Materials Management Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 2)
locationsPortland | DEQ | Multnomah Street
time typeFull time
posted onPosted Yesterday
job requisition idREQ-93328
Initial Posting Date:
07/11/2022
Application Deadline:
08/01/2022
Agency:
Department of Environmental Quality
Salary Range:
$3,949 - $6,038
Position Type:
Employee
Position Title:
Materials Management Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 2)
Job Description:
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality strives to build and sustain an inclusive environment that embraces and values diversity. Employees at all levels of the agency work together to foster fairness, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, veteran, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or physical or mental disability. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may not meet every one of our listed preferred qualifications. Lived experience may count towards the preferred qualification. If you are excited about this position, we encourage you to apply. If you are unsure as to whether or not you meet the qualifications of this position, please contact us to discuss your application.
Are you passionate about preserving, enhancing, and protecting 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. Here is a video about DEQ: https://youtu.be/iP3K7JoLe1k
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a full-time opportunity for a Materials Management Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 2) in Portland, Oregon.
Please consider joining an innovative team, and work to advance our agency’s mission to protect and improve Oregon’s environmental quality. The Land Quality Division supports the agency's mission by managing environmental cleanups, assessing cleanup sites, promoting manufacturing and recycling of non-toxic products, safely managing the disposal of solid and hazardous wastes, and more.
The Materials Management program’s mission is to reduce impacts of materials and products throughout their full life cycle, from design and production through distribution, consumption and use, and management at end-of-life. The Life Cycle Programs section plans and implements policies and programs supporting this mission through innovative, collaborative, and research-based work. We work with partners statewide and beyond to pursue Oregon’s 2050 Vision for Materials Management in order to conserve resources, protect the environment and enhance well-being.
Click here to view a map of all of the DEQ offices.
What you will do!
You will develop and coordinate strategies to increase and improve prevention, reuse, and recovery of materials that have significant environmental and health impacts, including but limited to food. You will support an ongoing strategic planning process focused on the food system, including sustainable production, consumption and management of food, and food waste. You will work with other Materials Management program staff and our partners to complete the food strategic plan and then identify projects for implementation that are aligned with the 2050 Vision for Materials Management. You will support and lead elements of such projects that are identified as a result of strategic planning. You may also contribute to other ongoing food-related projects, such as the Pacific Coast Food Waste Commitment, a food waste prevention campaign, and more.
You will collaborate with partners in relevant industries, underrepresented and historically impacted communities, local governments, and others to evaluate existing programs, identify gaps, and design different options – which may include regulatory and non-regulatory approaches – for reducing the impacts of food and other targeted materials and sectors. You will conduct analyses, research, outreach, and communications, and develop relationships to identify barriers, opportunities, and program and policy options to reduce environmental, social, and health impacts of food and other high impact materials and sectors. You will ground data, policy, goals, and project plans on foundations of equity and inclusion, and environmental justice principles and practices. You will take personal responsibility for increasing your knowledge of environmental justice and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. In addition, you may oversee grants to local governments and nonprofit organizations, and provide guidance and direction for consultants and/or pilot projects as appropriate.
What’s in it for you!
The opportunity to work in a productive and creative environment where no two days are ever the same! We offer a competitive benefits package that offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans for the employee and their qualified family members, as well as paid sick leave, vacation leave, personal leave, and 11 paid holidays a year. In addition, we offer membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and you have the opportunity to potentially receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). If you are passionate about Oregon's environment, apply today!
This is a full-time, AFSCME represented position.
This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies.
What are we looking for?
Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in a physical science, environmental science, natural resources, or closely related field, AND 2 years of experience in a natural resource or environmental field (an equivalent combination of education and experience is acceptable).
Candidates who are most competitive will also reflect the following:
Knowledge of material prevention, reuse, and recovery practices and alternatives, including for the food sector; knowledge of life cycle impacts of products and materials, and experience working toward reduction of those impacts.
Ability to envision alternative futures for reducing the life cycle impacts of materials, and ability to collaborate with partners to identify actionable strategies leading to these.
Experience working in food systems-related programs, such as food waste prevention and education, edible food recovery or food banking, farming and agriculture, food production or marketing, or related fields.
Skill and experience in conflict resolution, negotiation, collaboration, and relationship-building with partners and interested parties; ability to build coalitions and work with multiple parties with competing interests to achieve common goals.
Experience planning, coordinating, and implementing projects; skill and experience developing project plans, schedules, and budgets in collaboration with multiple partners.
Experience collaboratively planning and conducting culturally responsive outreach activities to engage and foster relationships with partners and community members.
Knowledge of business and consumer interests and practices related to production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of materials and products; knowledge of regulatory and non-regulatory options for influencing business and consumer actions regarding production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of materials.
Ability to take personal responsibility for increasing your knowledge of environmental justice and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
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 clear and concise reports that include qualitative and quantitative analyses, recommendations, and conclusions.
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. Most work is performed in a professional office setting. This position has regular in-person, video, and telephone contact with DEQ staff, other agencies, and the public. This position will report to DEQ’s Headquarters office in Portland as their central workplace. DEQ may allow hybrid work environment opportunities that would need to be discussed with and approved by the DEQ manager prior to hiring. This position requires occasional travel on official State business for meetings, trainings, conferences, and other events, some of which may include evening work and/or overnight stays. This position involves occasional lifting of objects which weigh up to 25 pounds.
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 job aid for assistance.
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Please Note: 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 material.
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. You will be asked to submit those at a later time.
Pay Equity:
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 Maddy Ouye, Human Resources Analyst, at maddy.ouye@deq.oregon.gov or (503) 347-5759. TTY users: please use the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.
Are you interested in an Informational Interview with DEQ to learn more about working at DEQ, how current DEQ employees got to where they are today, and what opportunities there may be for you at DEQ? Please go here and complete the form: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/about-us/Pages/humanresources.aspx. Please note that informational interviews are not tied to an open recruitment. If you complete the form above, you will be put in the queue to have an informational interview with a Hiring Manager from our Informational Interview Registry.