Mitigation Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 4)

Oregon Inc; Salem (OR); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid remote schedule

Full benefits with health premiums

Job summary

The State of Oregon, Department of State Lands, seeks a Mitigation Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 4) to lead compensatory mitigation credit delivery across banks, ILF, and PIL programs. This full-time role requires travel within Oregon and periodic fieldwork, with residency near Salem within six months.

The position emphasizes coordination with Tribes and multiple agencies, and offers a hybrid remote schedule, strong benefits, and public service pay scales.

Qualifications

• Four years of experience in aquatic natural resources, with at least one year at technical or professional level.
• Bachelor’s degree in a natural resource field (biology, ecology, natural resources) OR three additional years of related experience.
• Master’s degree substitutes for up to one year; doctorate substitutes for up to two years of required experience.
• A pay equity analysis determines starting pay, partly based on years of relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical expert in compensatory mitigation credit delivery, leading proposals through approvals and coordinating reviews.
• Interpret and explain laws, rules, policies to the public and agency personnel; recommend changes as appropriate.
• Represent the agency at meetings, hearings, and with external partners; develop education/outreach materials.
• Lead monitoring and reporting toward the department’s strategic goals and annual reporting.

Skills

GPS/GIS Skills

Teamwork & Problem Solving

Professional Communication

Technical & Professional Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in natural resources

Tools

ArcGIS Pro

Job description

Initial Posting Date

11/05/2026

Application Deadline

11/19/2026

Agency

Department of State Lands

Salary Range

$6,275 - $9,644

Position Type

Employee

Position Title

Mitigation Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 4)

Job Description

Are you experienced in natural resources and passionate about wetlands and waterways? Apply to be one of our next Mitigation Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 4) by November 19, 2026! This is a full-time, permanent position eligible for a hybrid remote schedule. The successful candidates must be able to travel to site visits within Oregon on short notice and, within six months of hiring, live within a reasonable commuting distance to the Salem office.

Making a Difference for Oregon. The Department of State Lands manages the lands that help fund our public schools and protects the state’s waterways and wetlands for the many benefits they provide. Our stewardship ensures vital natural and financial resources contribute to a vibrant, healthy Oregon now and forever. The DSL team makes a difference for Oregonians every day. As our Mitigation Specialist, you will too. This position serves as the technical lead and statewide subject matter expert for compensatory mitigation credit delivery through mitigation banks, in-lieu fee (ILF), and payment in-lieu (PIL) within the Planning and Policy Unit of the ARM. The position applies a strategic approach to mitigation delivery by identifying and communicating where credits exist and where more are needed, prioritizing assistance, and coordinating with Tribes, federal, state, and local partners to align mitigation efforts with broader watershed objectives.

What’s In It for You

• Utilize your skills and experience in natural resources to protect Oregon’s waterways and wetlands through the state’s Removal-Fill Law while engaging the public, government agencies, and other interested parties.
• Receive 1-on-1 mentoring and support from natural resource experts.
• Join an organization with collaborative and engaged co-workers who care about Oregon’s economy, environment, communities, and their co-workers.
• Gain full benefits with 95% to 99% of medical insurance premiums paid by the agency for full-time employees, including mental health coverage.
• Accrue 8 hours of sick leave and 8 hours of vacation leave per month, with your vacation leave accruals increasing every 5 years.
• Receive 11 paid holidays, one (1) floating holiday, three (3) personal business days and other medical, vision and dental benefits, including flexible spending plans and mental health coverage.
• Automatically enrolled into the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) after six (6) months of full-time service.
• Possibly qualify for the Student Loan Forgiveness Program.
• Earn the initial monthly salary range for this position starting at $6,275 - $9,644 for employees new to public service. After 6 months, you will receive a 6.95% increase with 6% going to your PERS retirement.
• Current PERS employees start at $6,709 – $10,315 Please review the Classification and Compensation page for more details.
• NOTE: Starting pay is determined by a pay equity analysis, which is partly based on the number of years of relevant experience.

Working Conditions

The successful candidates will primarily work in an office environment with occasional field work along waterways or on rough terrain to complete assigned work. Travel is an essential function of the position and may require overnight stays or site visits performed on the same day as the request. Work hours during fieldwork can be irregular and sometimes long. Visits to on-site locations may be by vehicle, watercraft or on foot. Site visits sometimes involve walking over uneven terrain or in wet, muddy ground without pathways in all types of weather. Work can at times be in remote locations. DSL provides agency-maintained vehicles, field gear reimbursement, and travel expenses for authorized work-related travel and fieldwork.

What You Will Be Doing

Project Management and Technical Assistance

Serve as technical expert in compensatory mitigation credit delivery strategies to lead proposals through the approval process, coordinate internal and external reviews, and develop and maintain templates and forms.

Policy Development and Support

Interpret and explain pertinent laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures to the public, government officials, and agency personnel. Recommend policy and rule changes, including internal and interagency coordination.

• Agency Representation. Serve as a Department representative at meetings and hearings, communicate to members of the public, internal and external parties and industry professionals, and develop education and outreach materials.
• Program Monitoring and Reporting. Lead compensatory mitigation credit reporting, track and contribute towards achievement of the department’s strategic plan and other annual reporting.

For a full description of the duties and working conditions, please email us at [e-mail] to request the position description.

Minimum Qualifications

To be considered for these positions, please ensure you have one of the following combinations of education and experience:

• Four (4) years of experience in aquatic natural resources. At least one year of the experience must be at a technical level or professional level performing activities in a natural resource program such as analyzing data, conducting investigations, applying pertinent laws and regulations, or coordinating and monitoring project activities.
• AND
• a bachelor’s degree in a natural resource field such as biology, ecology, natural resources, or
• OR
• Three (3) Additional Years Of Related Experience.
• NOTE: A master’s degree in a natural resource field such as biology, ecology, or environmental science will substitute for up to one (1) year of the required experience.
• A doctorate degree in a natural resource field such as biology, ecology, or environmental science will substitute for up to two (2) years of the required experience.

Desired Attributes

• Mitigation Policy and Implementation Experience. Supporting or leading compensatory mitigation credit generation, or prioritizing habitat restoration projects, through a selection strategy; leading projects through an approval process, and coordinating with Tribes, federal, state and local partners.
• Ecosytem Dynamics. In-depth knowledge of ecosystem dynamics and services including experience in environmental science, fisheries, hydrology, geomorphology, or soil science.
• Technical & Professional Communication. Strong written and verbal communication skills including professional internal and external customer service and high-quality deliverables. Experience interpreting and explaining environmental regulations or programs to a wide variety of technical and non-technical audiences including public, private, and government entities.
• Compliance & Enforcement. Applying or evaluating compliance with wetland and waterway resource regulations or similar environmental laws.
• GPS/GIS Skills. Using GPS and GIS software, such as ArcGIS Pro, for data analysis and mapping.
• Teamwork & Problem Solving. Demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team, including strong conflict resolution abilities.
• Professional Skills. Reliable, professional, self-motivated, and able to work under strict deadlines with strong organizational and time-management skills.

Additional Information

• This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies.
• If you need an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to participate in the application or selection process, please contact [e-mail] and include the job requisition number.
• For more information about applying for positions with the State of Oregon via Workday, you may visit the Oregon job opportunities website.
• Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given veterans' preference. For further information, please check out these Veteran’s Resources, or call the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs at: 1-800-692-9666.
• After you apply, you may be asked to provide additional optional information. Please be sure to check your Workday account for pending tasks or actions under your “My Applications” section. Be sure to check both your email and Workday account for updates regarding this recruitment.
• The state of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution during the application process.
• As an employer, DSL complies with Oregon’s Pay Equity law.
• Agency does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, applicants will be required to complete I-9 documentation and confirm authorization to work in the United States.
• For questions about the job duties or application process, please contact [e-mail] or call 971-600-5831 to speak to our recruitment team