Environmental Engineer - Polk Co

Full Job Description

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) exists to connect Iowans with programs and information about crops, food safety standards, livestock and more.

We work together with local farmers markets and Iowa farmers to continue to support the robust industry and culture Iowa has focused around agriculture.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Mines and Minerals Bureau is seeking a motivated professional to serve as an Environmental Engineer for the Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Reclamation Program.

This is an opportunity to lead meaningful environmental restoration work while collaborating with a skilled, team-oriented group of engineers, environmental scientists, and project managers in a highly supportive and positive workplace culture.

This position plays a critical role in restoring lands impacted by historic coal mining operations and transforming degraded, unsafe environments into productive grassland ecosystems that support high-quality wildlife habitat and public safety.

Duties of the selected candidate will include, but may not be limited to;

Project Development and Monitoring:

• Visits Abandoned Mine Land (AML) sites prior to development of design plans to become familiar with the AML features needing to be addressed
• Review engineering and design plans and specifications during each design stage and determine that proposed engineering designs meet AML program objectives and criteria
• Participate in pre-bid, bid, and pre-construction meetings
• Conduct frequent observation activities during construction and following completion of each reclamation project. Develop, maintain, and disseminate detailed reports of observations that document construction progress, project status, and problems
• Provides recommendations for SWPPP controls and completes SWPPP reports regularly
• Assist engineers and project managers at pay meetings to verify quantities of work performed, materials supplied, and to ascertain that the project is built as designed
• Provide assistance with disputes related to eligibility of work completed for payment
• In correspondence with project engineer, provide guidance and suggestions for project component redesigns on active construction projects as unanticipated issues arise
• Review as-built plans and conduct spot checks to verify design performance
• Assist with field work including surveying, soil sampling and water sampling

Other Duties:

• As requested, assist with emergency subsidence investigations, develop applicable responses/observations and complete observation reports for remediation work
• Participates and attends training as needed or requested
• Provides mentoring and support to staff, contractors, landowners, and partners
• Functions in a support capacity to the Water Quality Initiative, Water Resources Bureau, Minerals Program, and Coal Regulatory Program as needed
• Perform duties as assigned by the Bureau Chief in support of Division activities and responsibilities

Essential Functions:

• Ability to perform project site visits and construction observation. This may require walking in steep and/or uneven terrain in all weather conditions; moderate carrying of 15-44 pounds; reaching above the shoulders and below the waist; walking or traveling manually up to 2 miles per day.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of audiences and clients
• Maintain valid Iowa drivers license

Go to this links to learn more about the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Mines and Minerals Bureau https://iowaagriculture.gov/ and https://iowaagriculture.gov/mines-and-minerals-bureau

Applicants may submit a cover letter and resume describing their relevant experience. Application materials can be uploaded in the Attachments Section during the application process.

As an employee of IDALS you are a State of Iowa employee and eligible for a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Low out of pocket, high quality family medical insurance as low as $187.00 per month, single as low as $56.00 per month
• Dental insurance is free for single and $45.00 per month for family coverage
• $20,000 basic life insurance at no cost, voluntary supplemental life for an additional cost, and long term disability insurance at no cost
• Exceptional retirement package includes IPERS (Iowa Public Employee Retirement System) which is a fixed income or defined benefit pension plan
• In addition to IPERS a deferred compensation plan (similar to a 401K) with a state match of up to $75.00 per month
• Paid leave includes – 9 holidays, sick, vacation, military leave, and jury duty leave

To learn more about benefits available as a State of Iowa Employee click here benefits to visit the web page.

E-Verify and Right to Work: The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.

Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States.

The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization.

For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental, Sanitary, Civil, Chemical, Nuclear, Mechanical, Industrial, Agricultural, Biomedical, or Public Health Engineering;Licensure as a Professional Engineer by the Iowa Board of Engineering Examiners.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.