Water Pollution Enforcement Specialist I (EHM I)

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!


Under direct supervision, the Water Pollution Enforcement Specialist I performs job duties in a professional matter while serving as the Enforcement Project Specialist managing assigned enforcement referrals for the State of South Carolina. Such job duties include, but are not limited to: reviewing referrals and deciding the appropriate actions to address violations related to the Clean Water Act, the Pollution Control Act, and associated regulations for a variety of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permits (NPDES) and State permitted Sites.

Job Responsibilities:

Manage assigned enforcement referrals for Wastewater programs, Clean Water Act programs, Agricultural programs, and Sediment and Erosion Control programs.

Conduct thorough and timely file reviews of assigned referrals, prepare Notices of Alleged Violation, schedule and conduct enforcement conferences, all in accordance with the appropriate statues, regulations, and Department policies and procedures.

Complete all work elements within the established time frames.

Prepare accurate and properly developed correspondence and/or orders for review and signature; assess penalties in conjunction with the Bureau of Water Penalty Assessment Guide; successfully negotiate orders and penalties in accordance with Department policies and procedures.

When necessary, provide timely assistance to the Office of General Counsel and provide official testimony in court.

Track enforcement projects in the section's spreadsheets in accordance with section standards, enter and upload data in the state (ePermitting) and federal (Integrated Compliance Information System) databases, and provide updates to Section Manager regularly.

Track compliance with order requirements and initiate further enforcement action when appropriate.

Prepare monthly enforcement reports, enter data in the Personnel Cost Accounting System (PCAS) and submit monthly PCAS reports, and other periodic reports as requested. Attend training classes as required and perform other duties as required.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in the natural or physical sciences or related technical field.
• An associate degree in the natural or physical sciences or related technical field and two (2) years of environmental health or related experience
• A high school diploma and four (4) years of environmental health or related experience.

Note: Degrees in a related technical field include, but are not limited to, Earth sciences, chemistry, biology, physics, soil science, environmental science, mathematics, etc.

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 will 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 state-owned vehicles.
• Must have experience using personal computers, WORD and EXCEL.
• Ability to read, comprehend, and appropriately apply statutory and regulatory information.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to follow detailed instructions related to enforcement procedures and policies.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks daily in an effective manner in an office setting.
• Work after normal hours maybe required occasionally.
• May require:
  • Daily travel throughout the state.
  • Occasional overnight travel.

Qualifications

• Public Speaking
• Presentation Skills
• Negotiation Skills
• Problem Solving
  

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 of partially remote work 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.