Environmental Specialist I

Class Concept

Employees in this class perform technical and professional assignments in the inspection of environmental facilities or systems for permitting purposes, environmental planning, impact assessment, and/or design and conduct scientific studies. Work is multi-disciplinary, and assignments address moderately complex environmental issues, problems, and/or projects. Work may involve the review and evaluation of existing data, facilities, and/or systems; collection of data; research of literature and/or consultation with professionals in the field; and/or the evaluation of environmental issues, problems, and new or revised regulations. Scientific studies involve participation in project objectives; determining and/or adapting procedures; and collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. Work requires report writing, including the accurate recording of data collected. Employees may provide technical guidance to others.

Recruitment Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Must have skill and knowledge in the environmental areas of expertise as well as with State and Federal rules and regulations.
• Must perform tests, procedures and experiments and have good working knowledge of equipment of moderate complexity; must be able to modify testing techniques and procedures to meet program objectives, perform statistical analysis, interpret results, and prepare reports.
• Must coordinate moderately complex environmental programs, manage resources, monitor environmental activity, assess risks, and perform quality control; must be able to manage multiple projects and be able to supervise the work of lower-level environmental staff.
• Must effectively convey information to individuals or groups, present program summaries, contribute to the writing of publications and reports, and make professional presentations.
• Considerable knowledge of the scientific principles related to the area of assignment, ecological processes and environmental factors, research process and data gathering techniques and procedures.
• Ability to analyze, manipulate and evaluate information/data, including the use of software.
• Ability to formulate or assist in the development of management alternatives and recommendations.
• Ability to organize and direct moderately complex research or field studies.
• Ability to communicate with the general public and clients of the Division.
• Ability to prepare written reports; and ability to work with considerable independence

Minimum Education and Experience

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