Environmental Specialist

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is hiring an Environmental Specialist in Washington, IA. The role involves conducting on-site inspections of regulated sites, promoting compliance with environmental laws, and managing data. Key tasks include analyzing environmental samples, communicating findings, and responding to violations and emergencies. The position requires outdoor work, frequent travel, and physical demands. Applicants should submit a resume and cover letter online.
The Department of Natural Resources encourages all applicants to upload a current resume and cover letter to their online application.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is seeking a new Environmental Specialist to join its Environmental Services Division at Field Office #6 in Washington, Iowa. In this role, you will work alongside a dedicated team of professionals to support the department's mission of conserving and enhancing Iowa's natural resources, improving quality of life, and securing a sustainable legacy for future generations. Serving a 16-county region across southeast Iowa, you will promote compliance with environmental laws to ensure local residents and businesses benefit from a safe, clean environment.

As an Environmental Specialist, your core responsibilities will center on conducting on-site inspections across a wide variety of regulated sites, including public water supplies, wastewater treatment plants, animal feeding operations, air pollution sources, storm water controls, sanitary disposal projects, underground storage tanks, and floodplains. These inspections involve taking environmental contaminant samples and interpreting scientific data. Additionally, you will be responsible for managing and analyzing data within DNR databases to prepare for investigations, monitor ongoing compliance, handle public inquiries, and compile official communications and reports.

Communication and emergency response are also vital components of this position. You will routinely explain regulatory requirements and present factual findings to the public, local officials, environmental professionals, and regulated parties through both written reports and verbal meetings. Furthermore, you will investigate reported environmental violations and respond directly to hazardous chemical spills and underground storage tank releases. Performing these investigations requires applying scientific principles, analyzing geographic and facility records, executing physical inspections, and interpreting environmental sampling data.

Essential Functions:

Inspect and determine compliance with environmental programs, including but not limited to public water supplies, waste water treatment, animal feeding operations, air pollution sources and control equipment, storm water controls, sanitary disposal projects and regulated underground storage tanks.Communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing, technical information, regulatory requirements, department policies, procedures, and guidance to public officials, industrial professionals, and others.Use PC based computer systems and software, routinely and effectively, for oral and written communication, and to utilize databases, develop spreadsheets, research reference documents, and analyze data.Work outdoors and withstand physically demanding conditions frequently and for fairly long periods, includingtraversing rough terrain and stream banks and activities such as stooping, climbing ladders, and bending and lifting up to 25 pounds.

Take instructions or requests from Supervisor and Lead Worker.Establish and maintain effective working relationships with management, DNR staff, stakeholders and the public.Travel frequently during the work week with an occasional overnight stay.Respond to emergency response calls during periods when on-call, and follow up on-site as needed.Critical Job Competencies:

Accountability, Integrity, High Productivity, Customer Focus, Team Player, Interpersonal Skills, Communication Skills, Computer Skills, Self-Management, Technical Skills (Environmental compliance/regulations/rules).

What You Get From Us:

A competitive pay plan and rewarding work. Insurance benefits that start the first of the month following 30 days of employment.
(Premiums can start as low as $64/month for single and $210/month for family coverage).Separate vacation and sick leave accruals that start on the first day and can roll over annually.Nine paid holidays/year.Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) retirement package with employer match.Optional deferred compensation (457/401A) plan with employer match.Professional training opportunities.Family friendly and professional work environment.Employee Discount Programs (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling)The State’s total compensation package features benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation. For a list of additional benefits, please visit the DAS website for more information.Flexible work schedules (as approved by the supervisor).Opportunities for hybrid telework (as approved by the supervisor).Comments:

 

Must possess, obtain and maintain a valid Iowa driver's license. Travels frequently during the work week to perform inspections, attend meetings, and investigate environmental complaints and spills.

 

The starting salary for new state (Executive Branch) employees is expected to be at the base of the pay range. Additional salary increases may occur after the first six months, and then annually (if applicable). The State’s total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation. Visit the DAS website for more benefit information.

DNR Field Services Webpage Link:   https://www.iowadnr.gov/about/environmental-field-offices

Click this link to be transferred to the Department Employment webpage for a short video on Environmental Services Jobs within the Department, scroll to the bottom of the page: https://www.iowadnr.gov/employment

Ensure you are kept up-to-date on the status of this position by checking your email regularly for emails from info@governmentjobs.com. This is a system generated email from the DAS application system and it may be sent directly to your Junk/Spam folder.

DNR Application Tips

For more information about DNR Employment Opportunities and position specific notices, please visit the DNR Employmentwebsite.

The State of Iowa is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.




E-Verify and Right to Work
The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Iowa DNR Mission:

To conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organizations to improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensure a legacy for future generations.

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree in a natural science; 
OR
an equivalent combination of experience and education substituting one year of full-time professional work in an environmental, radiation control, environmental health or food sanitation program for each year (30 semester hours) of the required education.