TENNEESEE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SPECIALIST 1 - 09292026-81359

Job Information

State of Tennessee Job Information

Opening Date/Time09/29/2026 12:00AM Central TimeClosing Date/Time10/12/2026 11:59PM Central TimeSalary (Monthly)$4,057.00 - $6,099.00Salary (Annually)$48,684.00 - $73,188.00Job TypeFull-TimeCity, State LocationKnoxville, TNDepartmentEnvironment and Conservation

LOCATION OF (1) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT & CONSERVATION, KNOX COUNTY

For more information, visit the link below:

https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/environment/job-announcements-/preferred-service/00078161_env_prot_spc_1_apc_kefo_tdec-job-opp_ps_ua.pdf

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Graduation from an ABET accredited college or university with a

bachelor's degree or higher in engineering or engineering technology program.

Necessary Special Qualifications: Applicants for this class must:

• Possess a valid motor vehicle operator's license at the time of appointment in some positions.

Overview

Under immediate supervision, is responsible for professional environmental work of routine difficulty; and performs related work as required.

This is the entry level class in the TDEC Environmental Protection Specialist sub-series. An employee in this class is assigned to learn a variety of environmental engineering duties. An employee may perform environmental program and/or regulatory duties in a specific program specialty area such as air pollution, water resources, remediation, solid waste management, toxics, or underground storage tanks. This class differs from TDEC Environmental Protection Specialist 2* in that an incumbent of the latter performs environmental duties at the working level under general supervision.

• An applicant appointed to this flexibly staffed class will be reclassified to TDEC Environmental Protection Specialist 2* after successful completion of a mandatory one-year training period; inadequate or marginal performance during the training period will result in automatic termination.

Responsibilities

• Review applications for air permits from stationary sources of air pollution at industrial entities, private businesses, and state facilities.
• Identify applicable federal and state regulations and apply them in a variety of technical and regulatory situations.
• Meet critical deadlines and do follow-up assignments with a minimum amount of direction.
• Draft construction and operating permits for stationary source of air pollution to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations.
• Help maintain a comprehensive database system.
• Work cooperatively and effectively with management, other division employees, and the public, to help issue accurate and enforceable permits.

Competencies (KSA's)

• Business Insight
• Communicates Effectively
• Decision Quality
• Manages Complexity
• Tech Savvy

Knowledges:

• Engineering and Technology
• Chemistry
• Law and Government
• Physics
• Geology

Skills:

• Reading Comprehension
• Judgement and Decision Making
• Active Learning and Listening
• Complex Problem Solving
• Critical Thinking

Abilities:

• Written Comprehension
• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Mathematical Reasoning
• Limb and/or Full Body Flexibility

Tools & Equipment

• Computer/Printer/ Scanner/ Copier/ Fax
• Telephone/ Cell Phone/ Pager/ Two-way Radios
• Watercraft/ Motor Vehicles/ Tractors/ All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs)
• Sampling, Monitoring Equipment and Supplies/ Tools
• Radiation Detection Equipment/ GPS/ PPE/ Power Equipment and Hand Tools.