Clean Fuels Pathways Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 4)

Initial Posting Date:

04/09/2024

Application Deadline:

04/30/2024

Agency:

Department of Environmental Quality

Salary Range:

$5,746 - $8,831

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Clean Fuels Pathways Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 4)

Job Description:

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality strives to build and sustain an inclusive environment that embraces and values diversity. Employees at all levels of the agency work together to foster fairness, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, veteran, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or physical or mental disability. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may not meet every one of our listed preferred qualifications.

Lived experience may count towards the preferred qualification. If you are excited about this position, we encourage you to apply. If you are unsure as to whether or not you meet the qualifications of this position, please contact us to discuss your application.

Are you passionate about preserving, enhancing, and protecting Oregon's environment? If so, please consider a career with the State of Oregon at the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). At DEQ, employees have the opportunity to work with a dynamic and supportive team of mission-focused individuals tasked with maintaining, restoring, and enhancing the quality of Oregon's air, land, and water. Here is a video about DEQ: https://youtu.be/E-Cs6M9AAlU

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a full-time opportunity for a Clean Fuels Pathways Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 4) in Portland, Oregon.

Please consider joining an innovative team, and work to advance our agency's mission to protect and improve Oregon's environmental quality. DEQ's Office of Greenhouse Gas Programs is responsible for leading the agency's efforts to develop and implement programs to reduce Oregon's climate pollution.

This includes programs that collect data on Oregon's greenhouse emissions, and that directly regulate the most significant sources of those emissions across the state. The Office of Greenhouse Gas Programs also analyzes various climate policies as they are proposed by policymakers.

Click here to view a map of all the DEQ offices.

What you will do!

You will serve as the agency expert on the lifecycle greenhouse gas intensity, or "carbon intensity", of transportation fuels (gasoline, diesel, ethanol, biodiesel, renewable diesel, fossil and renewable natural gas, fossil and renewable propane, electricity, and other new fuels) that are supplied in Oregon.

You will review fuel pathway applications submitted by fuel producers that propose their fuel's carbon intensity based on how the fuel is made and delivered to Oregon.

You will review the application, including the lifecycle modeling and supporting documentation for completeness and accuracy, and work with the fuel producers to resolve any discrepancies. This role is a critical component of Oregon's Clean Fuels Program, a signature component of our state's efforts to decarbonize Oregonians' transportation.

What's in it for you!

The opportunity to work in a productive and creative environment where no two days are ever the same! Oregon's Clean Fuels Program is a high-profile part of the suite of climate measures implemented at DEQ. This work is fast paced and frequently encounters new and novel technical and scientific questions pertaining to the greenhouse gas emissions associated with production and use of transportation fuels.

We offer a competitive benefits package that offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans for the employee and their qualified family members, as well as paid sick leave, vacation leave, personal leave, and 11 paid holidays a year. In addition, we offer membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and you have the opportunity to potentially receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). If you are passionate about Oregon's environment, apply today!

This is a full-time, AFSCME represented position.

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies.

What are we looking for?

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in physical science, environmental science, natural resources, or a closely related field, AND 4 years of experience in a natural resource or environmental field (an equivalent combination of education and experience is acceptable). At least 1 year of experience at a technical or professional level performing activities in a natural resource program such as researching and analyzing data, conducting investigations, applying pertinent laws and regulations, or coordinating and monitoring project activities.

Candidates who are most competitive will also reflect the following:

• Demonstrated emotional intelligence and capacity to work well in a team environment and with diverse interest parties.

• Demonstrated knowledge of how transportation fuels are produced, where feedstocks are extracted/produced (including indirect land use change and other indirect effects), and how they are distributed.

• Experience with lifecycle analysis tools used to evaluate transportation fuels such as the Argonne GREET model, CA-GREET or OR-GREET, GHGenius, OPGEE, GTAP, etc.

• Experience evaluating the various stages in fuel production (e.g. extraction, refinement, etc.) and use.

• Experience with research and evaluation, including interpreting data and results and writing findings based on the results.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to provide clear, concise, and compelling communication of policy and technical information tailored to the needs of diverse audiences; skill in writing and presenting clear and concise reports that include qualitative and quantitative analyses, recommendations, and conclusions to diverse audiences.

• Demonstrated understanding of environmental justice and the historical impacts for marginalized and underrepresented communities; ability to take personal responsibility for increasing their knowledge of environmental justice and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Working Conditions:

DEQ believes in a diverse and inclusive work environment. All employees are expected to contribute to a work environment that collectively values and benefits from respecting its diversity and promotes a culture of inclusiveness.

This position will be based out of DEQ's Headquarters Portland office, however, the successful candidate will be eligible for hybrid work. The logistics of hybrid work will need to be worked out with the Hiring Manager before your hire and may be changed at any time given specific job duties and business needs.

DEQ will provide the necessary hardware (laptop, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and cell phone) for an employee to successfully work from home. At DEQ sites, you will have access to a workspace, however, it may be shared with other employees.

There will be occasional travel to attend site visits, meetings, seminars, public hearings, conferences, and trainings, some of which may involve evening work, weekend work, and/or overnight stays. During site visits, there is the potential for exposure to adverse weather conditions, pollutants, chemicals, contaminated soil and water, fumes, airborne contaminants, fall or tripping hazards, stairs, and substantial walking.

How to Apply: (complete the application in full)

• External Applicants Click on the "Apply" button and submit your application. Click this link for the External Candidate job aid, and view this video for additional information.

• Internal Applicants (current State of Oregon employees): Apply through your employee Workday account. View this knowledge article for assistance.

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Please Note: In addition to your related work experience and education, DEQ will use the desired attributes and minimum qualifications above, under the "What are we looking for?" section to determine whom to interview. Please make sure your attributes and minimum qualifications are clearly demonstrated in your application material.

Veterans Information:

DEQ provides veterans' preference points to all eligible veterans. For more information on veterans' preference, please visit Veterans Resources, or call the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs at: 1-800-692-9666.

For privacy reasons, please do not attach veterans' preference documents when initially applying. You will be asked to submit those at a later time.

Pay Equity:

As an employer, the State of Oregon complies with HB 2005, the Pay Equity Bill. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected class in the payment of wages, and we do not screen applicants on the basis of their current or past compensation.

Please visit http://www.oregon.gov/das/hr/pages/equity.aspx for more information. Please note: the salary listed is the non-PERS qualifying salary range. If the successful candidate is PERS qualifying, the salary range will reflect an additional 6.95% (6% goes to PERS and .95% covers payroll taxes). Please review the Classification and Compensation page for more details.

Work Authorization:

DEQ does not offer visa sponsorships. On the first day of employment, all hires will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security's Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States.

In addition, hires will have three business days from their first day of employment to present documents that establish employment authorization and identity. DEQ is an E-Verify employer and will use E-Verify to confirm that hires are authorized to work in the United States.

Questions/Need Help?

If you have questions about the recruitment or need assistance to participate in the application process, please contact Rebecca Zanskar, Human Resources Analyst, at rebecca.zanskar@deq.oregon.gov or (503) 807-8937. TTY users: please use the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.