Environmental Scientist 1/2/3

About This Job

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality’s (LDEQ) mission is to provide service to the people of Louisiana through comprehensive environmental protection in order to promote and protect health, safety, and welfare. Ready to defend our air quality and enforce critical climate laws? The Enforcement Division is looking for dedicated Environmental Scientists to join our Air Enforcement Section. In this vital role, you will be the front-line defense against pollution by reviewing technical data, identifying high-priority violations, and holding facilities accountable to state and Federal Clean Air Act regulations. Whether you are an entry-level scientist ready to learn or an experienced professional looking to lead complex cases and mentor the next generation, your work here will directly impact public health and environmental safety.

Minimum Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in an environmental, biological, atmospheric, chemical, health, nuclear or physical science field, an engineering field, a geography/geosciences field, a natural resources field, or in a statistics or quantitative methods field;
• OR
• A master’s degree or doctorate in an environmental, biological, atmospheric, chemical, health, nuclear or physical science field, an engineering field, a geography/geosciences field, a natural resources field, or in a statistics or quantitative methods field.

Job Specification

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Job Duties

• Review inspection reports, permit notifications, and mandatory environmental documents to verify facility compliance with state and Federal Clean Air Act regulations.
• Analyze enforcement referrals and reporting data to identify environmental infractions and flag high-priority violations.
• Prepare formal legal and administrative documentation for alleged violations and complete timely corrections during the review process.
• Calculate penalty assessments and create settlement spreadsheets following departmental policy, factoring in any economic benefits gained from non-compliance.
• Perform on-site compliance investigations to build enforcement cases and track facility compliance after actions are issued.

Position-Specific Details

• Appointment Type: Either a probationary appointment, a job appointment (a temporary appointment not to exceed four years), or promotion of a permanent classified employee. If the position is filled as a job appointment, it could be converted to a probational appointment should funding become available.
• Location: East Baton Rouge
• Career Progression: Environmental Scientist 1- Environmental Scientist 3, depending on the level of experience of the selected applicant.
• Compensation: This position offers a Special Entrance Rate (SER) listed below. This is the minimum compensation that may be offered. The job title and salary offered will be determined based on qualifications and experience.
• Premium Pay: $1.00–$2.00 per hour, based on years of service with Air Enforcement.

Overview of the Five Major Offices Within the Agency

This section provides information on the mission, function, and organization, along with a biography for each member of management. It includes details about the Office of the Secretary, Office of Management and Finance, Office of Environmental Services, Office of Environmental Compliance, and Office of Environmental Assessment.

How To Apply

To apply for this vacancy, click on the “Apply” link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page. Information to support your eligibility for this job title must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education). Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete. Please make every effort to attach a copy of your transcript to your application if possible. The selected candidate will be required to submit original documentation upon hire.

Contact Information

For further information about this vacancy, contact: Heidi Seba
Human Resources
LA Department of Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 4303
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
225-219-3867

Agency Participation in E-Verify

This agency participates in the E-Verify system for verification of citizenship and employment authorization.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Louisiana State Government represents a wide variety of career options and offers an outstanding opportunity to make a difference through public service. With an array of career opportunities in every major metropolitan center and in many rural areas, state employment provides an outstanding option to begin or continue your career.

Retirement Information

State employees are eligible to participate in various retirement systems, including the Louisiana State Employees Retirement System (LASERS), Teacher's Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL), and Louisiana School Employees Retirement System (LSERS).

Additional Information

• Are you a current employee of the Department of Environmental Quality?
• Do you have experience with determining compliance with state and/or federal regulations? Briefly describe your experience, if applicable.
• Do you have experience writing about technical subjects? Briefly describe your experience, if applicable.
• Do you prefer to work in an office or to work in the field?
• For consideration of this position, college transcripts are requested. Did you attach college transcripts?
• Do you anticipate graduating with a baccalaureate or graduate degree from a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting body in the next 90 days?
• If you answered yes to the previous question, please list the degree as it appears on your transcript. If you answered no, please list N/A.