Air Quality Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 3)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; United States; Remote; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dedicated team at a forward-thinking agency focused on protecting Oregon's environment. As an Air Quality Specialist, you'll play a vital role in ensuring compliance with air quality regulations while working in a dynamic and supportive environment. This full-time position offers the opportunity to make a real impact on environmental quality. With a commitment to diversity and inclusion, the agency fosters a culture where every employee can thrive. If you're passionate about environmental protection and looking for a fulfilling career, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans

Paid sick leave

Vacation leave

Personal leave

11 paid holidays

Membership in Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)

Loan forgiveness opportunities

Qualifications

• 6 years of experience in a natural resource or environmental field.
• Experience drafting and reviewing air contaminant discharge permits.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with air quality regulations and permit conditions.
• Conduct complaint investigations and prepare enforcement actions.

Skills

Environmental Compliance

Data Analysis

Report Writing

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science

Job description

Initial Posting Date:

04/29/2025

Application Deadline:

05/18/2025

Agency:

Department of Environmental Quality

Salary Range:

$5,320 - $8,141

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Air Quality Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 3)

Job Description:

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 an Air Quality Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 3). This position will be located in Bend, Klamath Falls, or The Dalles, Oregon (finalist may choose work location).

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 Eastern 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 ensure compliance with air quality regulations and permit conditions for commercial establishments and the public utilizing established procedures, policies, and guidelines. Your responsibilities will include permit drafting and review for facilities operating under the Air Contaminant Discharge Permit (ACDP) program, compliance inspections for both ACDP and Title V facilities, and review and analysis of reports to ensure compliance with permit conditions. In addition, you will conduct complaint investigations on assigned permit sources and often non-permitted sources/activities; this work will include preparing enforcement actions for sources/activities found to be out of compliance.

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: 6 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:

• 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.
• Experience in the environmental field, preferably air quality, dealing with compliance evaluations, rule interpretations, permitting, and process evaluations.
• Experience drafting and reviewing air contaminant discharge permits.
• Experience and knowledge in air contaminant industrial sources, facility processes, air pollution control equipment, and air emissions analysis.
• Experience conducting site investigations and inspections of industrial sources and commercial businesses and making regulatory determinations for compliance with state or federal regulatory requirements.
• 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.
• Ability to become a Certified Plume (opacity) Evaluator (EPA Method 9).

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, it may be shared with other employees.

There will be occasional travel by car to attend field work, meetings, seminars, public hearings, conferences, and trainings, some of which may involve evening work, weekend work, and/or overnight stays. During field work, there is the potential for exposure to adverse weather conditions, pollutants, chemicals, contaminated soil and water, fumes, airborne contaminants, asbestos, fall or tripping hazards, uneven terrain, and substantial walking.

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.
• Workday will timeout after 15 minutes of inactivity.
• This posting closes at 11:59 PM on the close date listed.
• Please save a copy of the job announcement for your reference, as it may not be available for you to view after the job posting closes.
• Be sure to check both your email and Workday account for updates regarding this recruitment.
• Workday performs best in Google Chrome.
• Click here for Resources and a Job Support Page .

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 material s.

Interested in hearing about future opportunities with DEQ? Click here to subscribe for our weekly e-mail updates.

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 [e-mail] or 503-229-5107. TTY users: please use the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.