Apply on Employer Site

State of Tennessee · 1 day ago

TDEC-ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST1* - 01122026-73912

Davidson County, TN

Full-time

Onsite

New Grad, Entry Level

The State of Tennessee is seeking an Environmental Scientist 1 to learn professional environmental and natural resources work. The role involves performing inspections, compliance monitoring, and assisting in environmental program duties under immediate supervision.

AgricultureChildrenEducationGovernmentHealth Care

H1B Sponsor Likely

Responsibilities

Investigates complaints; develops corrective recommendations for identified problems, and if necessary, initiates legal action to effect compliance of established standards, laws, rules, regulations, or policies

Prepares documentation (such as permits, designs, layout, blueprints, soil evaluations, etc.), in a concise and defensible manner, to ensure Agency's missions are met

Conduct inspections of equipment, structures and/or material, to ensure proper installation, maintenance, and/or operation

Learn to determine the validity and severity of an incident and appropriate response

Analyzes available information and makes recommendations to ensure the best solution is chosen to meet regulatory, project, and/or stakeholders' needs

Determines validity and severity of violation(s) and if an enforcement action is warranted

Review plans and reports to determine future regulatory actions

Interprets findings, results, (i.e. site inspections, permits, lab results, etc.) and communicates interpretation of regulations, policy, guidance to stakeholders

Prepare various publications, reports, technical documents, maps and plans

Possesses general knowledge and utilizes computer software including but not limited to: statistical programs, scientific instruments, modeling, Geographic Information System (GIS), databases, word processing, spreadsheets, email, etc

Generate reports and documents utilizing contemporary computer software

Compile legally defensible environmental documents

Compiles, processes, and reviews records, data, operational plans, enforcement action requests, reports, etc

Reviews Quality Assurance/Quality Control parameters, specific to and required by acceptable methodologies are performed with each data set

Prepare statistical/metric reports for aquatic, terrestrial, and wetland evaluations

Analyze environmental and/or other information, such as monitoring records, site inspections, sampling data to determine if further action is necessary and to evaluate trends

Prepare plans, maps or reports of findings relating to health and environmental data

Analyze environmental data using mathematical and statistical methods

Assist in developing standards

Performs laboratory or field tests based specific sample requirements

Review plans to ensure protection of human health and the environment

Interpret analytical results to determine data quality and usability

Assist in conducting studies of environmental pollution or ionizing radiation and any socioeconomic effects

Perform inspections and/or investigations when required by a specific TDEC program area such as air pollution, water resources, remediation, underground storage tanks, solid waste management, radiological health, natural areas, etc. to determine compliance with laws, regulations, or standards

Enforce environmental or other standards, laws, rules, regulations, and/or administrative policies and procedures, taking corrective action as warranted

Determines if documents (i.e., permits, applications, National Environmental Policy Act, licenses, accreditations and certifications, etc.) may be approved by reviewing and evaluating information submitted by applicant or acquired by site inspections and/or other informative sources used for determining minimum environmental or other compliance with established standards

Adheres to requirements specified in Standard Operating Procedures and any applicable federal and/or state standards

Ensures statutory obligations are fulfilled

Oversee environmental sampling and/or investigations to assure that acceptable procedures are followed

Compares environmental and/or health related data to applicable criteria

Reviews and evaluates applications, forms, plans, inspection documents, general correspondence, reports or other records to ensure technical adequacy

Audits third party inspections of facilities to determine compliance with regulatory standards

Assesses fees based on the regulatory standards

Collect environmental samples and/or monitoring data (e.g., soil, rock, air, water, sediment, sludge, biological), under physically demanding conditions

Perform physical activities, such as walking (i.e. ditches, uneven terrain, etc.), wading in water, climbing, lifting (such as coolers, generators, etc.), operating field equipment (backpack shockers, augers, core samplers, or probes), etc

Operates, carries or handles equipment/machinery unassisted that may weigh up to 50 pounds

Performs physically demanding, ecologically-based stewardship and natural resource management on state natural areas, (utilizing equipment, such as backpack sprayer, chainsaw, bush hog, lawnmower, tractor, etc. in the management of rare species habitat, controlled fire, trail maintenance, boundary maintenance, invasive species control, etc.)

Prepares and maintains complete and accurate records, reports, logs, databases, chain-of-custody and correspondence based on established guidelines and procedures

Maintains records of observations made during field evaluations to document data collection, ambient site conditions, and the location of the evaluation

Documents all relevant work activities, contacts, and meetings

Performs environmental or health investigations, remediation, and/or monitoring work, including sampling and evaluation of pollutants to determine compliance with environmental or other standards

Serves as a technical advisor to emergency responders for incidents/accidents

Reviews monitoring data to determine permit compliance, environmental standards and/or ecological conditions

Comply with safe handling, storage and disposal procedures for samples, laboratory reagents and other chemicals

Verify expiration dates of chemicals and supplies, disposing of expired materials as required by safety rules and regulations

Maintains, repairs and calibrates electronic equipment, such as radiation detection meter, photo ionization detector, pH meter, GPS, and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) as needed

Provide technical expertise in handling events involving radiation and radioactive material, including transportation, and industrial incidents as well as natural catastrophes

Provide consultative, technical, or educational services to industry, municipalities, counties, individuals, or groups in the necessity and methodology of enhancing environmental stewardship, health or other standards, practices, and safety

Update regulatory information to stakeholders

Maintains, repairs, and/or calibrates mechanical equipment, such as ozone monitor, air monitoring, laser level and watercrafts as needed

Ensures contractors' proposed work activities comply with established rates and/or approved scope of work

Conducts, observes and/or oversees environmental or health surveys, sampling, inventories or monitoring, testing, including site evaluations

Perform regulatory and other research in order to stay current with local, state, and federal standards and procedures

Searches for and/or identifies entities or locations that should be regulated and inform those that need to be brought into compliance

Obtains and receives records, data, operational plans, enforcement action requests, survey information, etc

Assist in managing state programs including certifying officials/professionals; coordination and training; records management; and federal reporting requirements (e.g. the ginseng program, asbestos, lead based paint, etc.)

Schedules assigned work to address compliance monitoring inspections, complaints and/or investigations, tasks, directives, correspondence, laboratory activities, biological surveys, etc

Operates personal or assigned vehicles (such as, but not limited to watercraft, all-terrain vehicles, tractors, etc.), in accordance with agency policy and procedures, as well as all traffic laws

Develop work and study plans to identify specific goals and activities to ensure proper implementation of the assigned work

Organizes, plans and prioritizes work to ensure completion by a given deadline or other time constraint

Build consensus among internal and/or external stakeholders to further TDEC's missions and goals

Works harmoniously with and ensures healthy relationships with internal and external stakeholders

Relate observations, conclusions, and opinions to co-workers/internal customers in a respectful and professional manner

Work with other agencies and organizations to ensure that operational and programmatic activities receive early concurrence and input from regional and statewide authorities

Provides training to stakeholders who may require specific knowledge

Train other staff, in the proper methods and procedures for performing environmental work as requested

Fulfill established educational, training, and safety requirements

Keeps up-to-date with technical developments, standard operating procedures and regulations and applies new knowledge to the job

Seek opportunities for professional development within and outside of the agency

Explain the validity and severity of incidents to governmental agencies and other stakeholders

Communicate findings in applicable approval letters, notice of deficiencies, notice of violations, license or amendment agreement or enforcement action requests

Ensures all customers are serviced in a timely, professional and knowledgeable manner so as to meet the mission

Provide high-quality outreach, including design, distribution of information, and technical assistance to stakeholders

Uses tools, such as GIS, to inform and educate stakeholders and to improve or maintain environmental resources

Coordinate with stakeholders for consultations, meetings, workshops and joint projects

Informs stakeholders of public participation opportunities, policy and regulation changes

Participate in public participation opportunities as assigned

Drafts and/or develops documents for review and signature within the required timeframe

Enters time and leave and expenses within the designated computer program in a proper and timely manner

Ensures all information is properly filed

Complete required documentation for travel and/or field use of vehicle (e.g. mileage logs, travel time, vehicle inspection checklist)

Distribute documents to appropriate parties to ensure proper routing

Recognizes and coordinates interpretation or translation services, as needed

Ensures files are managed according to the Records Disposition Authorization

Provide relevant, effective and routine written or verbal communication to supervisors or peers

Advise management about work issues of concern as they occur

Disseminate information as appropriate within the agency

Recognizes, provides, and communicates potential areas of improvement

Schedules, attends, observes, and/or participates in public meetings or public outreach, as required

Qualification

Environmental ScienceBiologyChemistryGeologyGISStatistical AnalysisEnvironmental ComplianceActive ListeningProblem SolvingTime ManagementWritten Communication

Required

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in environmental science, physical sciences (e.g. physics, chemistry, geology, meteorology), ecology, sustainability or applied science in sustainability, life sciences (e.g. biology, microbiology, health physics or biophysics), environmental health, pre-medicine, engineering or other acceptable science or natural resource related field

Possess a valid motor vehicle operator's license at the time of appointment in some positions

Applicants for the TDEC Environmental Scientist 1 or Health Physicist 1 in the Division of Radiological Health must successfully complete the training courses offered by the Division of Radiological Health. Failure to do so may result in termination

TDEC Environmental Scientist's 1 performing geologic duties the major portion of their time must have completed the required college course work at the time of appointment to be eligible to take the licensing examination offered by Tennessee's Department of Commerce and Insurance's Board of Professional Geologists, or hold and maintain a current Geologic license from the State of Tennessee during employment or hold a current Geologic license from another State that Tennessee has evaluated and granted reciprocal licensing rights

Some TDEC Environmental Scientist 1 positions assigned to function as Biologists must meet the specific educational requirements for Biologists, as follows: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, including at least 36 quarter hours (or 24 semester hours) in biology, in one of the following areas: (1) biology or biological sciences, (2) botanical sciences, (3) environmental or conservation sciences, (4) zoological sciences, or (5) aquatic, terrestrial, or wetland biology or ecology or other acceptable biological science related field

Company

State of Tennessee

Glassdoor3.6

State government is the largest employer in Tennessee, with approximately 43,500 employees in the three branches of government.

Founded in 1796

Nashville, Tennessee, USA

10001+ employees

https://www.tn.gov/

H1B Sponsorship

State of Tennessee has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)

Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship

Represents job field similar to this job

Trends of Total Sponsorships

2020 (1)