The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality strives to build and sustain an inclusive environment that embraces and values diversity. Employees at all levels of the agency work together to foster fairness, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or physical or mental disability. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may not meet every one of our listed preferred qualifications. Lived experience may count towards the preferred qualification. If you are excited about this position, we encourage you to apply. If you are unsure as to whether or not you meet the qualifications of this position, please contact us to discuss your application.

Are you committed to supporting environmental stewardship through compelling communications and storytelling? Are you interested in advancing Oregon’s approach to conserving resources and promoting well-being by creating engaging messages, reports, and other informational materials? If so, please consider applying for the Materials Management Public Affairs Specialist (Public Affairs Specialist 1) with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

This position will be limited duration for 2 years with the potential of being extended or made permanent pending Budget and Legislature approval.

The Materials Management Public Affairs Specialist will play an important role in DEQ’s Materials Management Program, which is focused on reducing the environmental and social impacts of materials and products throughout their full life cycle. We work with partners statewide and beyond to advance Oregon’s 2050 Vision for Materials Management and Framework for Action in order to conserve resources, protect the environment, and enhance well-being. This full-time opportunity is based in Portland, OR and sits within the Life Cycle Programs section, which supports the 2050 Vision through innovative, collaborative, and research-based work.

The Materials Management Program is part of DEQ’s Land Quality Division. Land Quality programs support DEQ’s mission through a wide range of environmental work, such as assessing and managing environmental cleanups, safely managing the disposal of solid and hazardous wastes, and responding to spills of oil and hazardous materials. Consider joining a dedicated team and helping advance our agency’s mission to protect and improve Oregon’s environmental quality.

Here is a video about DEQ: https://youtu.be/E-Cs6M9AAlU. Click here to view a map of all of the DEQ offices.

What you will do!

You will support the Materials Management Program’s communication, outreach, and engagement activities by carrying out specific communications tasks and operations to ensure successful, high-quality, and inclusive communications for a wide variety of audiences. You will apply standard communication and analytical methods to convey information in different formats and styles such as newsletters, fact sheets, presentation slides, infographics, formal reports and research, and more. To do this, you will implement program and agency processes to ensure compliance with communications standards, accessibility requirements, and communications best practices. All of your work will be based on a foundation of equity, inclusion, and environmental justice.

What’s in it for you!

You will get the opportunity to protect the public and the environment by promoting waste prevention, and proper recycling disposal of residual wastes. You will also get to collaborate with dedicated co-workers in an organization that is continuously changing and improving. You will have the opportunity to work in a productive and creative environment where no two days are ever the same! 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.

What are we looking for?

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in a business or public administration, behavioral or social sciences, public relations, public administration, marketing, journalism, or a related degree, OR 3 years of technical or higher-level experience in public relations, communications, or public affairs.

Candidates who are most competitive will also reflect the following attributes and skills:

• Environmental Justice and DEI: Demonstrated understanding of environmental justice and the historical impacts for marginalized and underrepresented communities; ability to take personal responsibility for increasing your knowledge of environmental justice and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Strong Verbal and Writing Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills; strong grasp of grammar, storytelling techniques, writing, formatting, and designing materials and information for different audiences.
• Communicate Complex Information: Ability to provide clear, concise, and compelling communication of policy and technical information tailored to the needs of diverse audiences; experience explaining complex technical issues in plain language and in ways that are culturally relevant.
• Public Sector Communications: Experience and understanding of public sector communications processes and expectations, including formatting and accessibility requirements, newsletter and website platforms, and best practices for creating public communications materials, such as fact sheets, reports, presentations, and talking points.
• Project Management: Knowledge of project management methods, techniques, and principles, and experience managing communications projects.
• Building Relationships: Demonstrated experience building and fostering relationships with a diverse group of internal partners including peers, subject matter experts, managers, and leadership, as well as external partners, including community members, nonprofit organizations, other government agencies, and businesses.
• Sustainability and Environmental Protection Communications: Interest in and experience providing internal and external communications about environmental or sustainability programs.

Working Conditions:

DEQ believes in a diverse and inclusive work environment. All employees are expected to contribute to a work environment that collectively values and benefits from respecting its diversity and promotes a culture of inclusiveness.

This position will be based out of the DEQ’s Headquarters in Portland, however, the successful candidate is eligible for hybrid work. The logistics of hybrid work will need to be worked out with the Hiring Manager prior to your hire and may be changed at any time given specific job duties and business needs. DEQ will provide necessary hardware (laptop, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and cell phone) for an employee to successfully work from home. At DEQ sites, you will have access to a workspace, however, it may be shared with other employees.

This position requires occasional travel for meetings, conferences, trainings, career fairs, presentations, and public hearings, some of which may include evening work, weekend work, and/or overnight stays. There will be occasional lifting of objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

How to Apply: (complete the application in full)

• External Applicants Click on the “Apply” button and submit your application. Click this link for the External Candidate job aid, and view this video for additional information.
• Internal Applicants (current State of Oregon employees): Apply through your employee Workday account.  View this knowledge article for assistance.

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Please Note: In addition to your related work experience and education, DEQ will use the desired attributes and minimum qualifications above, under the “What are we looking for?” section to determine whom to interview. Please make sure your attributes and minimum qualifications are clearly demonstrated in your application material.

Veterans Information:

DEQ provides veterans’ preference points to all eligible veterans. For more information on veterans’ preference, please visit Veterans Resources, or call the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs at: 1-800-692-9666. For privacy reasons, please do not attach veterans’ preference documents when initially applying. You will be asked to submit those at a later time.

Equal Pay Analysis:

As an employer, the State of Oregon complies with HB 2005, the Pay Equity Bill. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected class in the payment of wages, and we do not screen applicants on the basis of their current or past compensation. Please visit http://www.oregon.gov/das/hr/pages/equity.aspx for more information. Please note: the salary listed is the non-PERS qualifying salary range. If the successful candidate is PERS qualifying, the salary range will reflect an additional 6.95% (6% goes to PERS and .95% covers payroll taxes). Please review the Classification and Compensation page for more details.

Work Authorization:

DEQ does not offer visa sponsorships. On the first day of employment, all hires will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States. In addition, hires will have three business days from their first day of employment to present documents that establish employment authorization and identity. DEQ is an E-Verify employer and will use E-Verify to confirm that hires are authorized to work in the United States.

Questions/Need Help?

If you have questions about the recruitment or need assistance to participate in the application process, please contact DEQ’s Recruitment Team at jobs@deq.oregon.gov or 503-229-5107. TTY users: please use the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.