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, 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 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 for a Senior Hazardous Waste Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 4). This position will be located in Bend, Klamath Falls, Pendleton, or The Dalles. The finalist may choose their preferred work location.

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. Here is a video about DEQ: https://youtu.be/E-Cs6M9AAlU

There are 3 regions (Northwest, Western, and Eastern); this position is in Eastern Region. The Regions provide the following services: compliance inspection of regulated entities; enforcement of permit requirements and administrative rules; issuance of air, water, and solid waste permits; investigation of complaints; issuance of subsurface permits in counties; response to spills or other incidents with environmental impacts; direct contact and liaison with other governmental entities, industries, and the public; and technical assistance to regulated entities and the public.

The Hazardous Waste program is responsible for administering and enforcing state rules at highly complex hazardous waste generators and treatment, storage, and disposal (TSD) sites. The rules encompass extremely technical and complex federal regulations and technical guidance documents, which include a multi-media approach overseeing RCRA cleanups at hazardous waste management sites and include responding to public concerns and public complaints on hazardous waste management practices. These activities and others are conducted to better serve the communities of Oregon and to be an active leader in restoring, maintaining, and enhancing the quality of Oregon’s air, water, and land.

Click here to view a map of all of the DEQ offices.

What you will do!

You will ensure compliance with applicable state and federal Hazardous Waste regulations through inspections, investigations, and enforcement actions, as well as provide recommendations for improvement to compliance assurance, waste management, and pollution prevention procedures at RCRA Treatment, Storage, and Disposal facilities (TSDF); Large Quantity Generators (LQG); Small Quantity Generators (SQG); and Very Small Quantity Generators (VSQG). You will serve as a technical expert for DEQ in interpreting how complex regulations apply to a variety of multifaceted industrial and manufacturing facilities and their processes; review and interpret data to determine adequacy and/or compliance; represent the agency in informal meetings to resolve or settle enforcement actions; and provide testimony or serve as an expert witness in civil penalty contested case enforcement hearings. In addition, you will respond to pollution complaints, assist with hazardous waste spills, and provide technical assistance to governments, businesses, and the public on waste management requirements and toxics reduction strategies.

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.

What are we looking for?

Minimum Qualifications: 7 years of experience in a natural resource or environmental field, with 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.

Substitutions:

• Bachelor’s degree in physical science, environmental science, natural resources, or a closely related field may substitute for 3 of the required years of experience. 

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

• Experience with hazardous waste inspections (Large Quantity, Small Quantity, and Very Small Quantity Generators, as well as Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities), compliance, enforcement, and investigations.
• Understanding of both State and Federal laws pertaining to hazardous substance releases and cleanup; understanding of the principles of pollution control.
• Experience working within the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
• Experience with compliance assurance, waste management, and pollution prevention procedures and programs.
• 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.
• Strong conflict resolution, negotiation, facilitation, collaboration, and engagement skills; ability to manage interested parties with diverse and conflicting perspectives, challenging people to take a coordinated rather than independent perspective.
• Ability to analyze, appreciate, and synthesize multiple perspectives, backgrounds, and priorities; flexibility, patience, and good facilitation skills.
• Demonstrated experience building and fostering relationships with a diverse group of partners including colleagues, interested parties, communities, organizations, and businesses.
• OSHA HAZWOPER and/or HAZWOPER Supervisor training and certification.
• 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.

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 a DEQ Eastern Region office; however, the successful candidate may be 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, depending on your frequency of in-office work, it may be shared with other employees.

This position requires travel by car for meetings, conferences, trainings, public hearings, site visits, fieldwork, and workshops, some of which may involve extended work hours, overnight stays, and /or weekend work. During site visits and fieldwork, there is the potential for exposure to pollutants, chemicals, contaminated soil and water, fumes, airborne contaminants, fall and tripping hazards, stairs, substantial walking, and adverse weather conditions.

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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Help Your Application Rise to the Top!

Your application materials are the perfect opportunity to highlight your interest in the position and showcase your amazing skills and experience. 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 materials.

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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. Instead, you will be asked to submit those at a later time as part of a future task in Workday.

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.