Environmental Resources Specialist 3

State of West Virginia; Charleston (WV); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Oil and Gas – Abandoned Well Plugging Program, seeks a professional to support regulatory reviews and geospatial analysis. You will coordinate ESA reviews, prepare technical documentation, and liaise with state and federal partners from our Charleston Headquarters or Romney field office.

The role emphasizes data-driven analysis, GIS mapping, and effective communication with agencies, landowners, and communities to ensure compliant,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience in environmental resources or protection.
• Four years of full-time or equivalent part-time professional experience in environmental resources, protection, or related fields.
• Graduate coursework may substitute for experience (15 semester hours per year).
• Experience with Endangered Species Act reviews and GIS are desirable.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate Endangered Species Act project reviews and related assessments.
• Use GIS tools to analyze geospatial data from multiple sources for program goals.
• Serve as liaison between OOG, other agencies, tribal representatives, and communities.
• Suggest approaches to mitigate adverse effects on sensitive resources.

Education

Bachelor's degree

Graduate coursework

Tools

GIS

Job description

Nature of Work

West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection

Office of Oil and Gas; Abandoned Well Program

We welcome you to join our team where we value work/life balance and diversity. We offer a great benefits package that includes 12 paid holidays, insurance and flexible benefits, ample annual and sick leave accrual, flexible work schedules, an Employee Assistance Program, Wellness Initiatives, an optional 457 defined contribution retirement savings plan and more.

You will be working for the Office of Oil and Gas (OOG), Abandoned Well Plugging Program. You have your choice of location - either in the Romney field office or the Charleston Headquarters Office. Your job is to support the Agency’s mission to permanently plug orphaned, abandoned oil and/or gas wells pursuant to W. Va. code.

• 22-6-29.

At the advanced level, you will perform complex professional work to prepare, coordinate, and see through completion the Endangered Species Act and State Historic Preservation Office reviews for state- and federally-funded orphaned, abandoned oil and/or gas well-plugging projects.

• Analyze and evaluate data to ensure technical and legal accuracy, completeness, and accord with federal rule and state laws, rules and policy.
• Use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools to organize and analyze geospatial data from disparate sources to achieve program goals, e.g. the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s IPaC database, oil and gas wells, mine portals, wetlands, eligible historic properties, historic topographic maps, and maps of ancestral Tribal lands.
• Serve as liaison between OOG and the public, other state and federal agencies, Tribal representatives, local government representatives, and community groups such as historical societies.
• Recommend approaches for the elimination, minimization, or mitigation of adverse effects to sensitive biological or cultural resources based on these reviews.
• Respond to feedback from federal agencies regarding these reviews.

You will be supporting the abandoned well plugging program by:

• Providing digital maps as needed.
• Developing technical specifications documents for pending contracts.
• Submitting webpage updates monthly, including Methane Emissions Quantification (MEQ) results, permits issued, and wells plugged under various funding programs.
• Assisting with landowner research and mailings.
• Managing files in accordance with document retention practice.
• Scanning documents and answering (OOG) phone.
• Performing other duties as required/assigned.

You must have the ability to effectively communicate both orally and in written form with co-workers, permittees, various levels of government, and the general public. Education or experience related to archaeology, anthropology and/or history is a plus.

Notes

• Qualifying applicants will be required to submit a technical writing sample.
• Regular attendance is an essential part of this position.
• Qualifying applicants will be required to complete an internet-based profile assessment to compare the applicant's thinking and reasoning skills, behavioral traits and the occupational interests against the traits determined to be important to the posted position.
• The recommended candidate will be subject to a search of his or her Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) prior to being hired and annually thereafter.

Minimum Qualifications

• Training: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• OR Substitution: Additional full-time or equivalent part-time paid professional experience as described below may substitute for the required training at the rate of one (1) year of experience for every thirty (30) semester hours of training.
• AND Experience: Four (4) years of full-time or equivalent part-time paid professional experience in the acquisition, preservation, protection and enhancement of environmental resources, or in environmental protection, or in an agency specific area related to environmental impact.
• OR Substitution: Graduate coursework from an accredited college or university may substitute for the required experience at the rate of fifteen (15) semester hours of training for every one (1) year of experience.

Agency Special Requirements/substitutions/preferences

• Experience with federal Endangered Species Act project reviews is desired.
• Experience with GIS is desired.

State employment offers a variety of benefits. 01