Job Details

Field Quality Assurance Officer (Natural Resource Specialist 3)

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a full-time opportunity available for a Field Quality Assurance Officer (Natural Resource Specialist 3) in Hillsboro, Oregon. Please consider joining an innovative team, and work to advance our agency's mission to protect and improve Oregon's environmental quality.

You will maintain and improve the quality of air and water data produced and used by the DEQ Laboratory Division for making decisions regarding allowable emissions or discharges, ambient air and water quality, and other regulatory requirements. You will develop and manage quality assurance activities for the air and water quality field monitoring programs, ensuring internal compliance with State and Federal laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. While this position supports both field sections, a majority of the work (including field audits of monitoring equipment) is focused on air quality. You will support external consultants and contractors with Quality Systems compliance by conducting inspections/audits of air and water monitoring systems, identifying corrective actions, and participating in the implementation of appropriate corrective actions. In addition, you will routinely respond to complex technical questions from scientific staff and others both inside and outside the agency, providing technical data as well as interpreting regulations and requirements as they pertain to Quality Systems, particularly for air and water field monitoring activities. Technical support activities may be in the form of interpretive memos, guidance documents, document reviews, or oral presentations to interested parties.

The opportunity to work in a productive and creative environment where no two days are ever the same! DEQ cares deeply about employee wellness and benefits. 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!

Minimum Qualifications: 6 years of experience in a natural resource or environmental field, with at least 1 year of experience at a technical or professional level performing activities in a natural resource program such as researching and analyzing data, conducting investigations, applying pertinent laws and regulations, or coordinating and monitoring project activities.

• Bachelor's degree in physical science, environmental science, natural resources, or a closely related field may substitute for 3 of the required years of experience.
• Master's degree in physical science, environmental science, natural resources, or a closely related field may substitute for 4 of the required years of experience.
• Doctorate degree in physical science, environmental science, natural resources, or a closely related field may substitute for 5 of the required years of experience.

Candidates who are most competitive will also reflect the following desired attributes:

• Demonstrated understanding of environmental justice and the historical impacts for marginalized and underrepresented communities; ability to take personal responsibility for increasing their knowledge of environmental justice and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Experience with air and water quality field monitoring activities, instrumentation, and data.
• Experience in environmental quality system assessments under The NELAC Institute (TNI) standards.
• Experience operating and troubleshooting air monitoring equipment including gas analyzers, particulate matter analyzers, particulate samplers and air toxics monitoring equipment.
• Experience with air quality monitoring performance audits and application of criteria established in EPA Air Monitoring Technical Assistance Documents (TADs), quality assurance guidance documents, and the CFR
• Experience writing and reviewing quality assurance project plans, sampling and analysis plans, and standard operating procedures for air and water quality field monitoring activities.
• 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 and presenting clear and concise reports that include qualitative and quantitative analyses, recommendations, and conclusions to diverse audiences.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage complex projects.
• Ability to juggle competing deadlines to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

This position requires frequent statewide travel by car for extended periods of time for field audits of air and water quality monitoring activities. During these site visits, there is the potential for exposure to adverse weather conditions, pollutants, chemicals, biological hazards, contaminated soil and water, fumes, airborne contaminants, heat and cold, steep or unstable surfaces, fall or tripping hazards, stairs, bending, stooping, and lifting. This position also frequently works in the laboratory assisting the laboratory quality assurance officer as well as being present for external and internal audits and reviews by federal agencies and standards organizations. It also requires occasional travel on State business for meetings, trainings, conferences, and public hearings, some of which may include overnight stays, out of state travel, and evening work.