Underground Storage Tank Senior Inspector (Natural Resource Specialist 4)

Austin Community College; Eugene (OR); Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dynamic team dedicated to preserving Oregon's environment as a Senior Inspector for the Underground Storage Tank program. This role offers a unique opportunity to work with diverse stakeholders, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations while promoting sustainability. You will lead inspections across various sites, from gas stations to marinas, and play a crucial role in protecting Oregon’s air, land, and water quality. Enjoy a competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, and retirement options, while making a meaningful impact in your community. If you are passionate about environmental quality and eager to contribute to innovative solutions, this position is perfect 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)

Potential loan forgiveness under PSLF

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field and 4 years of experience required.
• Experience in environmental inspections and compliance enforcement is essential.

Responsibilities

• Conduct inspections of UST systems and ensure compliance with regulations.
• Provide leadership and training to UST inspectors and staff.

Skills

Verbal and written communication skills

Fieldwork experience

Regulatory compliance knowledge

Interpersonal skills

Environmental justice understanding

Education

Bachelor’s degree in physical science

Bachelor’s degree in environmental science

Bachelor’s degree in natural resources

Tools

UST inspection equipment

Compliance testing documentation

Job description

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The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality strives to build and sustain an inclusive environment that embraces and values diversity. Employees at all levels of the agency work together to foster fairness, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, veteran, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or physical or mental disability. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may not meet every one of our listed preferred qualifications. Lived experience may count towards the preferred qualification. If you are excited about this position, we encourage you to apply. If you are unsure as to whether or not you meet the qualifications of this position, please contact us to discuss your application.

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 Underground Storage Tank Senior Inspector (Natural Resource Specialist 4) in Bend, Eugene, Pendleton, Portland, or The Dalles, Oregon (finalist may choose work location).

This position is limited duration through June 30, 2025, and may be extended or made permanent pending Budget and Legislature approval.

Please consider joining an innovative team, and work to advance our agency’s mission to protect and improve Oregon’s environmental quality. The Land Quality programs support this mission by assessing and managing environmental cleanups, promoting manufacturing and recycling of non-toxic commercial products, safely managing the disposal of solid and hazardous wastes, administering the state’s underground storage tank and heating oil tank programs, and responding to spills of oil and hazardous materials.

The Underground Storage Tank (UST) Compliance Program is within the Land Quality Division at Headquarters. DEQ’s UST Compliance Program, which is authorized by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is a comprehensive regulatory program for UST systems storing petroleum or certain hazardous substances to protect the environment and human health from UST releases. DEQ’s UST Compliance Program works to prevent petroleum contamination of Oregon’s soil and groundwater by inspecting all regulated underground storage tanks and ensuring that tank permit holders perform the equipment testing and maintenance required to keep underground storage tank systems operating safely.

What you will do!

You will be the statewide expert for the Underground Storage Tank (UST) program, providing leadership to the UTS inspectors and other tank staff to ensure all regulated tanks are following federal and state UTS, air quality, and cleanup regulations. You will conduct inspections of UST systems, issue enforcement, and assist with inspection follow up. Your inspections will consist of site visits at varied locations such as active retail gas stations, truck stops, emergency generator facilities and marinas. During site visits, you will evaluate site equipment and complex compliance testing documentation and make compliance determinations. You will determine and issue expedited enforcements and warning letters to operators along with specific corrective actions. You may also recommend formal enforcement, issue complete referral package to Office of Compliance and Enforcement (OCE), and provide testimony during contested case hearings. You will oversee UST installations and system modifications ensuring the work is being conducted per manufacturer specifications and Oregon rules.

You will also work closely with management to determine program needs, train staff to conduct inspections, complete timely enforcement, and develop and implement trainings for agency staff, other state, and federal UST inspectors. You will coordinate guidance policy development projects with planning and implementing program operations tasks.

Inspections are conducted across the State of Oregon and up to 50% of your time each month will require overnight travel to conduct the inspections.

What’s in it for you!

The opportunity to work in a productive and creative environment where no two days are ever the same! 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.

What are we looking for?

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in physical science, environmental science, natural resources, or a closely related field, AND 4 years of experience in a natural resource or environmental field (an equivalent combination of education and experience is acceptable). 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.

Candidates who are most competitive will also reflect the following:

• 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 conducting fieldwork and making regulatory determinations for compliance and enforcement with local, state, or federal environmental or other regulatory requirements, including environmental inspections or other regulatory inspections of industry and commercial businesses.
• Skill in engagement, collaboration, negotiation, and coalition-building; strong interpersonal skills and proficiency leading effective teams of diverse collaborators; demonstrated experience building and fostering relationships with a diverse group of partners including colleagues, interested parties, communities, organizations, and businesses.
• Experience with USTs including inspection of new installations, audits of service providers, compliance inspections, and investigation of leaks and petroleum discharges.
• Experience with UST equipment operation and inspection procedures.
• Experience working with various contractors: construction, equipment sales/installation, equipment repair, and engineering services.

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 the Bend, Eugene, Pendleton, Portland, or The Dalles DEQ 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.

This position requires regular statewide travel by car for extended periods of time for site visits, meetings, conferences, trainings, and workshops, which will involve overnight stays and extended working hours. During site visits, there may be exposure to adverse weather conditions, pollutants, contaminated soil and water, fumes, airborne contaminants, fall or tripping hazards, stairs, extensive walking, and heavy construction equipment.

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.

Please Note: 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.

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. You will be asked to submit those at a later time.

Pay Equity:

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.