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.

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 a Senior Environmental Engineer (Environmental Engineer 3 / Environmental Engineer 2 - Underfill). This position will be located 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 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

The Regional Divisions are responsible for implementation of Water Quality, Air Quality, and Waste Management and Cleanup Programs. 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; 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 Regions consist of Northwest, Eastern, and Western Region. This position is in Northwest Region and focuses on the Air Quality Program.

The Air Quality Program is responsible for protecting the air resources of the state through program planning and development, industrial source control, asbestos control, motor vehicle inspections, and control of other sources of air pollution. The Air Quality Program administers the federal air quality program, by delegation and approval from EPA, and the state requirements.

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

What you will do!

You will draft Title V and other highly complex Air Quality permits for industrial, commercial, and municipal air quality sources. You will rigorously analyze facility operations and applicable regulations to determine emission and pollution control, monitoring, and testing requirements for ongoing operations, and new businesses. You will apply engineering principles and specific industry knowledge in evaluating control technologies, discharge rates, and impacts for new and modified sources, and you will serve as a technical resource for internal and external partners on air quality and emission control technologies and issues. You will perform on-site compliance inspections; handle complaints where solutions may not be readily apparent and resolutions may be more problematic in resolution; provide explanations, assistance, and response to complaints for partners; and recommend necessary enforcement options.

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 for Environmental Engineer 3:

• 7 years of engineering experience, OR 4 years of engineering experience and a Bachelor’s degree in an engineering field, such as environmental, chemical, civil, or mechanical.
• 2 years of experience in an environmental protection/control program.
• A current PE.

Minimum Qualifications for Environmental Engineer 2 - Underfill:

• 5 years of engineering experience, OR 2 years of engineering experience and a Bachelor's degree in an engineering field, such as environmental, chemical, civil, or mechanical.
• 1 year of experience in an environmental protection/control program.

The underfill option is available to you if you do not meet the minimum qualifications for the Environmental Engineer 3 upon hire. In order to retain this appointment, you must be able to meet the minimum qualifications for the Environmental Engineer 3 by obtaining your Oregon registration for Professional Engineer within 3 years of employment.

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

• 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.
• 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.
• Extensive experience and expert knowledge with air emission sources, pollution control devices and equipment, source permitting, compliance inspection methods, source operations, state and federal air quality regulations, and atmospheric chemistry.
• Extensive experience with NESHAP, NSPS, NSR/BSD, BACT, and MACT.
• Expert knowledge and experience with Title V industrial sources.
• Advanced environmental, science, or engineering education.
• Experience drafting and reviewing environmental permit conditions that are accurate, clear, and enforceable; experience evaluating permit applications and modifications and ensuring that all proposed actions comply with all applicable regulatory requirements and good engineering practice.
• Experience conducting site investigations and inspections to evaluate compliance status, and experience creating accurate and clear enforcement documents.
• Demonstrated experience building and fostering relationships with a diverse group of partners including colleagues, interested parties, communities, organizations, and businesses; skill in conflict resolution, negotiation, and collaboration.
• Strong data analysis and mathematical skills.
• Project management experience in an environmental/natural resources setting, including development, implementation, and evaluation; experience managing concurrent multiple complex projects with many interested parties and multiple deliverables, all with resource constraints.

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 DEQ’s Portland 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, it may be shared with other employees.

There will be regular travel on official State business for meetings, trainings, conferences, seminars, public hearings, and site visits, some of which may include evening work, weekend work, and/or overnight stays. During site visits, there may be exposure to inclement weather, pollutants, chemicals, contaminated soil and water, fumes, airborne contaminants, and challenging field conditions (steep slope, heavy vegetation, ladders, stairs, and uneven terrain).

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.

Helpful Tips:

• Allow yourself plenty of time to complete and submit the application.
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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, including an accommodation request under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 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