Environmental Scientist

The Department of Environmental Quality is looking to fill an Environmental Scientist III position in the Division of Water Quality. 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

• Review Hydrogeologic Studies/Reports, Compliance reports, and Monitoring Data
• Develop and Draft Ground Water Discharge Permits and administer existing discharge permits.
• Conduct Inspections on permitted and unpermitted sites and prepare Inspection reports
• Provide excellent customer service to the public, local health departments, local government, and industry.       

Best Qualified Candidate 
The best qualified candidate will have the following:

• A minimum of 3-5 years of experience working in environmental regulatory programs with preference for the Clean Water Act, the Utah Water Quality Act or other federal, state or local environmental regulations.  

Has experience with/in:

• Compliance activities related to review and evaluation of hydrogeologic site characterization, groundwater monitoring well networks, and adequacy of engineering containment design and construction.  
• Evaluation of groundwater monitoring quality assurance and/or sampling and analysis plans.
• Review, analysis, and interpretation of hydrogeologic data, including:  aquifer hydraulic properties and flow conditions, groundwater quality, aquifer geochemistry and contaminant migration.
• Use of computer models to evaluate engineering containment design, construction, and / or remediation of aquifer contamination.  
• Analysis and determination of appropriate engineering design and construction at discharge facilities for the purpose of environmental protection, including Best Available Technology.  
• Examination and interpretation of hydrogeologic data to determine possible groundwater contamination sources.  Completion of site inspections, groundwater quality sampling, and related documentation to determine compliance with permit requirements.  
• Implementation and completion of compliance actions to enforce permit requirements.  
• Preparation of technical reports and memoranda to communicate technical issues, research, or investigation results and interpretations.  
• Verbal and written communication to inform the public of regulatory requirements, environmental risks, and planned agency actions.

Preferences
Preference may be given to individuals with the following:

• Bachelors or Master’s degree in geology, hydrology, or geological engineering, plus five (5) years of full-time paid professional employment directly related to the groundwater protection and environmental regulatory activities;
• OR an equivalent combination of related education and paid professional employment directly related to the above tasks.
• Utah Professional Geologist License.

Job Series

The selected candidate for this position may be brought in as an Environmental Scientist I with a salary range of $24.65 - $37.02, an Environmental Scientist II with a salary range of $29.00 - $43.57 per hour, or an Environmental Scientist III with a salary range of $34.13 - $51.28 per hour.

Work Location

This position may be eligible for a hybrid of both in-office/hybrid work schedule (2 days a week required in office and any mandatory in office meetings) and remote work days (work must be performed in Utah). Our office is located at 195 North 1950 West, Salt Lake City, Utah. A position's eligibility for remote work is established by agency management and is subject to change at their discretion at any time and for any reason.  Note: Under Administrative Rule R13-4 all work must be performed within the State of Utah. As such employees should either reside in Utah or be in the process of relocating to within 30 days of their start date.

Why You Should Join Our Team

As a benefited employee of the State of Utah, you will receive great health and retirement benefits. Click here to view a summary of the benefits we offer. We also provide generous paid time off so you can spend more time with your family and have a positive work-life balance.

• 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.

The Agency

For more information about the Department of Environmental Quality and the Division of Water Quality, click here.  

• 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.

Salary : $25 - $51