Environmental Education and Outreach Specialist

The State of South Carolina is seeking an Environmental Education and Outreach Specialist to enhance air quality awareness among students and the public. Responsibilities include developing outreach materials, coordinating with educational institutions, and representing the Bureau at public events. The role requires a high school diploma or relevant experience, with a bachelor's degree in a related field preferred. This position is based in Richland, SC and is not remote.
Job Responsibilities

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The Bureau of Air Quality's Environmental Education and Outreach Specialist works with staff, management, and statewide stakeholders to improve air quality awareness of students and the general public. They develop outreach materials and webpage content, and participation at career fairs, conference exhibits, public meetings/hearings, and other outreach and education events.

Responsibilities:
• Coordinate with Department of Education, local school districts, local governments, education associations, and other stakeholders to develop, plan, and expand air quality initiatives, such as Breathe Better Anti-idling program, Air Quality Flag program, Spare the Air program, and Green Ribbon Schools. Explore other programs implemented by other states for possible implementation in South Carolina. Visit schools and share educational materials with educators and students. Share possible grant opportunities with educators.
• Work with Bureau management and staff to develop outreach and educational materials for the general public to improve air quality awareness. Assist the Public Participation Coordinator with public meetings and hearings as needed.
• Serve as the Bureau's website coordinator, working with program staff in each program area to update website content as needed.
• Represent the Bureau on the agency's Outreach/Communications committee(s) and national air quality association outreach committees. Assist with developing social media posts and newsletter articles. Participate in career fairs and outreach events and prepare materials and displays for conference exhibits.
• Serve as coordinator for local air quality coalitions across the state and the EPA Advance Program. Attend and provide information at coalition meetings. Track voluntary particulate matter and ozone emission reductions by coalitions and submit annual Advance reports to the EPA.
• Plan quarterly (or as needed) "Air It Out" meetings for staff. Upload meeting materials to the Bureau SharePoint site. Update other materials on SharePoint site as needed.

Minimum and Additional Requirements

A high school diploma and experience in environmental health programs or radiological health.

A bachelor's degree in the natural or physical sciences, mathematics, public health, engineering or a related technical field may be substituted for the required work experience.

Institutions of Higher Learning must be recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Applicants indicating college credit or degree(s) on the application are encouraged to upload an unofficial copy of the transcript as an attachment to the application. If selected for an interview, a copy of the college transcript will be required via email or at the time of the interview. Please note that some departments within the agency may require an official, certified copy of the transcript prior to hiring or within a specific timeframe required by that area, after hiring. Failure to produce an official, certified transcript may result in not being hired or termination.

Additional Requirements:
• Must possess a valid driver's license.
• Strong communication and public speaking skills.
• Knowledge of Clean Air Act and air programs or willingness to learn new programs.
• Ability to communicate effectively with co-workers, industry, community groups, public, government officials, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to use social media to disseminate air quality information in Plain Language.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• Knowledge of Internet research techniques and use of Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel).
• Must be well-organized, have the ability to meet deadlines, and handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to work with quantitative and qualitative data and to summarize as needed.
• Ability to develop and coordinate working relationships with staff members, partners and local government contacts.

Preferred Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree in the natural or physical sciences or related technical field; or an associate degree in the natural or physical sciences or related technical field and two (2) years of environmental health or related experience; or high school diploma and four (4) years of environmental health or related experience.

Additional Comments

SCDES is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

The Department will not sponsor H1B visas for this position.

The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees:
• Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children. Click here for additional information.
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available (S.C. Deferred Compensation)
• Retirement benefit choices*
• State Retirement Plan(SCRS)
• State Optional Retirement Program(State ORP)
• Remote Work: The option of partially remote work is available after successful completion of 6 months to 1 year of employment, based on job functions
• Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.