, attending inspections, maintaining compliance databases, and supporting compliance tracking systems and employee education programs. Environmental Specialist II duties also include managing communications with outside agencies in coordination with Senior and/or Principal Environmental Specialists; managing large, complex, multi-task projects within larger programs; designing and developing project data-management systems; managing project-level RFP, bidding, and contractor selection; and working with partners and stakeholders. The role may help design and facilitate meetings, provide technical support and recommendations to Environmental staff, assist with implementation of management and monitoring programs, and help train EWEB Operations staff on environmental matters. The position is based in Eugene, Oregon, and is approved for a hybrid arrangement combining telecommuting and onsite work. The selected candidate must live in Oregon. The position requires 40-hour HAZWOPER training within six months, a valid driver’s license, and successful post-offer background and drug tests. Applicants must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer; EWEB cannot sponsor employment visas.

Requirements

Environmental Specialist I: Bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, physical science, engineering, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
Environmental Specialist I: At least three years of experience with projects or programs regarding environmental issues.
Environmental Specialist II: Bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, physical science, engineering, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
Environmental Specialist II: At least five years of experience with projects or programs regarding environmental issues.
40-hour HAZWOPER training must be completed within six months.
Valid driver’s license.
Knowledge or experience in some or all of the following: public-health impacts of hazardous wastes and toxic substances and personal-protection requirements; environmental and land-use laws, rules, regulations, standards, and requirements; wetland regulations and mitigation design and familiarity with ACOE/DSL permit requirements; and environmental-management-systems theory and practices.
Skills in critical thinking, complex problem solving, systems analysis, data analysis including spreadsheet analysis and GIS data inquiry and familiarity with data validation, and writing for audience needs.
Ability to communicate complex environmental issues effectively in writing and verbally to people with less subject-matter knowledge.
Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with employees, regulatory agencies, consultants, and the general public.
Ability to demonstrate cultural competency through respectful and inclusive work habits and valuing and welcoming cultural differences.
Ability to organize, administer, and manage projects.
Ability to walk, hike, or stand for long periods and carry, deploy, and collect equipment and materials weighing up to 40 pounds on uneven, rugged, and slippery terrain, in varying weather, and sometimes in remote locations.
Must live in Oregon and be authorized to work for any employer in the United States; EWEB cannot sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa.
Successful post-offer background check and drug test required.

Nice To Haves

FERC hydro licensing and compliance knowledge.
Experience working for a utility.

Responsibilities

Respond to environmental emergencies and spills in the field.
Develop procedures and provide training to help ensure environmental compliance.
Conduct environmental audits and hazardous-waste determinations, and coordinate hazardous- and special-waste disposal.
Monitor and report water and air quality; conduct field mapping; and document field data in databases or GIS.
Integrate water-quality, stream-flow, water-rights, industrial-facility permit, and non-point-source data.
Participate in utility-wide environmental permitting, including joint permit applications, project resource reviews, construction monitoring, and wetland mitigation and monitoring.
Support environmental compliance at EWEB-owned hydro facilities by monitoring compliance issues, coordinating license and permit needs, auditing activities, and attending regulatory and resource-agency inspections.
Develop and maintain compliance databases and tracking systems, keep compliance tasks updated, and assist with employee education programs.
For Specialist II: Manage communications with outside agencies in coordination with Senior and/or Principal Environmental Specialists.
For Specialist II: Manage large, complex, multi-task projects that relate to larger programs managed by Senior or Principal Environmental Specialists.
For Specialist II: Design and develop data-management systems for large projects and ensure project data feeds into larger data-management structures.
For Specialist II: Manage project-level RFP, bidding, and contractor-selection processes.
Work with partners and stakeholders to support successful project outcomes.
Assist Senior and/or Principal Environmental Specialists in designing and facilitating meetings that further program reach and understanding.
Provide technical support and recommendations to Environmental staff; assist with implementation and provide technical advice for management and monitoring programs.
May assist with training EWEB Operations staff on environmental matters.
Organize, administer, and manage projects while maintaining effective working relationships and communicating complex environmental issues clearly.
Carry, deploy, and collect equipment and materials weighing up to 40 pounds, and walk, hike, or stand for extended periods in varied terrain, weather, and sometimes remote locations.