Environmental Protection Specialist I.

About Us

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is dedicated to the Colorado for All philosophy - working toward a Colorado where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We support the basic human rights of our neighbors regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, education level, disability, socio-economic status, or any other visible or invisible identity. We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services.

The Work Unit

The Environmental Agriculture Program Unit (Ag Program) is under the direction of the Unit Manager and is responsible for assuring compliance with state and federal requirements of air quality and water quality regulations of the State that are applicable to animal feeding operations. The responsibilities of the Ag Program are accomplished through compliance assurance (i.e. inspections, enforcement and compliance assistance), regulatory interpretation, complaint response, permit and plan reviews, permit issuance, and other field-generated information specific to animal feeding operations. The Ag Program determines the appropriate response, including requests for information, meeting with stakeholders, conducting field investigations, developing enforcement cases or establishing corrective action deadlines and requirements. The unit is also responsible for drafting new regulations, guidance documents, and policies related to animal feeding operations.

What You Will Do

Under supervision, this position is to serve as an environmental protection specialist within the Environmental Agriculture regulatory compliance program. In this capacity, this position conducts regulatory inspections, prepares inspection reports, assures timely and accurate compliance determinations, and issues compliance advisories as well as informal and formal enforcement actions. This position provides technical regulatory, permitting, and research assistance to the Program Manager, Work Group Lead, and staff, responds to complaints and inquiries, reviews technical reports and compliance data, and enters data into national and state databases. This position is responsible for communicating regulatory schedules, field observations, and other technical questions or issues to program staff, and other environmental staff as necessary.

Key Responsibilities

• Under supervision, reviews technical environmental reports submitted pursuant to federal and state requirements to determine compliance with the applicable permit and regulatory requirements. Requires the ability to communicate complex technical information clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
• Under supervision, determines compliance with applicable air pollution and water quality protection regulations by conducting field inspections including compliance testing using technical air quality and water sampling instrumentation, reviewing and performing nutrient calculations, and writing inspection reports that are reviewed by the Work Group Lead.
• Performs data entry (i.e. permitting, complaints, inspections data, etc.) into state and national data management systems in order to generate data reports and track environmental results. Duties include conducting reviews of compliance data and the legal facts from inspection reports, enforcement referrals, report submittals, complaint forms, and evaluating the compliance issues against the Enforcement Response Guidance.

Minimum Qualifications

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

Experience Only: Five (5) years of professional experience in an occupational field related to the work assigned to this position, including regulatory compliance, environmental protection, agriculture, inspections, technical review, or other closely related work.

OR Education and Experience: Education and professional experience in an occupational field related to the work assigned to this position, including regulatory compliance, environmental protection, agriculture, inspections, technical review, or other closely related work equal to five (5) years.

NOTE: An applicant may meet the minimum qualifications for this job in one of two ways: They may qualify through their work experience alone or through a combination of education and work experience. 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Practical knowledge or experience related to agricultural operations, including farming, ranching, crop production, livestock management, or animal husbandry.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, or updating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), technical manuals, or regulatory guidance documents to ensure consistency and compliance with state or federal standards.
• Ability to accurately observe, document, and interpret information using electronic systems.
• Keen attention to detail, with an ability to analyze facts and data, to reach a defensible decision.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Self motivated, with the ability to work well independently as well as in/with a team.
• Ability to perform the physical demands of this active position.

Conditions of Employment

• A pre-employment background check will be conducted as part of the selection process.
• Cover Letter
• TRAVEL: Ability and willingness to travel independently or with a group throughout the state of Colorado up to 20% throughout the year. Some overnight travel may be required.
• SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS: This position requires the use and operation of state fleet vehicles. Candidate must possess a current drivers license.

Benefits

• Free parking and access to RTD bus lines
• Flexible working arrangements
• Retirement (PERA options), Medical and dental health plans
• Defined Benefit Plan or the PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus optional 401K and 457 plans
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year and generous personal time off
• Tuition assistance
• Wellness programs
• Professional development opportunities on a wide variety of subjects
• Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system
• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program