Environmental Program Consultant

Agency

Dept of Environmental Quality

Division

Waste Management

Job Classification Title

Environmental Program Consultant (NS)

Position Number

60034758

Grade

NC18

About Us

The primary mission of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is to provide science-based environmental stewardship for the health and prosperity of all North Carolinians. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is the lead stewardship agency for the protection of North Carolina's environmental resources. The organization, which has offices from the mountains to the coast, administers regulatory programs designed to protect air quality, water quality, and the public's health, and works to advance in all-of-the-above energy strategy that fits North Carolina's needs. DEQ also offers technical assistance to businesses, farmers, local governments, and the public and encourages responsible behavior with respect to the environment through education programs provided at DEQ facilities and through the state's school system. DEQ touches the lives of all North Carolinians in many ways to enhance and ensure our quality of life.

Description of Work

The primary purpose of this position is to oversee and manage the UST Permitting unit and serve as the UST Section's Enforcement Coordinator. This position supervises a team of administrative support specialists and provides program leadership and technical guidance in the areas of permitting, registration, invoicing, to ensure the proper enforcement of UST federal and state regulations. This position also provides technical assistance and subject matter expertise to other teams within the UST section, such as UST Permits and Inspections staff, as identified or assigned.

As Enforcement Coordinator, this position leads the development, review, and preparation of enforcement cases resulting from compliance inspections. It provides expert guidance to staff, attorneys, consultants, and responsible parties; verifies case documentation; determines responsible parties; prepares civil penalty assessments and related correspondence; and coordinates with the Attorney General's Office on contested cases and collection matters.

This position provides customer service to internal and external stakeholders, and regularly interacts with internal staff, regulated entities, external consultants, and the general public. Although primarily office-based, this position is required to perform routine field visits to maintain adequate knowledge program rules, processes and regulations to ensure accuracy and consistency in permitting and enforcement decisions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Supervise a group of administrative specialists and oversee UST permitting, registration, tank fee invoicing, and workflow development, including final approval of complex permitting decisions.
• Serve as the program's permitting expert by providing staff guidance, establishing standards, and developing informational and procedural materials.
• Lead and coordinate UST enforcement activities, including case prioritization, performance evaluation, development of improvements, and collaboration with the Attorney General's Office.
• Manage enforcement documentation, ensure consistency in practices, maintain the enforcement database, and develop defensible cases, civil penalty documents, remission materials, and related correspondence.
• Provide technical support and customer service to internal staff, regulated entities, attorneys, consultants, and the public, including developing guidance materials and delivering training.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Recruitment Range: $63,927 - $78,967

Important: This posting closes at 11:59:59 PM the night BEFORE the End Date above.

The Division of Waste Management is responsible for protecting the public health and environment through assuring that solid and hazardous waste and underground storage tanks are managed properly, and existing contamination is cleaned up across the State of North Carolina. This is accomplished through the Hazardous Waste, Solid Waste, Superfund and Underground Storage Tank Sections, and the Brownfields Redevelopment Section. Click here to learn more about the Division of Waste Management | NC DEQ.

If you have student loans, becoming a state employee includes eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Visit https://studentaid.gov/ to learn more.

This position currently qualifies for a hybrid telework option with routine office and remote workdays. The NC Department of Environmental Quality trusts our employees to be self-motivated and successful in hybrid/remote roles. Telework options are subject to change at the discretion of management.

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an "equivalent combination of education and experience." If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

Master's degree in one of the agricultural, biological, engineering, environmental or natural resource sciences or a closely related curriculum from an appropriately accredited institution and three years of experience related to the area of assignment; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

Recruiter:

Valerie Moses

Recruiter Email:

hrrecruitment@deq.nc.gov