Environmental Scientist 4

25-10 ES4 BR KS

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST 4

OEC / ENFORCEMENT/ AIR ENFORCEMENT

THIS POSITION IS PROMOTIONAL AND IS ONLY OPEN TO CURRENT, PERMANENT EMPLOYEES OF THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.

This position is in the Air Enforcement Section of the Enforcement Division within the Office of Environmental Compliance. This position is domiciled in East Baton Rouge Parish in the Headquarters Office.

The Environmental Scientists IV (ES 4) in the Air Enforcement Section of the Enforcement Division will enforce the environmental laws of the state based on the review and assessment of data collected by the Department and through the use of formal and/or informal administrative enforcement means. The overall function of this position is to enforce state environmental laws and regulations, specifically the Environmental Quality Act and federal Clean Air Act (CAA). The incumbent for this position shall have knowledge of Enforcement Division procedures and policies and excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Job duties include:

• Prepare and/or review reports and draft appropriate enforcement actions and proofread the final document to minimize errors for technical, complex, or controversial cases with little supervisory direction.
• Prioritize workload to ensure completed in a timely and efficient manner to achieve goals outlined in the PPG, Operational Plan, and any Division work plan.
•  Prioritize and route corrections to enforcement actions in a timely manner. Report to your supervisor or manager if problems arise gathering information and more time is needed to address corrections.
•  Monitor the issued action for compliance to determine if the case can be administratively closed or if escalated enforcement is warranted.
•  Assist with technical reviews of draft inspection reports for Regional Compliance Screening meetings and other enforcement referrals for completeness and accuracy to determine compliance with Department regulations and refer non-compliant facilities for enforcement action.
•  Complete all Advantage RM/Tempo entries within two weeks after receiving the monthly printout of actions issued, report to your Supervisor or Manager if this timeframe cannot be met. Follow the Standard Operating Procedures routing enforcement actions and Advantage RM/Tempo entry.
•  Communicate with Surveillance, Legal, and Permits staff, the regulated community, and the public regarding enforcement matters.
•  Conduct enforcement meetings and training sessions, represent the Department at meetings, hearings, and training sessions prepared, and on time; make recommendations on path forward for Fact Finding Hearings.
•  Manage special projects, which can include backlog mitigation projects and/or data tracking; workgroups; provide guidance, support, and training to lower level ESs; prepare and present information; maintain awareness of Departmental and Division Policy and procedure changes and disseminate this information; provide technical support by reviewing new proposed and revised state and federal regulations and communicate relevant information to management. 

There is a Special Entrance Rate (SER) for this position:

Environmental Scientist 4: $27.41 hourly or $2,192.60 bi-weekly

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

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.

*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 (PDF format preferred). The selected candidate will be required to submit original documentation upon hire.

Applications will be rejected if the applicant fails to meet the minimum qualifications, submits an incomplete application or fails to apply by the closing date of the announcement. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application listing complete work experience and education.

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

Equal Opportunity Employer. Louisiana is a State as a Model Employer for individuals with disabilities.

For further information about this vacancy contact:

Kierra Smith

Human Resources

LA Department of Environmental Quality

P.O. Box 4303

Baton Rouge, LA 70821

Kierra.Smith2@la.gov

Function of Work:
To utilize advanced technical environmental knowledge to perform at an advanced level in permitting, certification, enforcement, emergency response, data collection and assessment, quality assurance, facility classification, laboratory analysis, and/or environmental assessment, and to assist in the development of lower level Environmental Scientists by serving as a leader and mentor.

Level of Work:
Advanced.

Supervision Received:

Direct from an Environmental Scientist Supervisor or comparable level supervisor. May be supervised by higher level personnel.

Supervision Exercised:
None.

Location of Work:

Department of Environmental Quality.

Job Distinctions:

Differs from Environmental Scientist 3 by the presence of specialized tasks that relate to complex regulatory work and by the presence of tasks related to staff development.

Differs from Environmental Scientist Supervisor by absence of overall supervisory responsibility for a functional unit or geographical area.

Differs from Environmental Scientist Staff DCL-A by the absence of specialized technical knowledge at the expert level and designation as a dual career ladder job.

EXAMPLES LISTED BELOW INCLUDE BRIEF SAMPLES OF COMMON DUTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS JOB TITLE.  PLEASE NOTE THAT NOT ALL TASKS ARE INCLUDED.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST/GENERIC OPTION:

Establish a mentoring relationship with lower level Environmental Scientists providing guidance, technical expertise, support, training and career development.

Assists in the evaluation of procedures to ensure quantity and quality of work is consistent among lower level Environmental Scientists.

May review and monitor the work of lower level Environmental Scientists to ensure technical accuracy and completeness as well as consistency with department, office, division, and section policies.

Assists in the assessment, coordination and monitoring of training for staff members.  Conducts training of lower level staff on procedures applicable to the unit.

Provides support to lower level Environmental Scientists through oversight and on-the-job training in the evaluation and drafting of air/water/waste permits.

Perform first line technical review of complex permit applications requiring knowledge of varied complex processes and pollution control technology.

Serve as coordinator and lead worker over complex inspections, investigations, and/or environmental incidences ensuring compliance with surveillance procedures.

Prepares and/or reviews reports and develops appropriate enforcement actions for highly complex or controversial cases, including coordination and technical support with staff, Attorneys, and Administrative personnel.

Evaluates new federal regulations and develops state regulations, new effluent guidelines, water quality models, or revisions to state implementation plans and prepares draft position papers or otherwise communicates relevant issues to management.

Evaluate reports or recommendations concerning alternative treatment methods, control strategies and test procedures.

Represent the department at meetings with citizens' groups and fact-finding hearings.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST/LABORATORY OPTION:

May coordinate/organize workload, including planning, scheduling, and setting priorities, etc. for the Air Quality, Water Quality, or Organic Analysis laboratories.

Serve as lead worker over the activities of the various analytical work units in the laboratory through the review of work and evaluation of results.

Researches and develops new and alternative analytical methods.

Trains lower level scientists in analytical methods, safety procedures and the application of environmental methods, laws, and regulations.

Performs the analysis of samples by outside laboratory consultants insuring proper quality assurance and technical methods are correct.

May be the lead assessor in the auditing of laboratories.

Represents the Laboratory Services Division at meeting/hearings.

Salary : $27 - $2,193