TDEC-ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT 1 - 08212026-80439

Location: Jackson, TN – Department of Environment & Conservation, Madison County (Division of Water Resources - Land Base Systems Unit, West Tennessee Region)

Overview

Under general supervision, serves as an Environmental Consultant dealing with issues of moderate difficulty within a division. Performs scientific and technical work of moderate difficulty associated with or related to technical oversight, planning, reviewing, negotiating, coordinating, program and process development. This is the first level technical consultant in the TDEC Environmental Consultant sub-series.

An employee in this class performs professional environmental consultant duties in environmental regulatory, radiological health, natural areas, and/or sustainability programs by serving as an Environmental Consultant and technical or regulatory lead addressing issues of moderate difficulty. This classification performs scientific and technical environmental consultant duties, may serve as subject matter or process expert, may assist in training others, and performs technical tasks of moderate difficulty in a small work unit or project team.

Responsibilities

• Independently conducts or oversees staff conducting inspections, complaint investigations, remediation, abatement, closures, compliance monitoring (e.g., sampling and evaluation of the environment, pollutants, and/or ionizing radiation); and/or investigations of equipment, structures, materials, and/or sites/facilities to evaluate levels of pollutants and/or ensure proper installation, maintenance, and/or operation to determine compliance with environmental laws, regulations, or other standards.
• Obtains, reviews, and analyzes technical information (e.g., records, data, operational plans, enforcement action requests, permits, permit applications, reports, reciprocity documents, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), licenses, computational modeling) of moderate difficulty for accuracy and completeness. Interprets findings and results (e.g., site inspections, permits, lab results) to ensure acceptable methodologies are performed and/or are in compliance with established standards. Identifies problems and, if necessary, initiates enforcement/legal action to effect compliance.
• Prepares and maintains various documents (e.g., permits, reports, equipment specifications, designs, layout, blueprints, evaluations) and technical analysis of moderate difficulty in a concise and legally defensible manner to ensure the Agency’s missions are met. Communicates interpretation of findings and results using regulations, policy, etc., to stakeholders.
• Assists with the review, development, and/or revisions to regulations, technical policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), etc., to ensure documents are current with local, state, and federal standards and/or procedures. Provides consultative, technical, or educational information to other environmental staff, stakeholders (e.g., industries, municipalities, counties, individuals, groups), and/or the public regarding regulation, policy, SOP development and/or revisions.
• Builds effective teams by utilizing team building, leadership (e.g., participating and coordinating activities in work groups, on special assignments, in planning teams), and effective communication skills to encourage and involve staff in developing and meeting departmental goals.
• Coaches, develops, and mentors staff on proper methods and procedures for performing environmental work to improve their knowledge or skill for assigned job tasks. Provides recommendations on staff professional growth for performance evaluations as requested.
• Maintains, troubleshoots, and calibrates electronic equipment (e.g., radiation detection meter, photo ionization detector, pH meter, GPS) and mechanical equipment (e.g., ozone monitor, air monitor, laser level, watercraft) to ensure equipment operates in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications and meets state and/or federal regulations. Ensures malfunctioning equipment is repaired, replaced, or surplused according to state guidelines.
• Assists management with budget development and adherence by writing justifications, obtaining and evaluating cost estimates/proposals from vendors for equipment, materials, or services. Ensures reimbursements or billing requests are properly justified, submitted timely, and with properly coded expenditures. Ensures contract work is conducted in accordance with proposed scope and established rates. Provides technical oversight, review, and/or project management of ongoing state and/or federal grant/loan programs. Reviews eligibility requirements to participate in fund reimbursement programs.
• Assists with implementation and compliance of funding programs by planning, researching, conducting field work, managing data sets, writing annual reports, and/or scheduling and/or participating in public meetings/hearings or public outreach events.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s or higher degree in environmental science, physical sciences (e.g., physics, chemistry, geology, meteorology), ecology, sustainability or applied science in sustainability, life sciences (e.g., biology, microbiology, agricultural science, agronomy, health physics, or biophysics), environmental health, pre-medicine, engineering, or other acceptable science or natural resource-related field.
• Three years of full-time professional environmental program, natural resource conservation work, or full-time professional work involving ensuring compliance with radiation safety standards and/or regulations.
• An acceptable environmental, physical, or life science degree will be considered based on assignment by the specific program area.
• A bachelor’s degree in health physics or nuclear engineering may substitute for one year of the required experience in the Division of Radiological Health.
• Possession of a valid motor vehicle operator’s license at the time of appointment in some positions.

Skills & Competencies

• Knowledges: Law and Government, Engineering and Technology, Physics, Chemistry, Geology.
• Skills: Reading Comprehension, Judgement and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Science, Active Learning and Listening.
• Abilities: Written Comprehension, Deductive Reasoning, Inductive Reasoning, Mathematical Reasoning, Limb and/or Full Body Flexibility.
• Competencies: Business Insight, Communicates Effectively, Decision Quality, Manages Complexity, Tech Savvy.
• Tools & Equipment: Computer/Printer/Scanner/Copier/Fax, Telephone/Cell Phone/Pager/Two-way Radios, Watercraft/Motor Vehicle/Tractors/All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), Sampling/Monitoring Equipment and Supplies/Tools, Radiation Detection Equipment/GPS/PPE/Power Equipment and Hand Tools.

Driver Standards

State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:

• A valid driver’s license.
• For the past five years, the candidate’s driver record must not include: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, or more than 4 moving violations.

Pay

Monthly: $5,100.00 | Annually: $61,200.00

Schedule

Full-Time