Link to Apply
Initial Posting Date:
12/11/2023
Application Deadline:
01/04/2024
Salary Range:
$6,318 - $9,700
Position Title:
Senior Materials Management Coordinator (Natural Resource Specialist 5)
Job Description:
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 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.
Imagine a future where materials and products—both made in Oregon and used in Oregon—support human health, well-being and healthy, resilient environments, communities and climate. Sustainable use of materials allows all people to enjoy a prosperous, clean economy and fulfilling lives, now and in the future. That is the vision and purpose of Oregon DEQ’s Materials Management Program, and we are seeking a Senior Materials Management Coordinator (Natural Resource Specialist 5) to join our passionate, mission focused team to play a key role in realizing that vision.
The Senior Materials Management Coordinator will provide crucial staff leadership for the Materials Management Program, which strives to reduce the environmental, health and social impacts of materials and products throughout their full life cycle. We work with partners statewide and beyond to pursue Oregon’s 2050 Vision for Materials Management and Framework for Action in order to conserve resources, protect the environment, and enhance well-being. This position is based in Portland, OR and sits within the Life Cycle Programs section, which supports the 2050 Vision through innovative, collaborative, and research-based work.
The Materials Management Program is part of DEQ’s Land Quality Division. Land Quality programs support DEQ’s mission through a wide range of environmental work, such as assessing and managing environmental cleanups, safely managing the disposal of solid and hazardous wastes, and responding to spills of oil and hazardous materials. Consider joining a dedicated team and helping advance our agency’s mission to protect and improve Oregon’s environmental quality.
What you will do!
You will be one of DEQ’s primary resources on sustainable materials management, providing cross program policy and technical leadership and coordination. Your work will focus on reducing the environmental, social and health impacts of materials and products produced, used, consumed, or discarded in Oregon. You will lead DEQ’s Materials Management Program to collaborate with many internal and external partners in Oregon and beyond to make meaningful progress towards the 2050 Vision for Materials Management and Framework for Action. With an emphasis on activities that reduce full life cycle impacts, you will develop program strategies, goals and action plans; identify partnerships and policy priorities; guide research on high impact materials and emerging issues; and measure progress toward the 2050 Vision. You will develop cross-media and inter-agency partnerships and projects to build a broad understanding of, and coalitions supporting, advancement of sustainable materials management, lifecycle thinking, consumption-based emissions, and the links between materials, climate and well-being. All your work will be based on a foundation of equity, inclusion, and environmental justice.
You will be one of DEQ’s primary resources on sustainable materials management, providing cross-program policy and technical leadership and coordination. Your work will focus on reducing the environmental, social and health impacts of materials and products produced, used, consumed, or discarded in Oregon. You will lead DEQ’s Materials Management Program to collaborate with many internal and external partners in Oregon and beyond to make meaningful progress towards the 2050 Vision for Materials Management and Framework for Action. With an emphasis on activities that reduce full life cycle impacts, you will develop program strategies, goals and action plans; identify partnerships and policy priorities; guide research on high impact materials and emerging issues; and measure progress toward the 2050 Vision. You will develop cross-media and inter-agency partnerships and projects to build a broad understanding of, and coalitions supporting, advancement of sustainable materials management, lifecycle thinking, consumption-based emissions, and the links between materials, climate and well-being. All your work will be based on a foundation of equity, inclusion, and environmental justice.
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: Bachelor’s degree in physical science, environmental science, natural resources, or a closely related field, AND 5 years of experience in a natural resource or environmental field (an equivalent combination of education and experience is acceptable). 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.
Candidates who are most competitive will also reflect the following:
• Demonstrated experience working in sustainable materials management, including researching, designing, evaluating and implementing programs and policies that reduce the full life cycle impacts of materials and products.
• Ability to envision alternative futures for production and consumption of materials and identify actionable, systemic strategies leading to these; knowledge of national and international business, government, non-governmental, community and other interests and practices related to production and consumption of materials and products.
• Knowledge of, and experience assessing and reducing, the life cycle impacts of materials and products, such as toxic chemicals, built environment, food, textiles, plastics, and waste prevention, reuse, repair and recycling sectors.
• Demonstrated understanding of environmental justice and the historical impacts for marginalized and underrepresented communities; ability to take personal responsibility for increasing your knowledge of and fluency advancing the values of environmental justice and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Demonstrated experience building, fostering, and maintaining reciprocal relationships with diverse groups of partners including peers, impacted communities, non-governmental organizations, government representatives, legislators and their staff, businesses and other interested parties.
• Extensive experience and skill in engagement, collaboration, negotiation, and conflict resolution; strong interpersonal skills with an ability to break down traditional barriers that exist between people and programs, challenging and successfully inviting people to take coordinated, collaborative and communal perspectives rather than independent, siloed approaches.
• Proficiency leading effective teams of diverse collaborators, and exceptional ability to consider, appreciate, and synthesize multiple competing perspectives and priorities; consistently demonstrating flexibility, patience, adaptability, diplomacy, tact, and inclusive facilitation.
• Experience working in or significant knowledge of public service and government systems, processes, and responsibilities.
• Demonstrated ability and experience delivering compelling, concise and evidence-supported communication of policy and technical information tailored to the diverse needs of different partners and impacted groups; exceptional skill composing and presenting clear and concise reports and recommendations for action that include qualitative and quantitative analyses, evidence, and conclusions to a wide range of audiences.
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, belonging and psychological safety.
This position will be based out of DEQ’s Headquarters Portland office; however, the successful candidate will be eligible for hybrid work. The logistics of hybrid work will be worked out with the Hiring Manager prior to your hire and may be changed given specific job duties and business needs. DEQ will provide the 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.
There will be occasional travel to attend meetings, seminars, public hearings, workshops, conferences, and trainings, some of which may involve evening work and/or overnight stays.
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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Please Note: 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 material.
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 at a later time.
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 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 Rebecca Zanskar Human Resources Analyst, at rebecca.zanskar@deq.oregon.gov or (503) 807-8937. TTY users: please use the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.
Non-discrimination statement
DEQ does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age or sex in administration of its programs or activities.
Visit DEQ’s Civil Rights and Environmental Justice page.