Junior Environmental Scientist

Background

Tellus Civic Science Corporation (Tellus) provides science, engineering, planning, and policy solutions focused on resource protection, conservation, and restoration; carbon reduction; and sustainability in order to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of a changing climate, preserve our environment, and create a more equitable society for all. We are a team of environmental scientists, planners, engineers, policy experts, geospatial analysts, and data scientists with a passion to improve our local, national, and global environment. We seek highly motivated professionals to join our team who share this passion!

Tellus seeks a Junior Environmental Scientist who will work with a small team of geologists, engineers, and environmental scientists to support regulatory oversight of petroleum UST sites. They will support senior staff as well as work directly with Federal, State, and Local regulators to make recommendations to case managers on how to resolve problems, propose approaches, identify funding, or take some other course of action that promotes the cleanup of petroleum releases from USTs in California.

The position will be remote with option for hybrid schedule in San Francisco, but the chosen candidate must be located within the state of California and able to occasionally meet with team members in San Francisco, Sacramento, or San Diego.

Responsibilities to include:

• Review historic case files and site reports to develop conceptual site models and case summaries for UST release sites.
• Analyze conceptual site models for UST releases and evaluate site conditions in accordance with the State Water Resources Control Board's Low-Threat UST Case Closure Policy (LTCP).
• Develop closure documentation packages for UST release sites that meet LTPC criteria.
• Review lead Regional Water Board files, parcel records, and local regulatory agency files to identify Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs).
• Review lead agency files in person to determine completeness of the online record and facilitate scanning of physical files. This may require travel within the State of California.
• Develop effective case management strategies in coordination with lead oversight agencies.
• Prepare agendas, attend meetings, and document discussions with UST Program stakeholders regarding program issues and concerns.
• Draft directive letters and notices to Responsible Parties (RPs) of UST release sites.
• Track delivery status of issued letters and notices, as well as deadlines for RP submittals.
• Assist property owners and other RPs in identifying and applying for funding programs available for UST release cleanup or removal of out of compliance USTs.
• Conduct online research to locate RP contact information and obtain information regarding site status.
• Communicate with RPs and Regional Water Board case manager regarding case status, regulatory requirements, project milestones, and corrective action progress.
• Support field efforts for site assessment activites.
• Prepare monthly status reports summarizing completed activities, project progress, and ongoing case developments.

Minimum Basic Requirements for Skills, Experience, Education and Credentials for the Junior Environmental Scientist include:

• Bachelor's degree in environmental/civil engineering, geology, environmental science, chemistry, biology,
• or related field is required
• Ability to develop strategies to correct problems, coordinate with appropriate personnel and (where appropriate) determine the need for an environmental study of the problem.
• A minimum of 1 year prior work experience in the environmental and/or earth science field.
• Ability to effectively communicate policy, regulations, and technical issues with a variety of audiences both verbally and in writing.
• Self-starter that takes initiative.
• Strong MS Office skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, balancing multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Detail-oriented and well organized.
• Strong verbal communication skills and a high level of professionalism.
• Excellent writing, computer, and internet skills, including use of spreadsheets. Advanced use of MS Excel preferred.

Physical demands:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this assignment.
• While performing the duties of the job, the employee is occasionally required to: walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• The work is primarily sedentary in nature with no more than 10-15% of the time being spent in the field and the remaining time will be spent in an office environment.
• During the course of conducting field work employee may be required to wear personal protection equipment, including head, eyes and ear protection, work clothes, safety footwear, and gloves.
• The noise level in the work environment may vary from typical office background to noise found in working out in the field which can require hearing protection.