Environmental Specialist Senior

Full Job Description

The Department of Natural Resources encourages all applicants to upload a current resume and cover letter to their online application

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has an exciting, senior level environmental specialist position available within the Land Quality Bureau, located in Des Moines, Iowa.

If you are seeking an opportunity to use your education, skills and experience in career work that offers a compelling sense of mission, as well as a better work-life balance and flexibility, this position offers you the opportunity to contribute directly to the quality of Iowa’s environment.

You will have a key role within the Financial & Business Assistance Section, with responsibilities for coordinating facility licensing and reporting, retailer permitting and public outreach and education programs for the proper management and disposal of household hazardous materials (HHM).

Job duties include coordination of the statewide Regional Collection Center (RCC) Program, by providing technical and financial support to RCC facilities that accept and manage HHMs.

The position will manage the RCC Establishment Grant Program, with responsibilities for the grant application and review process, creating and administering grant contracts, reviewing progress and budget reports and determining that the new RCC has been constructed and is ready for operations.

Related responsibilities are to provide statewide technical and administrative support of operating RCCs, and to serve as a resource for identifying unknown hazardous materials, identifying proper management options for certain hazardous materials, conducting period visits to RCCs, and reviewing reporting by the facilities to ensure that they are meeting grant contract and public service requirements.

The position will manage the RCC licensing process, including initial application review, conducting pre and post-construction inspections of the facility, and application modification approvals or denial determinations.

This role will also provide technical support and training coordination for the HAZWOPER-24 Hour and 8 Hour Refresher Courses required for RCC staff.

Additional position responsibilities include managing the Household Hazardous Materials (HHMs) Retailers Permit program and Business Assistance for Hazardous Waste Management, by coordinating with the Iowa Department of Revenue (IDR) to ensure that all IDR business tax permitted retailers apply for and are issued an HHM Retailer permit as applicable, that permits are renewed annually, and to review permit affidavits from retailers to determine if a retailer needs a permit.

Related duties include education and outreach efforts to trade organizations and corporate regional offices to ensure individual retailers are informed on both the permit requirements and the associated consumer education responsibilities.

The position will manage the HHM Education program to educate and assist Iowa residents on the proper management of HHMs.

This will include the development of HHM educational materials for distribution to retailers and the general public through statewide and local partner education and media awareness campaigns, and presentations to local governments, school and civic groups and partner waste management agencies.

The position will also manage the Toxics in Packaging program to ensure that the manufacturers and distributors of packaging products being sold to consumers in Iowa are in compliance with Iowa law, designed to prevent exposure of Iowans to toxic materials in packaging.

Duties will include determining compliance of various packaging components by arranging for sampling and testing of packaging materials, issuing official enforcement notices to parties responsible for non-compliant packaging, responding to inquiries, information requests, or complaints regarding toxics in packaging; and, providing technical assistance through statewide press releases and media interviews, for increased public information on toxics in packaging.

The position will provide consultation and support to Iowa businesses, industry and the regulated public to assist them in managing hazardous waste, covering waste characterization and using knowledge of the materials and process it came from to determine the proper handling, storage and disposal of wastes in accordance with federal regulations for hazardous waste.

The position will also provide periodic and annual budgeting, compliance and metric progress reporting as required to management, the Iowa Legislature, and related state and federal agency partners.

Essential Functions

This position requires the ability to analyze, understand, and interpret complex environmental regulations and technical information, and to evaluate and interpret principles, techniques and trends concerning hazardous materials and hazardous waste and resource management.

Functions include communicating professionally, accurately and effectively, both verbally and in writing, and the ability to use computer software programs at a moderate to advanced level.

Periodic, infrequent travel is required for site and customer visits and coordination with other state and federal agency partners.

Must demonstrate initiative, attention to detail in technical work, a customer service and team orientation, and ethical conduct.

Critical Job Competencies

Accountability, High Productivity, Self-Management, Customer Focus, Interpersonal Skills, Team Player, Computer Skills, Integrity and Technical Skills (hazardous waste management and regulatory requirements).

What You Get From Us:

• A competitive pay plan and rewarding work.
• Insurance benefits that start the first of the month following 30 days of employment.

(Premiums can start as low as $64/month for single and $210/month for family coverage).

• Separate vacation and sick leave accruals that start on the first day and can roll over annually.
• Nine paid holidays/year.
• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) retirement package with employer match.
• Optional deferred compensation (457/401A) plan with employer match.
• Professional training opportunities.
• Family friendly and professional work environment.
• Employee Discount Programs (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling)

• The State’s total compensation package features benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation. For a list of additional benefits, please visit the DAS website for more information.

• Flexible work schedules (as approved by the supervisor).
• Opportunities for hybrid telework (as approved by the supervisor).
• Workout/Gym facilities available onsite at 6200 Park Ave.

Comments

The starting salary for new state (Executive Branch) employees is expected to be at the base of the pay range.

Additional salary increases may occur after the first six months, and then annually (if applicable).

The State’s total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation. Visit the DAS website for more benefit information.

Ensure you are kept up-to-date of this position by checking your email regularly for emails from info@govermentjobs.com. This is a system generated email from the DAS application system and it may be sent directly to your Junk/Spam folder.

DNR Application Tips

For more information about DNR Employment Opportunities and position specific notices, please visit the DNR Employment website.

The State of Iowa is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Iowa DNR Mission

To conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organizations to improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensure a legacy for future generations.

E-Verify and Right to WorkThe 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 a Natural Science and three years of full time professional scientific experience in an environmental program in the areas of water supply, waste water, animal feeding operations, hazardous substances, radiation, sewage treatment, solid waste, geology, history, archeology, flood plain, air pollution, dam safety, or underground storage tanks;an equivalent combination of education and experience substituting one year of the required full-time professional work for each 30 semester hours of the required education;an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting thirty semester hours of accredited graduate level coursework in a Natural Science, history, or archeology for each year of the required experience to a maximum substitution of two years;employees with current continuous experience in the State of Iowa Executive Branch that includes twenty-four months of full-time work as an Environmental Specialist or Environmental Engineer.

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