Division Environmental Program Supervisor I – Shelby

The Division Environmental Program Supervisor I at NCDOT in North Carolina is responsible for ensuring compliance with environmental laws for maintenance and construction projects. Duties include conducting field investigations, preparing technical reports, and negotiating permits with regulatory agencies. The role requires knowledge of natural and environmental sciences, and involves training staff and serving as a contact for state and federal agencies. Full state benefits and career development opportunities are offered.
Description of Work

This position with NCDOT offers full State Benefits , competitive salaries and many career development opportunities.

This position will be responsible for ensuring that Division Maintenance and Construction projects tasked by the Division Engineer are in compliance with environmental laws and regulations. Responsible for ensuring all necessary biological, natural resource, wetlands and protected species issues have been thoroughly investigated and technical input provided to the Division Project Development Unit and/or the Project Management Unit in support of environmental documents for selected projects located in the Division.

Conduct field investigations of plant and animal species in diverse habitats located within and adjacent to transportation corridors. Identify jurisdictional wetlands from non-jurisdictional uplands within transportation corridors. Conduct rare species surveys. Prepare technical reports, biological assessments, minimum criteria determination checklists, and categorical exclusions. Determine what environmental regulation permits are required. Schedule project familiarization conference with state and federal regulation agencies. Prepare and submit permit applicants and exhibits to regulatory agencies. Negotiate permit conditions with regulatory agencies. Advise design engineer and transportation managers of unusual or sensitive environmental resources.

Assist in development of strategic environmental plans and initiatives to enhance project schedules and project design feasibility. Mediate disputes between regulatory agencies and transportation construction managers. Advise transportation construction manager of deficiencies in environmental regulation compliance. Advise successful bidders about regulatory requirements. Conduct preconstruction and permit review meetings with environmental agencies, contractors, and NCDOT personnel to review and interpret permit conditions and environmental commitments for Division projects. Assist construction and maintenance engineers in ensuring environmental compliance with waste and borrow site reclamation plans.

Conduct training workshops as required for Division staff on pertinent environmental topics and provide informal training on environmental issues during site visits. Serve as a point of contact for State and Federal agencies, wildlife refuges, primate environmental entities, local government officials and board of Transportation members. Assist in the assessment of potential National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and best management practice (BMP) sites for NPDES Permit compliance. Submit requests through the Etracs systems and maintain documentation in project files.

Considerable knowledge of technical and scientific concepts of natural science and environmental science as they apply to transportation planning and environmental assessment. Working knowledge of wetland systems, biological communities and the relationship of highways, bridges, and highway development to streams and wildlife. Considerable knowledge of federal and state regulations governing the work supervised. Ability to plan, conduct and review projects of a technical nature and prepare technical reports, biological assessments and other environmental documentation as required by state and federal laws. Ability to handle with tact, consistency and professional judgment the diversity of public contacts and demands of consultation and enforcement. Ability to plan, organize and direct work operations. Ability to train and supervise subordinate workers. Ability to review and critique the work of others.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies

Applicants must submit an application that clearly reflects work experience that demonstrates the following:
• Knowledge of state and federal environmental regulations relating to SEPA and NEPA guidelines and preparation of related environmental documentation
• Experience with the preparation of 404 and 401 and permit applications and related exhibits
• Experience conducting natural resource field evaluations such as stream and wetland delineation, threatened and endangered species surveys, and basic knowledge of SHPO issues
• Experience serving as environmental liaison between NC DOT staff, consultants, resource agencies, environmental regulators, and the general public (stakeholders) with consistency and sound judgment
• Experience planning, conducting and reviewing projects of a technical nature and evaluate construction and maintenance projects for environmental compliance and stewardship

Additional Expectations:

Working knowledge of wetland systems, streams and wildlife. Considerable knowledge of federal and state regulations governing the work supervised. Ability to plan, conduct and review projects of a technical nature and prepare technical reports, biological assessments and other environmental documentation as required by state and federal laws. Ability to handle with tact, consistency and professional judgment the diversity of public contacts and demands of consultation and enforcement. Ability to plan, organize and direct work operations. Ability to train and supervise subordinate workers. Ability to review and critique the work of others. The selected applicant will be expected to legally operate a motor vehicle. Safety toe shoes required.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See oshr.nc.gov/experience-guide for detail.

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 and three years of progressive experience in environmental work; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Supplemental and Contact Information

Supplemental Contact Information: Connie Johnson at 980-552-4207 or cbjohnson1@ncdot.gov

Applicants must meet both the minimum requirements and all posted Knowledge, Skills and Ability requirements to be considered Qualified for the position. It is important that your application includes all your relevant education and work experience and that you answer all questions associated with the application.

NCDOT will not accept “See Attached” or “See Resume” in lieu of education and work experience completed on the application. If multiple applications are submitted to an individual posting, only the most recent application received prior to the posting date will be accepted.

NOTE: For temporary, contract or other supplemental staffing appointments: There are no paid leave, retirement or other benefits associated with these appointment types.

For permanent and time-limited appointments:

Eligible employees have benefits that include employee health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, NC Flex (a variety of high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis), and paid vacation, sick, and community service leave, to name a few. Paid parental leave is available for eligible employees. Some benefits require 30 + hours work/week for participation.