Environmental Protection Specialist II

This posting is only open to current residents of the State of Colorado. 

ABOUT CDPHE:

At the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, we are charged with protecting Colorado’s health and environment – a responsibility that affects every person and every community in the state. CDPHE is distinctive because we bring public health and environmental protection together under one agency, recognizing that healthy people depend on healthy places. Our teams prevent diseases and injury, respond to emergencies ranging from E.coli outbreaks to global pandemics, reduce air pollution, protect water quality, regulate health facilities, manage environmental hazards, perform advanced laboratory testing, provide birth and death records, and implement health promoting programs. We turn science and data into action, set statewide standards, and work alongside local public health agencies and community partners to meet Colorado’s most pressing health and environmental challenges. Working at CDPHE means applying your expertise to complex, consequential work that can improve lives across the state. 

Our mission captures this broad portfolio of work: to advance Colorado’s health and protect the places we live, learn, work, and play. Our vision is a healthy and sustainable Colorado where current and future generations can thrive. Achieving the mission and vision takes bold action, talented people, broad partnerships, and a commitment to serving every Coloradan.

CDPHE Offers: 

CDPHE offers a comprehensive benefits package and the opportunity to build a meaningful career in public service. Benefits include:

• Medical and dental plans.

• Colorado PERA retirement options, including defined benefit plan or defined contribution plan. 

• Optional 401(K) and 457 retirement plans. 

• Employer-paid life insurance.

• Short- and long-term disability coverage.

• Potential flexible working arrangements

• 11 paid holidays per year and generous paid time off.

• Free parking and access to RTD bus lines.

• Tuition assistance. 

• Employee wellness programs.

• Professional development opportunities.

• Career opportunities throughout Colorado state government. 

Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

The Work Unit: 

This work unit exists to protect human health and the environment by assuring the safe management of solid waste at solid waste sites and facilities through: ensuring proper storage, treatment, and disposal of solid wastes; remediating contaminated sites and facilities; conducting inspections; and providing outreach to industry, governmental entities, and interested stakeholders via guidance development, training and technical and
regulatory assistance. In addition, the unit collects, analyzes and reports on data associated with solid waste flow and  materials management/recycling/reuse within Colorado. The unit also conducts inspections and enforcement follow up in accordance with the Department's Environmental Justice Policy for sites and facilities located in disproportionately impacted areas.

What You Will Do: 

Provides technical expertise to facilitate inspection, monitoring, enforcement and regulation of solid waste activities and solid waste disposal sites and facilities in Colorado.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Drafts technical portions of formal enforcement documents including administrative compliance orders and settlement agreements from facts gathered during inspections. Participates as a Department representative and member of negotiation team in compliance and settlement conferences. 
• Position negotiates with facilities to identify solutions where guidance and regulations are not explicit. Some of these plans and projects are politically complicated and complex.
• Provides statutory, regulatory, chemical and geological technical assistance to municipalities, counties, owners and citizens regarding solid waste regulations, statutes and related environmental issues. 
• Responds to solid waste spills that come over the Department emergency reporting system and requires feedback to the responding party and for which the position must ensure adequate response on behalf of the Department.

Class Code & Classification Description:

I3A3**  Environmental Protection Specialist II

Minimum Qualifications:

NOTE: An applicant may meet the minimum qualifications for this job in one of two ways: They may qualify through their work experience alone or through a combination of education and work experience.

 

**You must substantiate that you meet the minimum qualifications when filling out the Work Experience section of the application. Failure to do so will result in the application not moving forward in the hiring process.  “See resume” will not be accepted. Resumes are considered supplemental information and are not considered in the initial evaluation.  In addition, part-time work will be prorated when determining whether minimum qualifications are met.**

Preferred Qualifications:     

In addition to the minimum requirements, the successful candidate in this position will have the following highly desirable experience and competencies:  

• Demonstrated experience in performing site investigations 

• Demonstrated experience in oversight of storage treatment, disposal and remediation 

• Demonstrated experience in technical evaluation analysis and comparison of professional standards

• Demonstrated experience in utilizing operable level of cross disciplinary scientific skills
  

Conditions of Employment:

• Residency Requirement Options:

  • This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.

• A pre-employment background check will be conducted as part of the selection process.

• Travel: Periodic in state travel to conduct inspections, attend off-site meetings and court proceedings. Occasional out-of-state travel to attend training or conferences.

A complete application packet must include:

• Completed State of Colorado application.

• If using education to qualify for this position a copy of your transcripts (unofficial acceptable) or diploma must be provided with application. Transcripts must be attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.

• If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214 must be attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.

The Selection Process:

• All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications proceed to the next step.

• Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process. A top group, up to six candidates, will be invited to schedule an interview with the hiring manager. Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position may be a structured application review, which involves a review of the information you submit in your application materials by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) against the preferred qualifications.
  

E-Verify: 

CDPHE uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

ADAAA Accommodations:

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator at [email protected] or call 303-692-2060, option 5