You are reading the State of New Jersey Job Descriptions. This is not a Job Vacancy Announcement.

Job Specification

ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST 3 
								
DEFINITION:

Under the general supervision of a supervisory official in a state department 
or agency takes the lead or may supervise, organize and assign technical or 
scientific work, including field and office studies, surveys, inspections or 
investigations associated with the enforcement of laws and/or regulations and 
environmental review and control work, organizes and makes tests and reports
 to assess Environmental impacts to include the physical, natural, and/or human 
environment and investigates environmental complaints concerning projects; 
conducts or supervises the processing of contract, grant and/or loan applications; 
does related work 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, Pesticide Control bilingual
Spanish/English, 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 Department of Transportation, with the exception of 
the Environmental Services Support Unit (ESSU)/Facilities Hazard Compliance
Monitoring, consistent with federal and state environmental regulations, have 
responsibility for the evaluation of environmental impacts of specific projects at 
NJDOT, which includes an assessment of impacts to the social, economic, and 
natural environments.  This involves review or preparation of technical 
memorandum, 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:

Plan and direct a review team to assess Environmental Impact Statements 
received under the requirements of State and/or Federal statutes and regulations.

Supervise and/or conduct investigations, utilizing all available sources, and all 
other parameters necessary to the evaluation of a proposed facility.

Gather technical or scientific data to assist in assessment of social impact of 
a proposed facility.

Interpret bacteriological and chemical analyses, and compile reports upon data 
so collected for utilization in valuation of Environmental Impact Statements.

Identify and interpret information collected on distinct, diversified communities, 
understanding various cultures and their respective values and how they could 
be affected by a proposed action.

Supervise and/or conduct tests to collect data for permit evaluation.

Provide technical guidance to assigned employees.

Supervise and/or investigate complaints of violations or social concerns and 
supervise and/or prepare reports on findings.

Supervise and/or conduct inspections of permitted activities to insure 
compliance with permit requirements.

Supervise and/or prepare reports on findings and, conclusions and make 
recommendations to management.

May plan, organize, and assign the work of the organizational unit and evaluates 
employee performance and conduct, enabling the effective recommendation of
 the hiring, firing, promoting and disciplining of 
subordinates.

Examine plans, specifications, reports and resolutions applying to the 
construction of proposed facilities and provides written analyses.

Supervise and/or conduct field investigations of proposed projects to assess 
the potential environmental impacts to include physical, natural, and/or human 
environments as the basis for the level of environmental studies and documentation.

Supervise and/or prepare the material for inclusion in Environmental Impact 
Statements, Environmental Assessments and other environmental documents.

Supervise and/or prepare technical environmental studies of the effects of 
transportation projects. 

Supervise and/or plan, and organize studies to predict noise levels resulting 
from proposed transportation projects; determine mitigation measures to
reduce noise levels by use of barriers, roadway design or acoustic shielding.

Evaluates and/or supervises staff evaluating contract documents used to bid, 
award, and administer contracts for hazardous/non-hazardous site remediation 
projects, and coordinates these activities in conjunction with other units and 
agencies.

Reviews grant/loan applications and prepares and signs deficiency letters, 
withdrawal letters, and letters of denial; prepares grant/loan award 
recommendations for supervisor review/signature.

Reviews, prepares and signs area of concern Notices of Deficiency (NOD's), 
Remedial Investigation Reports (RIR), Remedial Investigation Workplans (RIW's), 
Remedial Action Progress Reports (RAPR's), and Biennial Certification approvals
 with delegated supervisor concurrence.

Reviews and has approval authority for individual work orders up to $25,000 and 
individual change orders up to $25,000; prepares and/or supervises the preparation 
of open-competitive Requests for Proposals (RFP's) and Invitation to Bids (IFB's) 
and approves RFP's and IFB's up to $25,000; identifies priority case work for 
supervisor concurrence.

Plan, organizes and supervise studies to predict pollutants from specific projects.

Collect and evaluate data in field identifications, determining the extent of impacts
to ecosystems, and recommending techniques to mitigate those impacts.

Prepare scopes of work and personnel cost estimates for projects requiring the 
use of environmental consultant services.

Provide direction and guidance to environmental consultants in the preparation 
of environmental studies and reports.

Review and comment on work prepared by environmental consultants, including 
proposals, technical reports, Environmental Impact Statements or other environmental
 documents.

Supervise and/or conduct on site field investigations during construction of the 
project to determine the effectiveness of environmental mitigation and control 
measures.

Meet with citizens, public officials, and others on environmental matters.

May prepare evidence for use in court actions and hearings and give testimony 
under oath.

Supervise and/or prepare clear, technically sound, accurate, and factual reports 
containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

Maintain essential reports, records, and files.

Will be required to learn 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, 
Biological Sciences, Environmental Planning,  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 Department of Transportation assigned to all programs except Environmental 
Services Support Unit (ESSU)/Facilities Hazard Compliance Monitoring.

Graduation from an accredited college with a Bachelor’s degree in one of the 
following 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 and Geoscience  or a Bachelor’s 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:

Three (3) years of experience in environmental control work including field investigations,
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.

NOTE:  Positions assigned to Pesticide Control designated as bilingual 
Spanish/English, will require the applicant to be able to read, write, speak, understand, 
and communicate in English and Spanish sufficiently to perform duties of this position.

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 the responsibilities, programs, standards, policies, and procedures 
of the area of assignment.

Knowledge of quality assurance procedures relating to environmental monitoring 
and sampling.

Knowledge of the scientific, engineering, contracting and/or construction principles 
involved in the field of hazardous-non-hazardous waste control, cleanup, removal, 
and disposal.

Knowledge of rules, regulations, and guidelines associated with grant/loan process.

Knowledge of approval authority process involving individual  work orders and
 change orders, Request for Proposals (RFP's) and Invitation to Bid (IFB's).

Knowledge of methods and procedures associated with calibration and 
maintenance of sophisticated monitoring and testing equipment.

Knowledge of typical problems and resolutions to be encountered in the study 
of environmental impacts.

Ability to organize assigned technical field and office work and develop effective 
work methods.

Ability to supervise and/or conduct field testing, monitoring and sampling programs, 
and to perform field evaluations and analyses.

Ability to supervise and/ or conduct the collection of samples or perform tests in the 
field and make field evaluations and analyses.

Ability to investigate environmental problems using reference or research materials 
and communicate with related agency personnel.

Ability to cooperate with the community and individual citizens on matters affecting 
the impact of transportation projects on the environment.

Ability to interpret and apply knowledge of federal and state laws, rules, and 
regulations applicable to the area of assignment.

Ability to supervise and/or conduct a scientific study or survey under direction, 
and prepare a complete and concise report.

Ability to coordinate, document, assess and/or contract for large-scale cleanup 
activities involving the management and remediation of multimedia environmental 
contamination problems.

Ability to review grant/loan applications for approval process.

Ability to interpret scientific data and make evaluations and recommendations.

Ability to assign and instruct subordinate employees and supervise the 
performance of their work, as required.

Ability to prepare reports on environmental and related matters based on field 
studies and research work in environmental matters.

Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement projects
 within the unit.

Ability to maintain essential reports, records and files.
Ability to supervise and /or conduct in the collection of data from primary and 
secondary sources to be used in making tests and reports.

Ability 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 as long as 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:
Job
Spec
Code
VariantState,
Local or
Common
Class of
Service
Work
Week
State
Class
Code
Local
Class
Code
Salary
Range
Note
12524CC4E2529R26-
15854CCNL2529R25-

This job specification is for state and local government use.
Salary range is only applicable to state government.
Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions.

5/16/2015