Opening Date/Time:06/18/2024 12:00 AM Central TimeClosing Date/Time07/08/2024 11:59 PM Central Time Salary (Monthly):$5,508.00 - $8,783.00 Salary (Annually):$66,096.00 - $105,396.00 Job Type:Full-Time City, State Location:Nashville, TNDepartmentEnvironment and Conservation
LOCATION OF (1) POSITION TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT & CONSERVATION, NATURAL AREAS DIVISION,
This position will be based in Nashville with the opportunity to use alternative workspace at a home office, but an expectation to report to TDEC's central office one or more days during the workweek.
Working Title: Natural Heritage Program Botanist
Qualifications
Education and Experience: 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 and five years of full-time professional environmental program, natural resource conservation work or full-time professional work that involved ensuring compliance with radiation safety standards and/or regulations.
Substitution of Education for Experience: Graduate coursework in environmental science, biology, chemistry, geology, engineering, physics, ecology, sustainability, applied science in sustainability, or other acceptable science or natural resource related field may be substituted for the required experience, on a year-for-year basis, to a maximum of two years (24 semester hours is equivalent to one year).
Substitution of a Specific Bachelor's Degree for Experience: A bachelor's degree in health physics or nuclear engineering may substitute for one year of the required experience in the Division of Radiological Health.
Necessary Special Qualifications: Applicants for this class must:
Applicants for this class must possess a valid motor vehicle operator's license at the time of appointment in some positions.
Examination Method: Education and Experience, 100%, for Preferred Service positions.
Summary
Summary: Under general supervision, serves as an Environmental Consultant dealing with issues of considerable difficulty within a division. Performs scientific and technical work of considerable difficulty associated with or related to technical oversight, planning, reviewing, negotiating, coordinating, program and process development and performs related work as required.
Distinguishing Features
This is the second level technical consultant in the Environmental Consultant sub-series. An employee in this class performs professional environmental consultant duties in environmental regulatory, radiological health, natural areas and/or sustainability programs by serving as a technical or regulatory expert addressing issues of considerable difficulty and may function as a technical consultant working on issues of considerable difficulty and/or trains or coordinates two or more small project or process teams. This classification differs from Environmental Consultant 3 in that an incumbent of the latter functions as a technical consultant working in a division dealing with complex issues, and/or training or leading a large and/or complex project or process team, Statewide program, and/or industry sector. The Environmental Consultant 2 differs from Environmental Consultant 1 in that an incumbent of the latter may assist in training others, and performs technical tasks of average difficulty in a small work unit or project team.
Responsibilities
Making Decisions and Solving Problems:
Writes and/or recommends amendments, corrective action plans, licenses or permits, etc. that are of considerable difficulty.
Analyzes available information/data, to ensure the best solution is chosen, to meet regulatory and/or stakeholders (such as, but not limited to: the public, legislators, other government agencies, coworkers, non-governmental organizations, etc.), needs.
Develops theories to identify causes, sources, pathways, receptors, and potential risks associated with environmental pollutants.
Review plans and reports of considerable difficulty to determine future regulatory actions required.
Determines if compliance violation warrants an enforcement order; recommends enforcement actions as required.
Interpreting The Meaning Of Information For Others
Interprets findings, results, etc. to stakeholders (i.e. site inspections, permits, lab results, etc.).
Communicates and/or presents interpretation of regulations, policy, guidance, etc. to stakeholders.
Resolving Conflicts And Negotiating With Others
Oversees and/or investigates complaints; develops and/or reviews corrective recommendations for identified problems, and if necessary, initiates enforcement/legal action to effect compliance of established standards, laws, rules, regulations, or policies; supports technical dispute resolution.
Coordinates with management, to ensure that all critical factors are considered, when determining the need for disciplinary action
Negotiates with stakeholders to resolve issues
Attempts to prevent grievances by fostering an atmosphere where potential problems are brought forth and resolved.
Monitor Processes, Materials, Or Surroundings
Coordinates the investigation, remediation, abatement and/or closure monitoring work, including sampling and evaluation of the environment, pollutants and/or ionizing radiation to determine compliance with environmental or other standards.
Independently performs environmental or other compliance monitoring.
Judging The Qualities Of Things, Services, Or People
Evaluate proposals or other business instruments from a financial and technical perspective.
Oversees or conducts the interpretation of material evaluations.
Oversees or conducts the determination of material properties and classification.
Selling Or Influencing Others
Makes technical presentations of considerable difficulty to stakeholders including professional meetings.
Builds consensus among stakeholders, in order to further the mission and goals.
Provide Consultation And Advice To Others
Provides technical advice in responding to environmental incidents.
Provides consultative, technical, or educational information to other environmental staff, industries, municipalities, counties, individuals, or groups.
Develops drafts for revisions to regulations and guidance documents.
Responds to environmental or other incidents/complaints/requests/inquiries, in a timely manner.
Participates in enforcement actions to bring non-compliant entities into compliance.
Updates regulatory information to stakeholders.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, Or Material
Coordinates or conducts inspections of equipment, structures and/or material, to ensure proper installation, maintenance, and/or operation.
Coordinates or conducts the evaluation of the performance of equipment, structures, and/or materials.
Evaluating Information To Determine Compliance With Standards
Determines if documents of considerable difficulty (i.e., permits, applications, reciprocity documents, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), licenses, etc.) may be approved or deemed acceptable by reviewing and evaluating information submitted by applicant or acquired by the department used for determining compliance with established standards.
Leads the enforcement of established environmental or other standards, laws, rules, regulations, and/or administrative policies and procedures, taking corrective action as warranted
Oversees environmental compliance monitoring and inspection work within the department
Coordinates the reviews technical reports and other submitted documentation for accuracy and completeness.
Ensures statutory obligations are fulfilled.
Assures that projects adhere to all agency directives, policies, procedures, and protocols.
Assures that projects are completed on time and within assigned performance standards.
Assures that completed reimbursements or billing requests are properly justified and submitted in a timely manner with properly coded expenditures, as warranted.
Assures that electronic and paper reports as required for projects are submitted accurately and promptly
Performing For Or Working Directly With The Public
Lead or participate in public meetings/hearings, as required.
Lead or participate in technical presentations at public outreach events.
Processing Information
Coordinates or conducts the compilation, processing and review of records, data, operational plans, enforcement action requests, etc.
Coordinates or conducts the compilation of all required technical information for environmental or other documents.
Generates queries and develop reports for stakeholders.
Manages databases, as designated, to meet agency requirements.
Analyzing Data Or Information
Conducts and interprets basic screening computational modeling or other technical analyzes that support program decision and policy making.
Analyze data to ensure quality control standards are met.
Developing Objectives And Strategies
Develops standard operating procedures.
Communicating With Persons Outside Organization
Serves as a subject matter expert for technical, legal issues, meetings or hearings.
Ensures all external customers are serviced in a timely, professional and knowledgeable manner, so as to meet the mission.
Follows established policy for media/legislative contacts, which may include providing a response.
May coordinate with local, state, and/or federal agencies, and/or non-governmental organizations, for consultations and/or joint projects.
Provides high-quality outreach, including design, distribution of information, and technical assistance to stakeholders.
Update and inform stakeholders of policy and/or regulation changes, as they occur.
Use tools, such as GIS, etc., to inform and educate stakeholders and improve or maintain environmental resources.
Coordinating The Work And Activities Of Others
Plans and coordinates activities of technical work groups.
Coordinates technical project management duties, including interaction with responsible parties, review of relevant documents and pertinent information.
Coaching And Developing Others
Provides coaching and mentoring to other technical staff.
Organizing, Planning, And Prioritizing Work
Develops or assists in the development of technical policies and guidance.
Assists or implements state and/or federal grant/loan projects, including planning, researching, field work, data management, report writing, and public outreach.
Assists or coordinates planning, including the preparation and updating of management plans and ensuring annual reports are compiled and submitted, each year.
Prioritizes work assignments to ensure goals are met.
Establishing And Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Ensures healthy relationships with stakeholders.
Works with other agencies and organizations to ensure that operational and programmatic activities receive early concurrence and input from regional and statewide authorities.
Relates observations, conclusions, and opinions to co-workers/internal customers in a respectful and professional manner.
Getting Information
Consults with staff, investigators, attorneys, judges and other court officials to obtain information related to legal cases.
Conducts and/or oversees environmental and scientific surveys, inventories or monitoring, including site evaluations that may be of conservation interest.
Coordinates the review of rules, track updates, and assess impacts to stakeholders.
Coordinates or conducts research on regulatory information sources, to provide assistance and stay current with local, state, and federal standards and/or procedures.
Obtains and receives technical information, such as records, data, operational plans, enforcement action requests, permit applications, etc.
May search for entities that should be regulated, to identify and inform those that need to be brought into compliance.
Attend meetings (such as, but not limited to: board meetings, regulatory, professional, stakeholder, and association meetings, etc.).
Monitoring And Controlling Resources
Provide technical oversight, review, and/or project management of ongoing state and/or federal grant/loan programs.
Ensures contractors' proposed work activities comply with established rates.
Calculates the technical basis for fee assessments.
Determines eligibility to participate in fund reimbursement programs.
Assist management with budget development.
Repairing And Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
Maintains and troubleshoots equipment (such as, but not limited to air monitoring, laser level, boats, etc.), needed to perform duties or trains others in the performance of these tasks.
Conducts or instructs staff in the calibration of mechanical equipment (such as, but not limited to: ozone monitor, etc.), as needed.
Repairing And Maintaining Electronic Equipment
Maintains, troubleshoots and calibrates electronic equipment (such as, but not limited to: radiation detection meter, photo ionization detector, pH meter, GPS, etc.), as needed or trains others in the performance of these tasks.
Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment:
Reviews or prepares documentation (such as permits, equipment specifications, designs, layout, blueprints, evaluations, etc.), in a concise and defensible manner, to ensure missions are met.
Writes or reviews justification describing the need for equipment.
Obtains or reviews cost estimates for equipment from different vendors.
Documenting/Recording Information
Prepares and/or maintains complete and accurate records and reports.
Documents all relevant work activities, contacts, and meetings.
Developing And Building Teams
Participates in work groups, special assignments, planning teams, etc., as opportunities arise that further established goals.
Encourages and works effectively with team members by listening, sharing, and/or brainstorming.
Continually seeks out ways to build effective technical teams and seeks their commitment to departmental goals.
Training And Teaching Others
Identify the need for and assists in developing education and training for and to stakeholders.
Staffing Organizational Units
Provides input to management regarding personnel issues when necessary and participates in recruiting events.
Thinking Creatively
Actively seeks opportunities to improve processes to ensure goals and/or mission of the department are met or exceeded.
May create and design outreach material (i.e. websites, social media, etc.) and/or regulatory assistance/training programs that apply to stakeholders.
Communicating With Supervisors, Peers, Or Subordinates
Recognizes, provides, and communicates areas of improvement and evaluates progress of implementation.
Advises management about issues of concern, as they occur.
Provides effective communication to supervisors and peers by telephone, email, verbally, etc.
Communicates regularly with coworkers, and/or supervisors to ensure consistent program operation, (i.e., staff meetings, performance evaluations, etc.).
Interacting With Computers
Designs, develops and/or maintains technical applications including but not limited to: databases, web-based applications, electronic documents, etc.).
General knowledge and use of various software programs, such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), etc.
Enters time and leave within the designated computer program, in a proper and timely manner.
Performing Administrative Activities
Assist management with review, response, and/or analysis of legislation, public correspondence, etc.
Draft and/or develop documents (such as, but not limited to administrative orders, letters, permits, etc.), for review and signature.
Ensures confidential material is not disclosed or made accessible to unauthorized personnel.
Coordinates the preparation and maintenance of operating records and reports.
Ensures files are managed according to the Records Disposition Authorization (RDA).
Ensures all activities, contacts, and meetings are properly filed.
Recognize and coordinates interpretation or translation services, as needed.
Completes required documentation for travel and/or field use of vehicle (i.e. mileage logs, travel time, vehicle inspection checklist, etc.)
Distributes documents to appropriate parties, to ensure proper routing.
Updating And Using Relevant Knowledge
Maintains knowledge of current regulatory information and technical area of expertise.
Seeks additional education/ training opportunities for professional development.
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, Or Equipment
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.
Performing General Physical Activities
Travel as required to provide technical expertise.
Performs physical activities, such as, walking (i.e. ditches, uneven terrain, etc), wading in water, swimming, climbing, lifting, operating soil evaluation equipment (i.e. auger or probe), etc.
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.).
State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:
A valid driver's license
For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not have record of the following violations: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.
Please include your Driver's License Information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application.
Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.
Seniority level
Mid-Senior level
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Management and Manufacturing
Industries
Government Administration
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