Wetlands Specialist

RiseMe; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 48,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

Indiana Department of Environmental Management seeks a regulatory specialist for the Wetlands Section in the Office of Water Quality. The role administers the 401 Water Quality Certification and the State Regulated Wetlands Program.

Key duties include reviewing permit applications, providing technical guidance, conducting outreach, and performing field inspections across Indiana. A degree is not required, but five years of relevant environmental experience may be considered.

Qualifications

• Broad knowledge of environmental protection principles and practices.
• Thorough knowledge of chemistry, biology, hydrology, mathematics, and engineering.
• Knowledge of soil, water, air sampling and interpretation.
• Ability to conduct surveys, inspections and investigations of facilities and sites.
• Excellent research and writing skills for reports.
• Ability to interact with diverse stakeholders and communicate effectively.
• Ability to interpret and apply legal terminology and practices.
• A degree is not required; five years of environmental experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Administer state regulatory programs including 401 Water Quality Certification and the State Regulated Wetlands Program.
• Review applications for federal permits to ensure compliance with state standards.
• Provide consultation and training on permit requirements and technical wetland principles.
• Prepare presentations and conduct outreach in response to public requests and priorities.
• Travel to inspect, audit, and investigate regulated sites and write reports.

Skills

Environmental science

Regulatory compliance

Technical writing

Field inspections

Communication skills

Job description

Work for Indiana

Begin a fulfilling career with the State of Indiana by joining one of the largest employers in the state, offering a range of opportunities across 60+ agencies. At the state, you'll find competitive compensation, a robust benefits package and a commitment to work-life balance. Most importantly, you'll have the chance to make a real and measurable impact on the lives of Hoosiers across Indiana.

About Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM):
Our mission is to implement federal and state regulations to protect human health and the environment while allowing the environmentally sound operations of industrial, agricultural, commercial, and governmental activities vital to a prosperous economy. We issue air, water, and solid and hazardous waste permits that restrict discharges to environmentally safe levels. Staff members inspect and monitor regulated entities; provide compliance and technical assistance; monitor and assess air, land, and water quality; use enforcement actions as necessary to ensure compliance; and respond to incidents involving spills to soil or waters of the state.

Role Overview:

This position exists within the Wetlands Section of the Office of Water Quality of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. This position is responsible for administering the 401 Water Quality Certification & the State Regulated Wetland Program.

Staff in this job do the following:

• Use applicable laws, regulations, and technical expertise to administer state regulatory programs, including Section 401 Water Quality Certification Program and the State Regulated Wetlands Program and communicate with the public.
• Review applications for federal permits or licenses to ensure that permitted activities comply with state water quality standards.
• Review applications related to 401 WQC and state regulated wetlands to ensure that permitted activities, in aggregate, promote a net gain in high quality isolated wetland and assure that compensatory mitigation will offset the loss of wetlands allowed by the permitting program.
• Provide internal and external consultation and training on permit requirements and technical wetland principles and theories.
• Prepare presentation materials and conduct outreach in response to public requests and program priorities.

This position requires a valid IN driver's license.

Salary:

The salary for this position traditionally starts at $53,222.00 but may be commensurate with education and work experience. Use our Compensation Calculator to view the total compensation package.

A Day in the Life:

The essential functions of this role are as follows:

• Serves as an environmental expert and provides guidance to regulated communities, government officials, attorneys and staff responsible for a variety of programs and program elements.
• Project Management: Performs project management duties to ensure effective and timely management of program area needs, attends meetings, and responds to telephone calls, e-mails, etc., as required. Acts as a technical point-of-contact for assigned programs administering environmental programs which may include, but not limited to, environmental media sampling, data analysis, technical writing, work plan and report preparation, technical reviews, etc.
• Permits: Researches state and federal guidance, laws, and regulations related to permits. Contacts applicants to request additional information to process applications, when necessary. Responds to comments from applicants, defends permit terms and conditions, and interacts with permittees to resolve permitting issues. Attends and participates in public meetings and hearings regarding permit actions throughout Indiana and/or appears in legal appeals of permit actions.
• Inspection: Conducts surveys, inspections and investigations of facilities and sites, review projects/situations, reads plans, interprets findings, and cites appropriate violations of state and federal regulations. Provides technical and regulatory guidance to the regulated community in their assigned geographic area.
• Enforcement & Compliance: Uses all compliance, enforcement tools, and resources available to ensure that regulated sources return to compliance with state and federal laws, regulations, and standards in a timely manner.
• Support Services: Works to support the various programs in assigned agency in multiple capacities.
• Sampling: Assists with the preparation of sampling and analysis work plans. Conducts field work as necessary following agency/section Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for assigned sites.
• Technical Analysis & Testing: Conducts technical analysis and/or provides technical insights to assess environmental impacts with goals to meet state and national regulations.
• Outreach Coordination: Communicates effectively with responsible parties, consultants, and/or their representatives, affected stakeholders, and interested parties such as citizens, public officials, and interest groups in a courteous and professional manner regarding permits, laws, questions, and program-related inquiries.
• Essential functions of this position require travel on most workdays to inspect, audit, examine, survey, or investigate clients, customers, or other regulated entities and write reports at various sites depending on business needs. Employee reports to the agency’s office for occasional meetings or events. Number and timing of work hours may vary daily or weekly to accommodate operational needs and staffing concerns at the client’s or customer’s worksite, minimize expenditures for repeated visits to complete the work, and allocate resources to complete assigned work effectively.

The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

This position is exempt from overtime compensation for additional work hours which may be required to complete essential functions or other assigned work. Exempt employees may work more than 75 hours in a pay period without additional compensation and must report a minimum of 75 hours per pay period of work hours and/or paid leave taken to receive their base biweekly salary.

What You'll Need for Success:

Individuals in this role should minimally be able to articulate or demonstrate the following:

• Broad knowledge of theories, environmental protection principles and practices, specialty area, and program area.
• Thorough knowledge of chemistry, biology, hydrology, mathematics, engineering, and other environmental sciences as they relate to program area.
• Thorough knowledge of soil, water, air sampling, laboratory analysis and interpretation as it relates to program area.
• Ability to conduct surveys, inspections and investigations of facilities and sites, review projects/situations, read plans, interpret findings, and make recommendations.
• Ability to prepare documents for administrative and regulatory action.
• Excellent research and writing skills for preparing accurate, precise, clear, and thorough reports.
• Ability to effectively interact and orally communicate with parties with diverse levels of environmental expertise particularly for purposes of meetings, hearings, and negotiating critically sensitive issues.
• Ability to interpret and apply legal terminology and practices, and the ability to apply these in a variety of conditions and situations.

A degree is not required. However, at least five (5) years of environmental or environmental public health experience applying the outlined knowledge, skills, and abilities in a similar role may be considered.

Individuals should have the ability to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

Supervisory Responsibilities/Direct Reports:

This role may be utilized in a supervisory capacity based on agency needs.

Benefits of Employment with the State of Indiana:

The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefit package for full-time employees which includes:

• Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans
• Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards
• Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution
• Deferred compensation 457(b)account (similar to401(k) plan) with employer match
• Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options
• A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to:
  • 150 hours of paid New Parent Leave and up to eight weeks of paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothers
  • Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave
• Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off
• 12 paid holidays, 14 on election years
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Group life insurance
• Referral Bonus program
• Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits
• Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Free Parking for most positions
• Free LinkedIn Learning access

Equal Employment Opportunity:

The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, selecting, developing, and promoting employees based on individual ability and job performance. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to complete the application and interview process as well as perform the essential functions of a role. If you require reasonable accommodations to complete this application, you can request assistance by contacting the Indiana State Personnel Department at [e-mail].