TCEQ - Modeling & Assessment Specialist II

Overview

Join TCEQ! We bring passion and drive to carry out our mission of protecting our state's public health and natural resources. This position is a member of our Water Quality Division.

What You'll Be Doing

• Conduct moderately complex technical assessments of water quality issues to determine and verify regulatory limits for wastewater discharges.
• Develop loading analyses for water quality management plans.
• Audit new technical data submitted by permittees for the Water Quality Division of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
• Perform moderately complex modeling analyses to evaluate wastewater discharge permit actions for compliance with water quality standards for dissolved oxygen, for consistency with the Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP), and with total maximum daily load (TMDL) requirements.
• Write memos to document recommendations.
• Coordinate recommendations and/or provide technical assistance to other agency staff, US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), and applicants.
• Calculate and recommend critical flow and mixing conditions for aquatic life and human health protection for wastewater discharge permits and maintain documentation of the process for determining the critical conditions.
• Determine latitude and longitude information from available resources, such as Geographic Information System (GIS), for wastewater permit applications.
• Enter data into a database and use the latitude and longitude values to develop and maintain a GIS data layer.
• Perform moderately complex mixing analyses of effluent diffusers to support the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) permit development using CORMIX model software.
• Review proposed Texas Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and Watershed Protection Plans for relevancy to implementation in permits.
• Review SRF reports to determine compliance with water quality standards for dissolved oxygen.
• Perform and document technical analyses as needed to update the WQMP and provide model information and limit recommendations to the appropriate staff person for inclusion in the next available update of the WQMP.
• Cook with USEPA to resolve technical issues related to WQMP updates.

Key Qualifications

• Experience with technically detailed water quality work.
• Experience with ArcGIS to create, analyze and share maps.
• Experience with modeling concepts.
• Experience with applying math or computer programming.
• Experience in wastewater issues.
• Experience with database software, e.g. Microsoft Access and Excel.

Required Education & Experience

• A bachelor's degree with a major in engineering, a basic or natural science, mathematics, or related field (including economics & computer science) from an accredited college or university, plus one year of full-time experience performing modeling and/or assessment work or similar scientific work with comparable character, scope, and complexity in areas as listed in the examples of work performed.
• Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering examination may be substituted For Six Months Of The Required Experience.
• Two years of full-time experience performing scientific work of a different character and complexity, in areas other than specified above may be substituted for the required experience.
• A master's degree with a major in engineering, a basic or natural science, mathematics, or related field from an accredited college or university may substitute for two years of the required experience.
• Career Ladder Progression: One year of full-time TCEQ experience as a Modeling and Assessment Specialist I.

Substitute Qualifications

• Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering examination may be substituted For Six Months Of The Required Experience.
• Two years of full-time experience performing scientific work of a different character and complexity, in areas other than specified above may be substituted for the required experience.
• A master's degree with a major in engineering, a basic or natural science, mathematics, or related field from an accredited college or university may substitute for two years of the required experience.

Work Schedule

Standard business hours are M-F, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Individual and work group schedule determined by the TCEQ Austin Office.

Benefits

• Optional 401(k) and 457 plans.
• Insurance: Health, Vision, Dental, and optional FSA.
• Paid day(s) off from work on national holidays and holidays that the state observes.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Longevity pay based on your number of years working for the state.
• Wellness Program and Activities.
• Onsite Nurse Practitioner in HQ.
• Work-Life Balance.

Condition of Employment

• TCEQ will conduct a criminal history records search, driving history (if required for the job) on candidates offered employment.
• In compliance with ADA, if you need accommodation during the employment process, please contact HRSS for assistance at (512) 239-0102.

Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) Codes

Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes can be found at: https://hr.sao.texas.gov/CompensationSystem/JobDescriptions/. Please click the hyperlink under `Occupational Category' for the respective Class Title.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is an Equal Opportunity Employer.