Please see the following website for full job posting and application link: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/oregon/jobs/2290492/uic-senior-hydrogeologist-natural-resource-specialist-4

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality currently has a full-time opportunity for an UIC Senior Hydrogeologist (Natural Resource Specialist 4). This position will be located in Portland, Oregon. Please consider joining an innovative team, and work to advance our agency’s mission to protect and improve Oregon’s environmental quality.

About the Division:
The Regional Divisions are responsible for the implementation of Water Quality, Air Quality, and Land Quality Programs, including compliance inspections of regulated entities; enforcement of permit requirements and administrative rules; technical assistance; 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; and direct contact and liaison with other governmental entities, industries, and the public. The regions consist of Northwest, West, and East. This position will reside in the Water Quality program of the Northwest Region.

The Northwest Region’s Stormwater/Underground Injection Control (UIC) section is responsible for NPDES general stormwater permit development, regional implementation of DEQ’s stormwater permitting program and statewide implementation of DEQ’s underground injection control program.

What you will do!
This position serves as the senior hydrogeologist and lead groundwater technical expert for the underground injection control program statewide, and serves as an agency expert on development and implementation of Oregon’s groundwater quality protection rules. This position is responsible for developing complex water permits protective of groundwater from underground injection activities by reviewing complex groundwater issues associated with UIC systems, hydrogeologic characterization data, monitoring data, and permit application documents. This position provides technical support, including to DEQ’s cleanup program, regarding cross-program implementation issues. This position also provides the signature and professional stamp by a state registered geologist, as required by state statute, for documents such as groundwater monitoring plans and treatment system plans.

What’s in it for you!
The opportunity to join a dynamic team of mission focused individuals tasked with maintaining, restoring, and enhancing the quality of Oregon’s air, water, and land. We offer medical, dental, and vision health benefits with paid sick leave, vacation, personal leave, and 10 paid holidays per year. Public service loan forgiveness program: If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, you may be able to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).  Learn more to see whether you qualify at PSLF Program.

Work is performed primarily in an office environment that requires extensive daily use of a computer. There will be periodic travel in-state and out-of-state that requires a valid driver’s license for meetings, conferences, trainings, and consultations with DEQ program staff and other agencies. This person must be available to participate in public meetings to present DEQ’s view on UIC hydrogeologic and groundwater issues for the underground injection control program. Some field visits may be necessary to sites with UIC systems.Duties & Responsibilities

Permitting and Authorizing Activities:

• Provide technical review, analysis, and expertise for the UIC program statewide of UIC system and design information, including geologic and hydrogeologic characteristics, pretreatment technologies, groundwater monitoring data, risk assessment, and flow of fluids and the fat and transport of contaminants in the subsurface.
• Review and independently evaluate permit applications.
• Analyze water quality and groundwater monitoring data and information, and identify and develop UIC permit requirements that assure protection of the environment and public health.
• Review stormwater plans and other submitted materials, and evaluate whether applicant qualifies for the requested general permit or rule authorization.

Assisting Businesses, Organizations, and Individuals:

• Evaluate complex policies, guidance, and issues related to groundwater quality protection to ensure these support permit development in accordance with federal regulations and state administrative rules and statutes.
• Make recommendations to improve effectiveness of the UIC permit program.
• Meet with UIC permit applicants to explain and interpret federal and state UIC regulations, groundwater quality regulations, and permit processing procedures.
• Provide technical assistance to public agencies, consultants, the public, other stakeholders, and DEQ staff.
• Advise and assist regional water quality program managers, regional division administrators, and agency director on complex UIC policies, issues, and strategies at permitted sites.

Ensuring Compliance and Enforcing Environmental Law:

• Conduct field inspections, evaluate equipment malfunctions or evidence of non-compliant discharges, and negotiate with sources to develop a compliance program.
• Review DMRs, monitoring, and operational data submitted by permitted sources to determine compliance with authorized limits and recommend corrective action.
• Establish and use enforcement policy and protocols, issue warning letters and pre-enforcement notices, and represent DEQ in contested cases.

Qualifications, Required & Requested Skills

Minimum Qualifications:

• Four (4) years of experience in a Natural Resource or Environmental field related to the position.
  • At least one year of the experience must be 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;
• A Bachelor’s degree in a physical science, environmental science, or a closely related natural resource field, OR three (3) additional years of related, pertinent, experience.
• Current registration as an Oregon Registered Geologist, or the ability to obtain professional registration within 12 months of appointment required.

Substitutions:

• A Master’s degree in a physical science, environmental science, or a closely related natural resource field will substitute for up to one year of the required experience.
• A Doctorate degree in a physical science, environmental science, or closely related natural resource field will substitute for up to two years of the required experience.

Desired Attributes/Requested Skills:

• Experience in modeling a variety of simple to complex groundwater flow and fate and transport problems.
• Experience with UIC rules, regulations, and policies.
• Experience in writing and/or implementing water quality permits.
• Experience in documenting policy decisions for programs implemented for compliance with federal and/or state environmental laws.
• Ability to manage time effectively by providing examples, and the ability to manage projects effectively.
• Experience evaluating and providing recommendations on complex technical and regulatory situations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, project management skills, and computer skills.
• Experience analyzing data.
• Experience representing an agency or organization in meetings with the public, regulated community, and/or other agencies or organizations.
• Experiencing presenting complex technical data to audiences unfamiliar with the subject matter.

Additional Information

Application Instructions:

To apply, please follow these steps:

1. Complete the application. We will not accept a resume or position description in place of a completed application. Because of the volume of applications we receive, we are unable to review attachments that we do not ask for.
2. Attach a cover letter demonstrating your experience and how it qualifies you for the position you are applying for.
3. The work experience and/or education section of your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet all of the minimum and special qualifications listed above. If it does not, we are required to disqualify it.
4. Complete the supplemental questions. Answers to the supplemental questions must be substantiated with the experience you listed in the work experience section of the application. (Please note that your responses may also be evaluated for grammar, spelling, and punctuation).
5. To receive credit for higher education coursework, transcripts (official or unofficial) must be submitted prior to interview (if selected). Note: To protect your confidential information, please redact (black out) your social security number on all transcripts before attaching to your application.

Veterans Information:
If you are an eligible veteran and wish to claim veterans’ preference points, AND you also meet the minimum qualifications for this position, the points will be added to your score. For more information on veterans’ preference points, visit our Veterans Resource page. To receive veterans’ preference points, please submit the following required documentation prior to your first interview (if selected): 

• A copy of your DD214/DD215 form; OR a letter from the US Dept. of Veterans Affairs indicating you receive a non-service connected pension for the five (5) point preference.
• A copy of your DD214/DD215 form; AND a copy of your veterans’ disability preference letter from the Dept. of Veterans Affairs for the ten (10) point preference.

Pay Equity:
As an employer, the State of Oregon complies with 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. We determine salary from applicable professional experience and education. Please visit http://www.oregon.gov/das/hr/pages/equity.aspx for more information.

Work Authorization: 
The Oregon DEQ does not offer visa sponsorships. Within three (3) days of hire, all applicants will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States.

Need Help?
If you need assistance to participate in the application process, you are encouraged to e-mail Maddy Ouye at ouye.madeline@deq.state.or.us or call (503) 229-5107. TTY users: please use the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service: 1-800-735-2900.

Consider Joining Us!
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is a regulatory agency whose job is to protect the quality of Oregon’s environment.

DEQ strives to create inclusive environments that welcome and value the diversity of the people we serve. DEQ fosters fairness, equity, and inclusion to create workplace environments where everyone is treated with respect and dignity regardless of race, color, religion, sex, disability, physical stature, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, political affiliation, and any other factor applicable by state or federal law.