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SalaryJob Title:Environmental Scientist II or III
Depending on qualifications, this position may be filled at either a level II or IIIEnvironmental Scientist.
Job Description:
Are you seeking a career that offers a balance of office and fieldwork, involves travel to various parts of the state, and provides opportunities to work with a team of Environmental Scientists and engineers? If so, this job might be a great fit for you! As a member of the Minerals Team, you will have the chance to:
1) Support a viable mining industry that helps to preserve the economic stability of the nation,
2) Safeguard the environment and public health, and
3) Assist in the successful reclamation of lands affected by mineral mining activities.
Preference will be given to candidates who specialize in the engineering aspects of non-coal mining and coordinate with other federal, state, and local governments, as well as environmental groups.
Principal Duties
The Reclamation Specialist will:
- Review mine applications/notices and make determinations of adequacy for permit issuance. Provide clear written guidance to assist operators as they develop mine plans.
- Determine the effects of mining on the environment and evaluate mitigation plans.
- Ensure that proposed mining and reclamation plans comply with regulatory requirements.
- Inspect mine sites to ensure operation and reclamation standards are being met and take appropriate enforcement action when needed. Document site conditions through inspection reports.
- Coordinate with federal, state, and local agencies.
- Provide technical assistance to mine operators and technical staff.
- Participate in the formulation of rules and processes to simplify mine permitting.
- Take the lead on projects.
- Provide expert testimony at hearings.
The Ideal Candidate
The model candidate for this position is someone who:
- Has a bachelor's degree or higher in hydrology, mining engineering, archeology or a closely related field.
- Has experience with environmental regulations related to mining and reclamation practices.
- Has strong field and GIS experience such as LiDAR, drone imagery, and aerial photography including ESRl's mobile applications.
- Has experience with reclamation cost estimation such as using Nevada's SRCE model or other cost estimating software.
- Physically able to hike over rough terrane and can operate a vehicle off the pavement.
- Possess excellent writing and verbal communication skills.
- Understanding of State mining and reclamation rules.
Why You Should Join Our Team
Please consider joining our team if you're interested in working for an agency that values self-expression and encourages creative problem-solving. This job offers a good balance of office and fieldwork, allowing you to work autonomously on small projects, such as permitting small mines and exploration projects, as well as work with a multidisciplinary team on large mine projects. As a member of the Minerals Team, you will play a crucial role in ensuring that the nation has access to critical minerals such as beryllium, magnesium, copper, and limestone for cement. You will be working in diverse areas of the State, ranging from the Kennecott Pit in Salt Lake to remote areas that few people ever visit. Additionally, the State of Utah offers great benefits and generous paid time off, allowing you to spend more time with your loved ones and achieve a positive work-life balance.
Below is a summary of the benefits offered to state employees:
Health Insurance- Public Employee Health Program (PEHP):
- 3 medical plan options. Choose a Traditional or High Deductible Health Plan.
- There is an Opt-Out Cash Benefit option for those who have other medical insurance coverage.
- 5 dental plan options, with an Opt-Out Cash Benefit option for those that have other dental insurance coverage.
- 4 vision plan options under EyeMed or OptiCare
- Employees who have any service credit with an employer covered by the Utah Retirement Systems before 7/1/2011 are in the Tier I Public Employees System.
- Employees hired on or after 7/1/2011 and who have never been in the URS retirement system have two options for retirement in the Tier II System.
- Tier 2 Hybrid Retirement System. Employer contributes an amount equal to 10% of your salary between both plans (pension and 401(k))
- Tier 2 Defined Contribution Plan. Employer contributes an amount equal to 10% of your salary to a 401(k) plan only.
- Employer contributions to your 401(k) are vested after four years.
- Annual leave and sick leave are accrued at 4 hours per pay period each (4 hours annual, 4 hours sick).
- Annual leave amounts increase with years of service.
- We have 12 paid holidays.
The Agency
Typical Qualifications
Qualifications for Environmental Scientist II - (Salary range: $28.16 - $42.30/hr. or per DHRM rules)
Required:
- General understanding/awareness of rules and regulations about minerals mining.
- General knowledge of mine reclamation.
- Knowledge of principles of reclamation, including demolition, waste disposal, regrading, slope stability, soil placement, hydrologic design, plant species selection, and seeding methods.
- Ability to communicate technical issues orally and in writing.
- Technical writing proficiency.
- Proficiency with common computer programs, including Word, Excel, and GIS software.
- Ability to review and edit documents for accuracy and completeness.
- Ability to read and interpret technical information, drawings, maps and computer models.
- Bachelor's degree or higher in mining engineering, or a closely related field.
- Experience working in a team environment
- Experience writing technical reports
- Experience and/or background/training in surface or groundwater hydrology, deleterious materials, slope stability and other aspects of mine engineering, reclamation cost estimation, air quality, and cultural resources.
- Experience making formal presentations on technical subjects.
- Experience with coordinating and working with State and Federal agencies.
- Experience in evaluating mine plans relative to surface or groundwater hydrology, deleterious materials, slope stability and other aspects of mine engineering, reclamation cost estimation, air quality, and cultural resources.
- Ability to make permitting decisions relative to surface or groundwater hydrology, deleterious materials, slope stability and other aspects of mine engineering, reclamation cost estimation, air quality, and cultural resources.
- Knowledge of hydrology, mining engineering, deleterious materials, air quality, cultural resources, and other issues specific to the Utah minerals mining environment.
- Experience in utilizing GIS/GPS software and survey equipment.
- Ability and willingness to give testimony before the Board of Oil, Gas & Mining in contested matters, especially those about areas of expertise.
Required:
- Knowledge and demonstrated experience of Utah mineral mine rules and regulations about surface or groundwater hydrology, deleterious materials, slope stability and other aspects of mine engineering, reclamation cost estimation, air quality, and cultural resources.
- Knowledge of the Utah Mined Land Reclamation Act and associated rules.
- Knowledge of surface or groundwater hydrology, deleterious materials, slope stability and other aspects of mine engineering, reclamation cost estimation, air quality, and cultural resources issues specific to the Utah minerals mine environment.
- Demonstrated ability/experience in interpreting and applying laws, rules, regulations, policies and/or procedures.
- Experience in evaluating mine plan designs for impacts to surface or groundwater hydrology, slope stability and other aspects of mine engineering, air quality, and cultural resources and determining the effectiveness of these designs in preventing impacts to the environment.
- Ability to take the lead on assigned projects and guide other team members to project completion.
- Experience working in a team environment.
- Experience making formal presentations on technical subjects.
- Experience coordinating and working with other State and Federal agencies.
- Experience in utilizing GIS/GPS software.
- Demonstrated ability to make senior-level decisions.
- Ability and willingness to give testimony before the Board of Oil, Gas and Mining in contested matters about engineering review.
- Ability to deal with conflict resolution.
Supplemental Information
- Risks that require the use of special safety precautions and/or equipment, e.g., working around operating machines, working with contagious diseases or hazardous chemicals, etc.
- Work requires physical exertion. May require the ability to stand; walk over rough surfaces; bend, crouch, stoop, stretch, reach, and lift moderately heavy items (up to 50 lbs.) in a recurring manner and/or for long periods of time.
- The Reclamation Specialist must have the ability to work outdoors in all types of weather conditions; walk over rough and rocky terrain (including steep slopes); work alone in undeveloped, remote areas; and willingness and/or ability to operate a four-wheel-drive vehicle on unimproved roads and trails. Fieldwork requires some physical exertion. The Reclamation Specialist will occasionally be required to stand and walk over rough surfaces, bend, crouch, stoop, stretch, reach, lift moderately heavy items (up to 30 lbs.) and drive a vehicle for up to eight hours a day.
- Typical work schedule: 40 hours/week five-eight-hour shifts or possibly four-ten hour shifts - *some teleworking is encouraged.
- This position is currently a hybrid of both in-office and remote work days. Please note, a position's eligibility for remote work is established by agency management and is subject to change at their discretion at any time and for any reason.
