TDEC-ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SPECIALIST 1* - 04092024-56703

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in engineering.

Substitution of Professional Registration for the Required Education:  Registration as a professional engineer with the State of Tennessee may substitute for the required bachelor's degree. 

OR

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree and graduation from an accredited college or university with a master¿s degree in engineering.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: 

1. Perform environmental investigation, remediation, and/or monitoring work, including sampling and evaluation of environmental media and/or other materials in order to evaluate levels of pollutants to determine compliance with environmental or other standards.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards:

1. Evaluate the adequacy of engineering design in accordance with environmental standards, laws, rules, regulations, and policies. Review applications, engineering reports, plans and specifications to ensure compliance with established design criteria and operations of facilities, systems, and equipment.
2. Inspects and evaluates operations, functions, and activities regulated by environmental laws to ensure compliance with minimum operating standards. 
3. Enforce established environmental or other standards, laws, rules, regulations, and/or administrative policies and procedures, taking corrective action as warranted.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems:

1. Prepares documentation (such as permits, correspondence, designs, layout, blueprints, soil evaluations, etc.), in a concise and defensible manner, to ensure Agency's missions are met.
2. Prepares or assists in the preparation of environmental permits and/or Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) by interpreting regulations and published guidelines, using mathematical calculations or engineering experience and judgment.
3. Analyze available information/data, engineering plans and reports to ensure that the proposed solution meets regulatory and/or stakeholder needs.
4. Determine whether non-compliance warrants an enforcement action.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others:

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

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material:

1. Conduct inspections of equipment, structures and/or material, to ensure proper installation, maintenance, and/or operation.
2. Evaluate performance of equipment, structures, and/or materials.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others:

1. Interprets the meaning of findings and results (e.g. site inspections, permits, lab results, etc.), for stakeholders.
2. Communicates and/or presents interpretation of regulations, policy, guidance, etc. to stakeholders.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates:

1. Provide effective communication to supervisors or peers, by telephone, email, verbally, etc.
2. Exhibits effective writing skills, including proper grammar and structure when communicating with supervisors and peers.
3. Build consensus among peers, and supervisors in order to further the agency's mission and goals.

Processing Information:

1. Compiles, processes, and reviews technical information (records, engineering plans and reports, data, operational plans, enforcement action requests, etc.).
2. Manage data as designated, to meet agency requirements.
3. Calculate applicable fees based on environmental data and engineering design.

Interacting With Computers:

1. Develops and applies computer models for simulation and analysis of environmental processes.
2. Uses various software programs, such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, Geographic Information Systems, etc. to carry out assigned work duties.
3. Enter time and leave within the designated computer program, in a proper and timely manner.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization:

1. Ensures all internal and external customers receive service in a timely, professional and knowledgeable manner, so as to meet the department¿s mission.
2. Participate in legal proceedings, as needed.
3. Exhibits effective writing skills, including proper grammar and structure when communicating with persons outside the organization.
4. Schedules and/or participates in public meetings, public hearings, community groups, etc. as required.
5. Provide high-quality outreach, distribution of information, and technical assistance to stakeholders.
6. Coordinate with local, state, and/or federal agencies, and/or non-governmental organizations, for consultations and/or joint projects.
7. Uses tools, such as Geographic Information System (GIS), etc., to inform and educate stakeholders and improve or maintain environmental resources.

Analyzing Data or Information:

1. Analyze engineering, environmental, and other information, such as monitoring records, site inspections, sampling data, etc.; documents findings and implements appropriate actions.
2. Assist in developing environmental and engineering standards.
3. Assist with evaluation studies of environmental pollution and its effects.

Monitoring and Controlling Resources:

1. Provide assistance with technical oversight, review, and/or project management of ongoing state and/or federal grant/loan programs.
2. Ensures contractors' proposed work activities comply with established rates.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others:

1. Provide engineering assistance in responding to environmental incidents.
2. Provide technical assistance to regulated operations and other stakeholders having potential environmental impact.
3. Respond to environmental or other requests/inquiries.
4. Provide regulatory updates to stakeholders.

Documenting/Recording Information:

1. Prepares and/or maintains records and reports of work activities, contacts, and meetings.

Training and Teaching Others:

1. Educate stakeholders in the operation of systems, equipment, and programs designed to reduce environmental damage caused by unacceptable practices in areas of solid waste management, underground storage tanks, air pollution, and water quality control.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge:

1. Pursue continuous improvement by applying new knowledge to the job.
2. Fulfill educational/training requirements as established by the agency.
3. Seek opportunities for professional development within and outside the agency.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work:

1. Schedules work to address responsibilities such as writing and reviewing permits and/or reports, inspections, tasks, directives, correspondence, etc.
2. Prioritizes work assignments, daily, to ensure goals are met or exceeded.
3. Implements grant-funded projects (federal, state, local, etc.), including planning, researching, field work, data management, report writing, and public outreach.

Getting Information:

1. Reviews, conducts and/or oversees environmental surveys, inspections, inventories or monitoring.
2. Performs research on regulatory information sources, to provide assistance and stay current with local, state, and federal standards and/or procedures.
3. Obtains and receives technical information (records, engineering plans and reports, data, operational plans, enforcement action requests, etc.).
4. Search for entities that should be regulated, to identify and inform those that need to be brought into compliance.

Developing and Building Teams:

1. Fosters and encourage team building, mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among stakeholders.

Controlling Machines and Processes:

1. Operates field and/or water equipment (such as, but not limited to flow meters, water samplers, backpack shocker, etc.), in accordance with agency policies and procedures.

Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment:

1. Maintains and calibrates electronic equipment (such as, but not limited to: radiation detection meter, photo ionization detector, pH meter, Global Positioning System (GPS), etc.), as needed.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships:
 

1. Relate observations, conclusions, and opinions to co-workers/internal customers in a respectful and professional manner.
2. Foster professional relationships with stakeholders.
3. Work with other agencies and organizations to assure that operational and programmatic activities receive early concurrence and input from regional and statewide authorities.

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment:

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

Thinking Creatively:

1. Seeks improvements, offers ideas for change and elimination of unnecessary work.
2. Creates and designs outreach material (i.e. websites, social media, etc.) that fit applicable targets and subjects, in an instructive and appealing manner.

Performing General Physical Activities:

1. Perform physical activities such as walking on uneven terrain, wading in water, climbing, lifting, operating equipment (water or soil sampling), etc.

Performing Administrative Activities:

1. Distribute documents to appropriate parties, to ensure proper routing.
2. Ensures all activities, contacts, and meetings are properly documented and documentation is appropriately filed.
3. Ensures files are managed according to the Records Disposition Authorization (RDA).
4. Recognizes and coordinates interpretation or translation services, as needed.
5. Complete required documentation for travel and/or field use of vehicle (i.e. mileage logs, travel time, vehicle inspection checklist, etc.).

Competencies:

1. Written Communication
2. Listening
3. Technical Learning
4. Decision Quality
5. Composure
6. Time Management
7. Drive for Results
8. Action Oriented
9. Presentation Skills
10. Conflict Management
11. Self-Development
12. Standing Alone

Knowledge:

1. Engineering & Technology
2. Mathematics
3. Computer & Electronics
4. Chemistry
5. Clerical
6. Law & Government
7. Design
8. Physics
9. Mechanical

Skills:

1. Reading Comprehension
2. Writing
3. Active Listening
4. Speaking
5. Mathematics
6. Science
7. Active Learning
8. Critical Thinking

Abilities:

1. Written Comprehension
2. Written Expression
3. Oral Comprehension
4. Speech Clarity
5. Oral Expression
6. Deductive Reasoning
7. Mathematical Reasoning