Onsite Resource Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 3 – Environmental Health Specialist / Natural Resource Specialist 3 – Underfill)

State of Oregon • Medford, OR

2d • $5,712 - $8,757 • 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 Onsite Resource Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 3 – Environmental Health Specialist / Natural Resource Specialist 3 – Underfill) in Medford, 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 Water Quality Division’s mission is to protect and improve Oregon's water quality. Protecting Oregon's rivers, lakes, streams, and groundwater quality keeps these waters safe for a multitude of beneficial uses such as drinking water, fish habitat, recreation, and irrigation. This is accomplished by developing and implementing water quality standards and clean water plans; regulating sewage treatment systems, industrial dischargers, and individual onsite septic systems; collecting and evaluating water quality data; providing grants and technical assistance to reduce non-point pollution sources; and providing loans to communities to build treatment facilities.
Over 30% of Oregonians dispose of wastewater from their homes and businesses through the use of septic systems. The siting, design, installation, and ongoing operation and maintenance of septic systems, as well as sewage disposal service licensing, are regulated through the Onsite Wastewater Management Program. Without this oversight, septic systems can fail or malfunction and sewage may be disposed of improperly, thus polluting Oregon’s land and waterways with raw sewage and creating public health hazards.
The Onsite Wastewater Management Program (septic systems) is administered through intergovernmental agreements for 33 counties and is directly administered by DEQ in 3 counties. This position will support Jackson, Josephine, and Curry Counties.
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 serve as an Onsite Wastewater Management Program technical expert in the evaluation, inspection, and permitting of onsite septic systems in Jackson, Josephine, and Curry Counties. Hundreds of onsite applications are submitted to the Medford office each year from individual homeowners, small businesses, and licensed installers. In addition to these applications, the Medford office receives technical questions from the public regarding the program’s requirements and the care and maintenance of septic systems. The office also receives complaints regarding potential septic system violations, some of which can lead to enforcement actions. In addition, local interested parties occasionally request the assistance of the local onsite technical expert to attend meetings and present information.
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

• 6 years of experience in a natural resource or environmental field
• At least 1 year of experience at a technical or professional level performing activities in a natural resource program such as researching and analyzing data, conducting investigations, applying pertinent laws and regulations, or coordinating and monitoring project activities
• Registration by the Oregon Health Licensing Agency as an Environmental Health Specialist or Waste Water Specialist. (Continued employment in this position will be contingent upon the successful applicant maintaining the required registration).
• 10 hours of soil science courses in Introductory Soil Science, Soil Morphology, Physical Geology, and Geomorphology.
• Valid driver’s license and complete the defensive driving safety class every two (2) years.

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.
• Knowledge and skill in the classification, characteristics, and behavior of soils and the transport of water and wastewater through soils is required.
• Knowledge of onsite wastewater treatment system technology and requirements for permitting; experience inspecting and evaluating onsite septic systems.
• Experience investigating environmental complaints.
• Experience reviewing design plans for new construction, alterations, and repairs of wastewater treatment systems.
• Experience regulating sewage treatment systems including issuing permits and authorizations for new construction, alterations, or repairs of onsite septic systems.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to provide clear, concise, and compelling communication of policy and technical information tailored to the needs of diverse audiences; skill in writing and presenting clear and concise reports that include qualitative and quantitative analyses, recommendations, and conclusions to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated experience building and fostering relationships with a diverse group of partners including colleagues, interested parties, communities, organizations, and businesses.

Responsibilities

• Serve as an Onsite Wastewater Management Program technical expert in the evaluation, inspection, and permitting of onsite septic systems in Jackson, Josephine, and Curry Counties.
• Respond to technical questions from the public regarding the program’s requirements and the care and maintenance of septic systems.
• Investigate complaints regarding potential septic system violations, some of which can lead to enforcement actions.
• Attend meetings and present information to local interested parties as the local onsite technical expert.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans for the employee and their qualified family members
• Paid sick leave
• Vacation leave
• Personal leave
• 11 paid holidays a year
• Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)
• 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