Water Quality Permitting Manager (Natural Resource Protection and Sustainability Manager 2)

Are you interested in applying your leadership skills to protecting and enhancing Oregon’s environment? If so, please consider a career with the State of Oregon at the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

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 strive to be a workplace where we share our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals, and while collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations. We celebrate and appreciate diversity, champion equity, and treat each other with respect and dignity. 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.

Opportunity:

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a full-time opportunity available for a Water Quality Permitting Manager (Natural Resource Protection and Sustainability Manager 2). This position is based out of DEQ’s Headquarters in Portland, Oregon.

This position is limited duration through June 30, 2025 with the potential of being extended or made permanent pending Budget and Legislature approval.

The Agency:

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is the primary regulatory agency of the government of the U.S. State of Oregon responsible for protecting and enhancing the state’s natural resources. 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/E-Cs6M9AAlU

The Water Quality Division has a critical role in achieving the Department’s mission by developing policy, implementation tools, and implementation priorities for improving and protecting the quality of water in Oregon’s waterways. The Water Quality Division works cooperatively with the Department’s three regional offices and the Laboratory to deliver programs and services that protect and enhance the quality of the waters of the state to protect public health and the environment.

Click here to view a map of all the DEQ offices.

What you will do!

You will manage the Permit Data Management, Reporting, and Special Programs section by working with staff collaboratively to develop policies, procedures, and program priorities considering the agency’s mission, resources, and focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice. The section is responsible for working with permitted facilities to collect compliance data, analyze the data for policy or process improvements, and transfer the data to EPA. In addition, the section is responsible for developing or collaborating on the development of statewide water quality permits, policy, and procedures for specific permitting programs, including water reuse, CAFOs, and beneficial use of biosolids. Finally, the section may collaborate with external interested parties and engage in rulemaking.

As a State supervisory manager, you will be expected to develop proficiency in, as well as model to others, these competencies: Proactive communication, Innovation, Intentional Engagement, Mentoring & Developing Others, Stewardship, and Business Acumen. 

These competencies are demonstrated by:

• Ensuring staff are supported and have the tools, learning, and equipment necessary to perform their duties.
• Coaching, mentoring, and motivating staff; meeting regularly with staff to provide leadership, guidance, and feedback, and to encourage skill development and career growth.
• Setting clear work objectives, goals, and expectations for staff; evaluating performance and addressing performance in a timely manner.
• Building team cohesion; encouraging collaboration and ensuring staff are cross-trained.

Desired Attributes/Skills:

If you have these qualities, let us know! Candidates who are most competitive will reflect the following:

• Demonstrated commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity; proven experience developing and implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
• Experience working with diverse groups and communities; skill and experience in communication and outreach to underrepresented communities; ability to build partnerships across diverse community and stakeholder groups and interests.
• Experience managing a department with natural resources responsibilities (preferably in water quality), including program and strategic planning; knowledge of the federal and state laws governing water quality and natural resources management; familiarity with regulatory programs involving permitting and compliance.
• Experience building and supporting high-performing, collaborative teams that appreciate and encourage diverse thinking; proven experience fostering teamwork among subordinates; experience coaching, mentoring, and motivating subordinates.
• Management experience in a government agency or organization; management experience with a union represented employer.
• Experience in strategic planning, plan implementation, succession planning, outcomes-based management, and change management; champions process improvement.
• Demonstrated skill in advising executives and other decision-makers; political awareness; excellent verbal and written communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.; ability to communicate clearly and effectively in stressful situations.
• Ability and experience managing human, financial, and informational resources in a manner that instills employee and public trust and accomplishes the organization’s mission.
• Demonstrated ability to lead both technical and program development teams using data collection, goal setting, measure design, and report development to address statewide environmental challenges and opportunities.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate emerging environmental programmatic priorities with both statewide and national implications.
• Public policy and program development experience in leading discussions with external parties and agency responsibilities to protect human health and the environment.

Minimum Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications: 6 years of supervision, management, or progressively related experience or 3 years of related experience and a Bachelor’s degree.

What’s in it for you!

DEQ cares deeply about employee wellness and benefits. You will receive a comprehensive, competitive, and affordable benefits, leave, and wellness package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 11 paid holidays
• 10 hours of vacation per month, eligible to be used after 6 months of service
• 8 hours of sick leave per month, eligible to be used as accrued
• 24 hours of personal business leave per fiscal year, eligible to be used after 6 months of service
• Optional life insurance packages
• Flexible spending accounts
• Membership in the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)
• Optional deferred compensation retirement program
• Opportunity to potentially receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• Continuous growth and development opportunities
• Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work
• A healthy work/life balance, including flexible schedules and hybrid work options for many positions

This is a full-time, management service supervisory position.

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.

This position will be based out of DEQ’s Portland office, however, the successful candidate may be eligible for hybrid work. The logistics of hybrid work will need to be worked out with the Hiring Manager prior to your hire and may be changed at any time given specific job duties and business needs. DEQ will provide necessary hardware (laptop, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and cell phone) for an employee to successfully work from home. At DEQ sites, you will have access to a workspace, however, it may be shared with other employees.

Most work is performed in a professional office setting with multiple demands on time. There is frequent work under tight deadlines. This position requires some travel on official State business for meetings, conferences, site visits, trainings, and public hearings, some of which may involve evening work, weekend work, and/or overnight stays. During site visits, there may be exposure to inclement weather, pollutants, and chemicals.

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 knowledge article for assistance.

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Help Your Application Rise to the Top!

Your candidate profile, cover letter, and resume are the perfect opportunity to highlight your interest in the position and showcase your amazing skills and experience. Candidates whose training and/or experience most closely match the requirements and needs of the position and who attach all necessary documents will be eligible for an interview. Submissions will be screened for consistency of information and communication skills at the professional level (attention to detail, spelling, grammar, etc.). Please make sure your attributes and the minimum qualifications are clearly demonstrated in your application materials.

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 later.

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 DEQ’s Recruitment Team at jobs@deq.oregon.gov or 503-229-5107. TTY users: please use the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.