Environmental Protection Intern - Water Quality Permit Writer

Full Job Description

The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness.

The State is resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.

Do you desire a career that provides you with opportunities to improve the world around you?

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is seeking diverse individuals from all backgrounds to apply for a career position that makes a direct impact on improving the lives of Colorado citizens.

Our mission is to advance Colorado's health and protect the places we live, work, learn, and play.

Our vision is to create a healthy and sustainable Colorado where current and future generations thrive.

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Our tobacco-free campus offers free parking and is conveniently located near RTD bus lines, Glendale City Set, and the Cherry Creek bike path.

In addition to a great location and rewarding, meaningful work, we offer:

• Employee wellness programs and facilities
• Extensive internal professional development opportunities on a wide variety of subjects
• Bike to work programs, including access to storage lockers and bike racks
• Distinctive career advancement opportunities throughout the State system
• Strong, yet flexible retirement benefits including a choice of the PERA Defined Benefit Plan or the PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus optional 401K and 457 plans
• Medical and dental health plans
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus generous personal time off
• Mentoring program with opportunities for mentors and mentees
• Tuition assistance for college level courses including Masters degree programs
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, and
• A variety of employee resource groups

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services.

Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

For more information, go to:https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/pslfFlow.action#!/pslf/launch

Requirements

About the Work Unit:

The Permits Section exists to develop and issue discharge permit actions (new, renewal, modification, termination) for discharges of pollutants from point sources to waters of the state.

These activities are mandated by the Colorado Water Quality Act.

In addition, the Unit participates in the development of statutes, regulations and policies related to the implementation, issuance and enforcement of such activities, and defends permit actions, when needed.

The work of the Permits Section is distributed across multiple work units. This permit writer position resides in one of the work units included in the Permits Section.

Unit 3: The Industrial and Natural Resources Extraction Permits Unit exists to complete work assigned to the Unit.

Assigned work includes process water/mine water (including mining stormwater) for most industrial dischargers to surface water individual permits (with some exceptions, notably SIC 20- Food and Kindred, hot springs, and non-contact cooling water), and the following general permits; coal mining (COG850000), oil and gas (COG840000), sand and gravel process and stormwater combined (COG500000), and storm water discharges associated with all mining (extractive) activity.

Additional core work assigned to the unit includes evaluations of permit terminations for perpetual discharges under Policy WQP-1 and oversight of the implementation of the Federal 316(b) rule. The unit also provides support to work assigned outside the unit on an, as needed, and as prioritized basis (e.g., regulatory guidance, enforcement actions, TMDL development, standards development, DSV implementation, etc). Unit staff provide general public assistance responding to inquiries on unit topics and provide information for work planning and reporting for the permits assigned to the work unit.

What you will be doing:
This position exists to train as an EPS intern water quality permit writer to correctly implement technology and water-quality-based regulations and policies to protect human health and the environment through analyzing applications, site information and water flows, water quality data, and implementing decisions in authorizations to discharge, or denial of discharge applications. Work is designed to train for the next higher level in the class series (EPS I) and prepare the permit writer to be an individual contributor and carry out established work processes and operations by learning to apply and follow procedures, techniques, rules, and regulations an policies. The individual filling this position will be new to the Division and an entry level water permit writer. The individual will need to undergo complete training to implement environmental protection regulations through permit actions. It is expected that during this training period the permit action assignments will be more structured and straightforward. The individual will need to understand the basic theories and principles of physical sciences, including hydrology, mathematical equations, basic statistics, and water chemistry and data.

Qualifications

Residency Requirement:

This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience Only:

Four (4) years of relevant experience in environmental engineering, environmental consulting or environmental science.

OR

Education and Experience:

A combination of education in water chemistry, biology, engineering, environmental science, geology, water resources, watershed science, hydrology, or a closely-related technical field and/or relevant experience in environmental engineering, environmental consulting, environmental science equal to four (4) years

*This experience must be substantiated within the Work Experience section of your application. "See Resume" will not be accepted. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.
**A copy of your transcript must be submitted at the time of application if using education to meet minimum qualifications(Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.)

Preferred Qualifications and Essential Competencies:
The preferred experience, competencies and abilities are highly desirable for this position and will be considered in selecting the successful candidate:

• Experience or familiarity with water quality data.

• Experience or familiarity with applied hydrology/steam flows and/or lake mixing.

• Environmental regulatory experience.

• Knowledge of industrial stormwater (preferably mining),

• Knowledge of basic water chemistry regarding surface water, wastewater and/or treatment chemicals.

• Familiarity with the Clean Water Act or the Colorado Water Quality Control Act.

• Experience working with databases and manipulating large numeric datasets.

• Experience working with standardized procedures and making decisions based on the standardized procedures.

• Experience with mining and/or extractive industries.

• Strong oral and written communication skills.

• Demonstrated critical thinking skills, including the ability to make timely judgments and decisions.

• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office software programs.

• Experience with conflict resolution.

• Ability to multitask and effectively prioritize work activities.
  

Conditions of Employment:
Pursuant to CDPHE policy, a pre employment background check is required for all positions at CDPHE.

Appeal Rights:

An applicant who has been removed from an employment list or removed from consideration during the selection process may request a review by the State Personnel Director.

As an applicant directly affected by the results of the selection or comparative analysis process, you may file a written appeal with the State Personnel Director.

Review of the completed, signed and submitted appeal will be timely on the basis of written material submitted by you, using the official appeal form signed by you or your representative.

This form must be completed and delivered to the State Personnel Board by email at dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the Department’s action.

For further information on the Board Rules, you can refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov/board-rules.

Additional Information

A Complete Application Must Include:

• A completed state of Colorado application

• If using education to qualify for this position a copy of your transcripts (unofficial acceptable) must be provided with application. You must attach this transcript to your application electronically.

• If using work experience to qualify for this position, please provide an adequate description in the work experience section of the application. Do not write "see resume".

• A cover letter describing how you meet the minimum and preferred qualifications.

• If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214 attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.

The Selection Process

• All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications proceed to the next step.

• Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process.

  • Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position may be a structured application review, which involves a review of the information you submit in your application materials by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) against the preferred qualifications.

• A top group, of up to six candidates, will be invited to schedule an interview with the hiring manager.

E-Verify: CDPHE uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

ADAAA Accommodations:

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply.

The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them.

Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals.

As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship.

If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Dan McKenna, at daniel.mckenna@state.co.us or call 303-692-2060, option 5.