ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST 1
DEFINITION:
Under the close supervision of a supervisory official in a state department, institution, agency, or local government agency, performs technical or scientific work including field and office studies, surveys, inspections, or investigations associated with enforcement of environmental laws and/or regulations, and environmental review and control work; studies and evaluates environmental impact of specific projects on the environment; develops tests and reports to assess environmental impact on physical, natural, and/or human environments; investigates environmental complaints concerning projects; participates in contract, grant, and/or loan processing; does other related duties as required.
NOTE: Positions in the Department of Environmental Protection may be assigned to any of the environmental fields such as Air Pollution Control, Coastal Resources, Laboratory Certification, Pesticide Control, Soil Science, Tideland Delineation, Site Remediation, Water Resources, or Waste Management.
NOTE: Positions in the Department of Environmental Protection assigned to the Division of Publicly Funded Site Remediation have responsibility for approving various documents with certain monetary value thresholds as assigned to the various levels within the series. Positions assigned to the Division of Responsible Party Site Remediation have signature authority for specified documents as assigned to the various levels within the series.
NOTE: Positions in the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), with the exception of Environmental Services Support Unit (ESSU)/Facilities Hazard Compliance Monitoring, consistent with federal and state environmental regulations, have responsibility for evaluation of environmental impact of specific projects at NJDOT that include assessment of impact on social, economic, and natural environments. This involves review or preparation of technical memoranda, studies, impact statements, etc., prepared pursuant to state and/or federal environmental regulations.
NOTE: The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.
EXAMPLES OF WORK:
Prepares and assesses Environmental Impact Statements received under the requirements of state and/or federal statutes and regulations.
May gather technical or scientific data to assist with assessment of the social impact of a proposed facility.
Conducts field investigations of proposed projects to assess potential environmental impact on physical, natural, and/or human environments.
Participates in development or evaluation of contract documents used to bid, award, and administer contracts for hazardous/non-hazardous site remediation projects, and participates in coordination of these activities in conjunction with other units and agencies.
Reviews grant/loan applications and prepares deficiency letters, grant/loan award recommendations, and letters of withdrawal and denial for supervisor review and signature.
Provides individual work orders and change orders to supervisor for review and approval; prepares Request for Proposals (RFP's) and Invitation to Bids (IFB's) and submits to supervisor for review and approval; and prepares detailed priority casework as assigned by supervisor.
May interpret bacteriological and chemical analyses and assist in compiling reports on collected data for evaluating Environmental Impact Statements.
Identifies and interprets information collected on diverse communities of various cultures and values, to determine if they could be affected by a proposed action.
May conduct studies, investigations, inspections, tests, or environmental surveys to evaluate a proposed facility.
Conducts tests to collect data for permit evaluation.
Investigates complaints of violations and/or social concerns.
Conducts inspections of permitted activities and reports on them to ensure compliance with permit requirements.
Reviews plans, specifications, and Environmental Impact Statements.
Prepares correspondence in the course of official duties.
Prepares technical, scientific, and other related reports.
Plans and organizes field investigations concerning project complaints.
Prepares Environmental Impact Statements and related reports.
Participates in project meetings with planning, design, and construction personnel.
Meets with citizens, public officials, and others on environmental matters.
Organizes projects designed to study and evaluate impact of projects on the environment.
Organizes studies to compile data from primary and secondary services to be used in making tests and reports.
Collects and evaluates technical scientific data for solutions to environmental problems.
May prepare evidence for use in court actions and hearings and give testimony under oath.
Works with appropriate personnel to minimize adverse environmental impact of a project or develops new environmental procedures for a specific project.
Prepares clear, technically sound, accurate, and factual reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
Maintains essential reports, records, and files.
Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
REQUIREMENTS:
EDUCATION:
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in one of the Physical Sciences, Environmental Sciences/Studies, Chemical Sciences, or Biological Sciences; or in Environmental Planning, Environmental Policy, or Physical Geography; or in Civil Engineering, Sanitary Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Mining Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or Bio-resource Engineering.
NOTE: The following education requirements are applicable to positions in the New Jersey Department of Transportation assigned to all programs except Environmental Services Support Unit (ESSU)/Facilities Hazard Compliance Monitoring.
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in one of the Physical, Natural, or Social Sciences; Environmental Science, Environmental Policy, Chemical Science, Biological Science, Geology, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Planning, Natural History, Anthropology, Historic Architecture, Historic Preservation, Archaeology, Sociology, Urban Studies, Geography, Economics, Agricultural Science, Marine Science, Urban Planning, Transportation Planning, or Geoscience; or a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering in one of the following disciplines: Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Sanitary Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or Bio-Resource Engineering.
NOTE: A valid Professional Engineer’s license issued by the New Jersey State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors may be substituted for the Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.
EXPERIENCE:
One (1) year of experience in environmental control work including field investigation, inspection, and preparing reports on the environment or the preparation or review of Environmental Impact Statements.
NOTE: A Master's degree in one of the fields specified above may be substituted for one (1) year of the above experience.
LICENSE:
Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of principles, methods, procedures, and purpose of field investigations and evaluation of the impact of human-made alterations to the natural, social, or economic environment or field monitoring and sampling.
Knowledge of environmental violations.
Knowledge of technical methods used in determining environmental adequacy and control of proposed facilities.
Knowledge of methods and techniques of evaluating technical and scientific principles of Environmental Impact Statements.
Knowledge of responsibilities, programs, standards, policies, and procedures for area of assignment.
Knowledge of state-of-the-art design requirements for effective abatement of pollution sources regulated by the State of New Jersey.
Knowledge of federal and state laws, rules, and regulations applicable to area of assignment.
Knowledge of scientific, engineering, contracting, and/or construction principles involved in hazardous/non-hazardous waste control, cleanup, removal, and disposal.
Knowledge of grant/loan process rules, regulations, and guidelines.
Ability to collect samples in the field, conduct tests, and evaluate results.
Ability to analyze technical and scientific problems and conduct scientific and technical studies and tests.
Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
Ability to assist in critical examination of plans, specifications, reports, and resolutions for construction of proposed facilities.
Ability to organize assigned field surveys to determine if establishment or alteration of a proposed facility conforms with existing environmental regulations and philosophy.
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with local government representatives, civic associations, industrial groups, and others interested in or concerned with environmental program/project areas.
Ability to coordinate, document, assess, and contract for large-scale cleanup activities involving management and remediation of multimedia environmental contamination problems.
Ability to review grant/loan applications for approval process.
Ability to interpret chemical and bacteriological analyses.
Ability to compose correspondence and technical reports in a clear, sound, accurate, and informative manner.
Ability to organize assigned field and other technical work and develop effective work methods.
Ability to organize and participate in field-testing, monitoring, and sampling programs, and to perform field evaluations and analyses.
Ability to compile data from primary and secondary sources for use in tests and reports.
Ability to effectively communicate with the community and other citizens on environmental matters.
Ability to research, interpret, and apply federal and state laws, rules, and regulations to the area of assignment.
Ability to analyze and interpret transportation laws, rules, and regulations related to the environment.
Ability to prepare or assist in the preparation of Environmental Impact Statements and related reports.
Ability to provide testimony under oath and act as witness at hearings and in court.
Ability to prepare reports on environmental matters based on field studies and research.
Ability to maintain essential reports, records, and files.
Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
This job specification is applicable to the following title code(s) which
are different work week or work month and/or variants of the job class title:
