Initial Posting Date:

09/17/2025

Application Deadline:

10/09/2025

Agency:

Department of Environmental Quality

Salary Range:

$5,320 - $8,141

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Project Manager (Natural Resource Specialist 3)

Job Description:

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality strives to build and sustain an inclusive and equitable 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 status, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or physical or mental disability.

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.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a full-time opportunity available for a Project Manager (Natural Resource Specialist 3) in Bend, Klamath Falls, or Pendleton, Oregon (finalist may choose work location).

Please consider joining an innovative team, and work to advance our agency’s mission to protect and improve Oregon’s environmental quality.

About DEQ!

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. Here is a video about DEQ: https://youtu.be/E-Cs6M9AAlU

The Regional Divisions are responsible for implementation of Water Quality, Air Quality, and Waste Management and Cleanup Programs. The Regions provide the following services: compliance inspection of regulated entities; enforcement of permit requirements and administrative rules; issuance of air, water, and solid waste permits; investigation of complaints; issuance of subsurface permits; response to spills or other incidents with environmental impacts; direct contact and liaison with other governmental entities, industries, and the public; and technical assistance to regulated entities and the public. The Regions consist of Northwest, Eastern, and Western Region. This position is in Eastern Region.

The Environmental Cleanup Program has broad responsibility to ensure releases of hazardous substances from facilities do not endanger public health or the environment. Included are responsibilities for maintaining a site inventory, investigating and monitoring sites, and performing site cleanup and restoration. This program is statewide and impacts owners and operators, both past and present, of facilities that may have handled hazardous substances or generated hazardous residues.

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

What you will do!

You will serve as a Cleanup and Leaking Underground Storage Tank project manager on simple to complex cleanup and tanks sites during the planning and implementation of site investigations, feasibility studies, remedy selection, remedy design, and remedy construction to protect public health, safety, welfare, and the environment. In addition, you will support the Easter Region Emergency Response section that responds after an acute release of petroleum or hazardous substances. This may include participating in drills for training purposes and supporting in the Environmental Section of an Incident Command Structure with cleanup expertise.

What’s in it for you!

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!

This is a full-time, AFSCME represented position.

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies.

What are we looking for?

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.

Substitutions:

• 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.
• Familiarity with cleanup policies, procedures, state, and federal guidance, specifically CFR Part 300 (NCP) and CERCLA Guidance.
• Experience in environmental protection and restoration, including researching and analyzing data, conducting investigations, applying pertinent laws and regulations, managing projects, and coordinating with other state and federal agencies.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a project team leader for remedial action projects.
• Experience providing technical oversight for completion of site investigations, and for design and implementation of remedial activities.
• Excellent project management skills, analytical skills, and organizational skills; prior regulatory experience in a project manager role, including experience planning, leading, and implementing projects and programs.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, and Access), as well as computer programs such as Google Earth and Acrobat.
• Completed 40-hour HAZWOPER health and safety training and maintains current 8-hour refresher certification.
• Familiarity with geographic information system (GIS) software.
• Demonstrated experience building and fostering relationships with a diverse group of partners including colleagues, interested parties, communities, organizations, and businesses; skill in conflict resolution, negotiation, and collaboration.
• Ability to work well with other staff members, and regulators and professionals outside the program, the agency, and outside government; ability to deal diplomatically with angry or hostile people.

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 Bend, Klamath Falls, or Pendleton 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.

This position requires frequent travel by car for site visits, meetings, trainings, conferences, public hearings, seminars, in-office work, and workshops. During site visits, there may be exposure to hazardous or dangerous chemicals, contaminated soil and water, pollutants, fumes, airborne contaminants, fall or tripping hazards, and uneven terrain. Statewide travel with occasional evening and weekend work may be required.

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 application materials are the perfect opportunity to highlight your interest in the position and showcase your amazing skills and experience. 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 materials.

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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. Instead, you will be asked to submit those at a later time as part of a future task in Workday.

Equal Pay Analysis:

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, including an accommodation request under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 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.