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

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a full-time opportunity for a Senior Fuel Tank Engineer (Environmental Engineer 3 / Environmental Engineer 2 - Underfill) in Portland, Oregon. This position is identified for potential reduction during the 25-27 legislative session. There is no certainty in reductions being implemented at this time. The final determination will be after legislative session ends late June 2025.

Please consider joining an innovative team, and work to advance our agency’s mission to protect and improve Oregon’s environmental quality. The Land Quality programs support DEQ’s mission by reducing the environmental and health impacts of materials during their production and use, reducing, recovering, and safely managing the disposal of solid and hazardous wastes; administering the state’s fuel storage tank programs; responding to spills of oil and hazardous materials; and assessing and managing environmental cleanups.

The Fuel Tank Seismic Stability Program is a spill prevention program for facilities with large above ground fuel storage tanks. Through facility assessments, retrofit, reconstruction and inspection, the program is designed to promote safe fuel storage in the event of an earthquake. This work prevents leaks and spills by equipment failure due to old design criteria, installation errors or operating problems. This includes rule and policy development, statute revision proposals, training, technical assistance, inspections, and enforcement.

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

What you will do!

You will provide senior engineering expertise to DEQ team members, to other agencies, and to regulated facilities regarding earthquake vulnerability assessment and risk mitigation requirements established by Senate Bill 1567 (2022). You will be the primary DEQ engineering contact and will impact the operations of fuel storage and distribution facilities in Oregon handling over 90% of the Oregon petroleum fuel supply involving fuel expenditures over $7.6 billion dollars per year. If unmanaged, earthquake risks to these facilities pose estimated economic impact to the entire state ranging between $400 MM and $2.6 billion regarding life safety, property, navigation, fishery, recreation, cultural value, and fuel prices.

You will provide engineering expertise to promote safe facility design and prevent oil spills. You will be a primary expert for development of new technical engineering requirements and procedures that are compatible with overlapping, and sometimes conflicting, national, state, and local building codes; industry operating standards; and emergency response requirements. Your duties will include developing technical specifications and guidance, collaborating with other professional engineers, and conducting technical reviews of facility land and equipment assessments and facility risk mitigation plans. You will help approve reports, conduct facility compliance inspections to ensure compliance with mitigation implementation requirements, and provide technical assistance to facilities to ensure compliance with applicable facility design, safety, and environmental protection standards. In addition, you will give authoritative and consultative advice on program content and service delivery to state program staff, local agencies, and the regulated community setting up related programs. If working as an underfill in an Environmental Engineer 2 capacity, you would have technical support from contracted seismic resilience and facility engineers to advise on unique or unprecedented engineering determinations while your experience and skills develop.

What’s in it for you!

The opportunity to work in a productive and creative environment where no two days are ever the same! 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 for Environmental Engineer 3:

4 years of engineering experience and a Bachelor’s degree in an engineering field, such as environmental, chemical, civil, or mechanical (or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience).
2 years of experience in an environmental protection/control program.
A current PE. If you are currently registered as a professional engineer in another state, you must be able to obtain your Oregon registration within 6 months of employment in order to retain this appointment.

Minimum Qualifications for Environmental Engineer 2 - Underfill:

2 years of engineering experience and a Bachelor's degree in an engineering field, such as environmental, chemical, civil, or mechanical (or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience).
1 year of experience in an environmental protection/control program.

The underfill option is available to you if you do not meet the minimum qualifications for the Environmental Engineer 3 upon hire. In order to retain this appointment, you must be able to meet the minimum qualifications for the Environmental Engineer 3 by obtaining your Oregon registration for Professional Engineer within 3 years of employment.

Candidates who are most competitive will also reflect the following:

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.
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.
Experience with engineering of fuel handling facilities (e.g. refineries, pipelines) involving design, construction, site assessment, risk mitigation, code compliance, or inspection.
Training or experience in construction engineering, construction management, geotechnical, or structural engineering.
Experience conducting technical reviews of equipment assessments, conducting compliance inspections, and developing technical specifications for any type of manufacturing facility
Experience conducting site investigations and inspections to evaluate compliance status, and experience creating accurate and clear enforcement documents.
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.
Strong data analysis and mathematical skills.
Project management experience in an environmental/natural resources setting, including development, implementation, and evaluation; experience managing complex projects with many interested parties and multiple deliverables, all with resource constraints.

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 the DEQ Headquarters office in Portland, 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.

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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