Environmental Scientist

The Department of Environmental Quality is looking to fill an Environmental Scientist III position in the Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control. This position may be filled at any of the advertised levels listed below. Salary depends on experience and the job level offered within the series.

Job Description

• Evaluates administrative rules and administrative processes and recommends changes to address emerging solid waste and recycling regulatory needs, including outreach and stakeholder involvement.
• Permits solid waste landfills, transfer stations, recycling facilities, incinerators, composting facilities and other non-hazardous disposal and treatment operations.
• Evaluates plans, engineered designs, and technical reports, to ensure that standards are met.
• Takes day trips and occasional overnight travel statewide to inspect solid waste and recycling facilities, and unpermitted sites, and takes enforcement actions to ensure compliance with state and federal rules.
• Keeps informed of developments in local and national waste disposal and recycling regulation and technologies, promotes best practices, and provides technical support to government agencies, the public and industry.

• Three or more years of experience in environmental regulatory compliance or permitting.
• Experience planning and prioritizing work and performing in a productive and professional manner.
• The ability to read, interpret, and apply federal and state environmental policies, laws, rules, and regulations that are technical in nature, and use logic and research to draw conclusions and propose quality solutions.
• Strong communication skills and the ability communicate scientific and technical information both orally and in writing to a broad range of audiences.
• The ability to respond to information calls, meet with industry, health departments, and local government, and participate in policy discussions as assigned.

• A Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering, Geology, Hydrogeology, Chemistry, Natural Resources, Environmental Science, Environmental Management, or a closely related field is preferred.
• OR an equivalent combination of relevant education and paid professional employment directly related to the above tasks.

• Health Insurance - Public Employee Health Program (PEHP):
  • 3 medical plan options. Choose a Traditional or High Deductible Health Plan. (There is an Opt-Out Cash Benefit option for those who have other medical insurance coverage)
  • 5 dental plan options (There is an Opt-Out Cash Benefit option for those who have other dental insurance coverage)
  • 4 vision plan options under EyeMed or OptiCare
• Retirement - Utah Retirement Systems (URS):
• Paid Time Off:
  • Annual leave and sick leave are accrued at 4 hours per pay period each (4 hours annual, 4 hours sick).
  • Annual leave increases with years of service.
  • There are also 12 paid holidays.

Supplemental Information

• Risks which require the use of special safety precautions and/or equipment, e.g., working around operating machines, working with contagious diseases or hazardous chemicals, etc.
• Work requires physical exertion. May require the ability to stand; walk over rough surfaces; bend, crouch, stoop, stretch, reach, lift moderately heavy items (up to 50 lbs.) in a recurring manner and/or for long periods of time.