Air Quality Meteorologist / Forecaster (EHM II)

Full Job Description

Do you love South Carolina and protecting the environment? Come join our team at SCDES, put your passion to work with us! We are dedicated to protecting the state of South Carolina and we would love to have you as a member of our team!

Job Responsibilities:

• Evaluates permit applications for the applicability of modeling exemptions, de minimis, and deferrals for criteria and toxic air pollutants.
• Conducts and evaluates screening and refined air dispersion modeling and other information analyses of industrial and institutional facilities, including complex multi-source facilities to determine predicted compliance with ambient air quality standards.
• Provides technical written reports that summarizes the air dispersion modeling analysis and review.

Performs air quality forecasting, issues air quality alerts, and performs related tasks involved in projecting pollutant levels for assigned forecast zones.

Provides support to the section and air program by collecting, quality assuring, and analyzing meteorological and modeling data for use in various efforts, including permit modeling, monitor siting, and episode investigation.

• Performs related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in climatology, meteorology, geography, or atmospheric sciences from an accredited college or university.
• Must have training/experience in synoptic and dynamic meteorology.

Institutions of Higher Learning must be recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Applicants indicating college credit or degree(s) on the application are encouraged to upload an unofficial copy of the transcript as an attachment to the application. Please note that the agency may require an official, certified copy of the transcript or diploma prior to hiring.

Additional Requirements:

• Must have valid state driver's license, and ability to operate personal and state-owned vehicles.
• Must have excellent communication and computer skills.
• Must be able to work productively with persons having diverse technical backgrounds.
• Must be able to work both independently and effectively in a team-oriented environment.
• Must have knowledge of meteorological principles as they relate to atmospheric conditions and other weather phenomena.
• May require:
  • Occasional overnight travel.
  • Work during weekends and/or holidays during the ozone forecast season or for other periods special forecasting is needed.

Qualifications

• Experience with or knowledge of Linux/Unix computer operation systems.
• Experience with or knowledge of EPA approved air dispersion models.
• Experience with or knowledge of environmental permitting and regulations.
• Experience with or knowledge of scripting and/or programming languages.

Additional Information

SCDES is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

The Department will not sponsor H1B visas for this position.

The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees:

• Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children. Click here for additional information.
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available (S.C. Deferred Compensation)
• Retirement benefit choices *
  • State Retirement Plan (SCRS)
  • State Optional Retirement Program (State ORP)
• Remote Work: The option to work remotely 2 days per week is available after successful completion of 1 year of employment with SCDES, based on job functions.

*Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.