The primary purpose of this position is to serve as an environmental specialist who conducts a range of activities in the various programs in the Water Quality Regional Operations Section of the Winston-Salem Regional Office. Program areas include those related to Non-Discharge and NPDES wastewater treatment systems, affiliated pretreatment programs and collection systems, 401 and buffer program implementation, animal feeding operations, underground injection control and well construction, groundwater pollution incident management, response to citizen complaints and incidents such as spills, fish kills and sewer overflows, emergency response actions, ambient water quality monitoring program activities, and the provision of customer service and technical assistance to the general public, industry, and government agencies.

Job duties include serving as a professional staff member involved in field investigations, facility evaluations, permitting, compliance determination of permitted and regulatory activities, and enforcement. Employees in this position are generally responsible for the following activities:

• Performing on-site compliance inspections of waste disposal systems including industrial, municipal, and residential waste systems.
• Reviewing monitoring reports from permitted facilities to determine compliance with permit limits.
• Performing regional activities required for processing and issuing permits.
• Conducting complaint investigations involving permitted and non-permitted facilities and conducting on-site investigations involving reports of illegal
• discharges at facilities and preparing enforcement actions if warranted.
• Developing special orders by consent and other enforcement documents and actions as needed.
• Responding to emergency episodes.
• Sampling surface waters and wastewater discharges.
• Providing technical assistance to the general public, consultants and contractors in a professional manner.
• Completing routine administrative duties such as filling out electronic time sheets, work plans and attending routine staff meetings.

The Division of Water Resources:
The Division of Water Resources is responsible for protecting North Carolina’s drinking, surface and groundwater for all waterbodies including lakes, streams, rivers, wetlands and aquifers. This environmental stewardship is accomplished through actions including permitting issuance, investigations, regulatory compliance and enforcement, monitoring and field assessments, certifications, laboratory analysis and testing, planning, water quality standards management, educational outreach and other efforts. The Division comprises six Sections: Water Quality Regional Operations; Water Sciences; Public Water Supply; Water Quality Permitting; Groundwater Resources, and Water Planning. Learn more by visiting Division of Water Resources .

The NC Department of Environmental Quality:
The primary mission of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is to provide science-based environmental stewardship for the health and prosperity of all North Carolinians. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is the lead stewardship agency for the protection of North Carolina's environmental resources. The organization, which has offices from the mountains to the coast, administers regulatory programs designed to protect air quality, water quality, and the public's health, and works to advance in all-of-the-above energy strategy that fits North Carolina's needs. DEQ also offers technical assistance to businesses, farmers, local governments, and the public and encourages responsible behavior with respect to the environment through education programs provided at DEQ facilities and through the state's school system. DEQ touches the lives of all North Carolinians in many ways to enhance and ensure our quality of life. Please visit our website at the Department of Environmental Quality for more information.

If you have student loans, becoming a state employee includes eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Visit www.studentaid.gov to learn more.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies

The Knowledge, Skills and Abilities listed below, along with the Minimum Education and Experience requirements, are REQUIRED to qualify for this position. We will not review resumes in lieu of Experience and Education listed on the application. Click these links for additional information: Introduction to the Job Application and Addressing Knowledge, Skills and Abilities.

To qualify for this position, applicants must document on the application that they possess ALL of the following:

• 
  Demonstrated knowledge of wastewater treatment processes and/or disposal practices.
• Demonstrated knowledge in the environmental areas of biology, water chemistry, soil science, and/or hydrology.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Federal, State laws or regulations as they pertain to environmental programs.
• Demonstrated experience in analyzing, interpreting, or evaluating data pertaining to water quality.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Bachelor's degree in one of the agricultural, biological, engineering, environmental or natural resource sciences or a closely related curriculum from an appropriately accredited institution; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.