Land Quality Administrator (Natural Resource Protection and Sustainability Administrator 2)

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The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality strives to build and sustain an inclusive and equitable environment that embraces and values diversity. Employees at all levels of the agency work together to foster fairness, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We strive to be a workplace where we share our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals, and while collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations. We celebrate and appreciate diversity, champion equity, and treat each other with respect and dignity. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or physical or mental disability.

Are you interested in applying your leadership skills to protect and enhance 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.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a full-time opportunity available for a Land Quality Administrator (Natural Resource Protection and Sustainability Administrator 2). This position is based out of Portland, Oregon.

Please consider joining an innovative team, and work to advance our agency’s mission to protect and improve Oregon’s environmental quality.

About DEQ!

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is the primary regulatory agency of the government of the U.S. State of Oregon responsible for protecting and enhancing the state's natural resources. Here is a video about DEQ: https://youtu.be/E-Cs6M9AAlU

The Land Quality Division leads the department in achieving its mission by developing policy, implementation tools, and implementation priorities for improving Oregon’s land quality and by protecting public health. The division is one of four divisions in the department’s headquarters (the others are Water Quality, Air Quality, and Central Services). The department’s three regional offices are responsible for much of the permitting and compliance work relating to Land Quality, subject to the division’s leadership. The Land Quality Division contains over 229 positions (including regional Land Quality staff) and has a biennial budget of over $14 million.

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

What you will do!

You will direct the administration of all operations of DEQ’s Land Quality Division to ensure the effective delivery of DEQ’s programs, including consistent implementation of DEQ’s programs, enforcement of DEQ’s rules and statutes, and effective engagement, all while ensuring the most effective utilization of resources to carry out goals and objectives. You will manage the Division’s budge, perform supervisory functions, and represent the agency before legislators, the Governor’s Office, tribal nations, local governments, and interested parties, integrating equity into the work portfolio as a part of DEQ’s organization health and environmental justice efforts. You will serve as a liaison to representatives of other agencies and the public. In addition, you will serve as a member of DEQ’s Leadership Team.

As a State supervisory manager, you will be expected to develop proficiency in, as well as model to others, these competencies: Proactive communication, Innovation, Intentional Engagement, Mentoring & Developing Others, Stewardship, and Business Acumen. 

These competencies are demonstrated by:

• Ensuring staff are supported and have the tools, learning, and equipment necessary to perform their duties.
• Coaching, mentoring, and motivating staff; meeting regularly with staff to provide leadership, guidance, and feedback, and to encourage skill development and career growth.
• Setting clear work objectives, goals, and expectations for staff; evaluating performance and addressing performance in a timely manner.
• Building team cohesion; encouraging collaboration and ensuring staff are cross-trained.

What’s in it for you!

DEQ cares deeply about employee wellness and benefits. You will receive a comprehensive, competitive, and affordable benefits, leave, and wellness package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 11 paid holidays
• 10 hours of vacation per month, eligible to be used as accrued
• 8 hours of sick leave per month, eligible to be used as accrued
• 24 hours of personal business leave per fiscal year, eligible to be used after 6 months of service
• Optional life insurance packages
• Flexible spending accounts
• Membership in the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)
• Optional deferred compensation retirement program
• Opportunity to potentially receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• Continuous growth and development opportunities
• Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work
• A healthy work/life balance, including flexible schedules and hybrid work options for many positions
   

This is a full-time, executive service supervisory position.

This position meets the executive service criteria in ORS 240.205 (4) and is a principal assistant that manages a major agency organizational component and reports directly to an executive or administrative officer. As such, pursuant to ORS 240.205(4), this position has the approval of the Director of Department of Administrative Services to be placed in unclassified, executive service (DAS CHRO Policy 30.000.01) and serves at the pleasure of the agency appointing authority. This appointment may be terminated at any time (DAS CHRO Policy 40.035.01).

What are we looking for?

Minimum Qualifications: 7 years of management experience, or 4 years of related experience and a Bachelor’s degree.

Candidates who are most competitive will also reflect the following desired attributes:

• Strong understanding of the principles of environmental justice; experience applying principles of environmental justice and empowering community members; experience with means beyond traditional regulatory pathways for achieving ecological stewardship and social justice.
• Experience working with varied and diverse groups and communities in urban and rural settings, as well as with tribal nations; ability and/or lived experience to understand and fully engage with the diverse people and communities of Oregon, especially those who have been historically marginalized by state and federal policies.
• Demonstrated commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity; proven experience developing and implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
• Experience building and supporting high-performing, collaborative, and inclusive teams that appreciate and encourage diverse thinking and foster an inclusive culture of belonging; proven experience fostering teamwork among subordinates; experience coaching, mentoring, and motivating subordinates through inclusivity, equity, and kindness.
• Management experience in a government agency or organization; understanding of or experience in working with labor unions, particularly in a government setting.
• Demonstrated success leading and administering a program or regional division of a government agency or organization in a manner that builds and maintains teamwork, effective communication, and delivery of quality results.
• Demonstrated skill in advising executives and other decision-makers; political awareness; excellent verbal and written communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills; ability to communicate clearly and effectively in stressful situations.
• Experience in strategic planning, succession planning, outcomes-based management, and change management; champions process improvement; proven leadership as a change agent with a commitment to improve the way government and public agencies operate and serve their customers.
• Experience in the development, implementation, and evaluation of strategic program rules, policies, and long- and short-range goals and plans, including budget responsibilities.
• 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.
• Ability and experience managing human, financial, and informational resources in a manner that instills employee and public trust and accomplishes the organization's mission.
• Experience with budgeting principles and processes, especially as they relate to program management.
• Public policy and program development experience in leading discussions with external parties and agency responsibilities to protect human health and the environment.
• Experience and general understanding of the programs in DEQ’s Land Quality Division, including CERCLA, Emergency Response, RCRA, High Hazard Rail, Underground Storage Tanks, Recycling Modernization, Materials Management, and Brownfields.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate emerging environmental programmatic priorities with both statewide and national implications.

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 office, however, the successful candidate may be eligible for hybrid work. The logistics of hybrid work will need to be worked out with the Hiring Manager prior to your hire and may be changed at any time given specific job duties and business needs. DEQ will provide 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.

Most work is performed in a professional office setting with multiple demands on time. There is frequent work under tight deadlines. This position requires frequent travel on official State business for meetings, conferences, site visits, trainings, and public hearings, some of which may involve evening work, weekend work, and/or overnight stays. There will be extended working hours during legislative sessions and emergencies. During site visits, there may be exposure to inclement weather, pollutants, contaminated soil and water, fumes, airborne contaminants, chemicals, fall and tripping hazards, substantial walking, and stairs.

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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Help Your Application Rise to the Top!

Your application materials are the perfect opportunity to highlight your interest in the position and showcase your amazing skills and experience. 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 materials.

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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. Instead, you will be asked to submit those at a later time as part of a future task in Workday.

Equal Pay Analysis:

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 DEQ’s Recruitment Team at jobs@deq.oregon.gov or 503-229-5107. TTY users: please use the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.