ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST 1 - UNDERFILL

***THIS RECRUITMENT MAY CLOSE WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED. APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE***

Job Summary

The mission of the Division of Environmental Protection is to preserve and enhance the environment of the State in order to protect public health, sustain healthy ecosystems, and contribute to a vibrant economy. The almost 300 members of our team work together to ensure that Nevada's communities have safe water to drink, healthy air to breathe, and a safe secure environment to enjoy. The Bureau of Sustainable Materials Management is recruiting for an Environmental Scientist 1 (under fill of Environmental Scientist III). This position is in the Compliance and Enforcement Branch and will be responsible for compliance inspections and enforcement actions for solid and hazardous waste. As an inspector in the Compliance and Enforcement Branch, the candidate will research and develop/maintain monitoring and inspection programs to ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state regulations associated with the management of waste in Nevada. The candidate will be primarily responsible for conducting solid waste inspections of landfills, transfer facilities, public waste bin facilities, complaints, and ensuring compliance with solid waste regulations.

Environmental Scientists perform program research, planning and development, permitting, compliance monitoring, inspections/enforcement, and technical support services in relation to air, water, federal facilities, corrective action, mining, biology and waste environmental programs.

Essential Qualifications

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in the physical, natural resource or life sciences, engineering or closely related field; OR graduation from high school or equivalent and two years of technical environmental experience which involved assisting in environmental program research and planning; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience as described above.

Job Duties

Develop program documents such as the annual program plan, quarterly activities report, environmental assessments, technical reports and environmental impact statements in accordance with federal and State requirements; review existing program standards; research, compile and verify available data; analyze data and trends including the projected impact of federal, State and local regulations; propose new or revised standards; develop regulations, procedures and protocols and draft legislation; provide information and technical assistance to the general public and regulated community; develop and provide training to staff and the regulated community; prepare various reports as required for planning or in response to requests from the legislature, general public, regulated community, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), or Division of Environmental Protection (DEP) administration; conduct public hearings; justify with fact sheets and discussion as required.

Conduct research through the use of technical, scientific and historical data to provide a tool for administrative and resource planning and decision making; coordinate with other agencies involved in the implementation of environmental programs; represent the division or agency at various meetings involving federal, State and local regulatory and resource agencies, the public, non-governmental organizations and the regulated community; participate in federal, State and localpolicy and regulation development.

Develop grant applications, proposals for performance, grant workplans, budgets and applications using federal and Statepolicies and procedures; negotiate commitments with federal, State and local agencies; solicit project proposals; negotiate workplans and draft contract documents and required amendments; monitor grant performance, expenditures and contracts

Develop and draft permits for industry and governmental entities; compile facility data; examine and adapt the permit to applicable standards; establish limitations; review permits for regulatory compliance; perform public permit notification and final permit issuance.

Perform compliance monitoring; analyze submitted environmental reports in relation to technical, scientific and legal criteria and make recommendations to ensure compliance; take periodic samples according to established protocol and transport to appropriate laboratories; operate various monitoring equipment; evaluate new and existing sample sites for usefulness.

Respond to environmental complaints through investigation, determination of complaint validity and determination of appropriate action to be taken.

Conduct inspections to ensure compliance with federal, State and local regulations; inspect pollution control equipment; take or observe others taking samples; determine whether violations are occurring; make a detailed report and recommendation to the appropriate entity; determine appropriate enforcement action to be initiated; prepare notices of violation; meet with the regulated community, potentially responsible parties and attorneys to present findings and negotiate resolutions, administrative settlements and civil penalties; give depositions, testify in court as required and serve as the State's expert witness in lawsuits and other court matters.

Perform various technical services required to carry out any of the above-mentioned duties, including calculating pollutant concentrations, calibrating a variety of sampling equipment and preparing monitoring sites.

Input and access data to and from a national data system maintained by the EPA in accordance with federal grant requirements; perform computer modeling using computer programs to manipulate data; evaluate environmental data and make decisions based on this information.

Incumbents receive training in the performance of the duties described above and may progress to the next level upon meeting the minimum qualifications, satisfactory performance and with the approval of the appointing authority.

Perform related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

General knowledge of: the physical and biological aspects of the environment including zoology, biology, hydrology, bioclimatology, ecology, geology, physics and organic/inorganic chemistry; environmental terminology.

Ability to: read and comprehend technical and legal documents including scientific papers, regulations, statutes, engineering plans and specifications, legal agreements and EPA and other federal and State technical guidance manuals and policies; prepare and present written reports; apply mathematical concepts and principles including algebra, trigonometry, geometry and statistics; operate personal computers and corresponding software.

The State of Nevada is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building diverse, inclusive, and innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, national origin, religion or belief, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, domestic partnership, genetic information (GINA), or compensation and/or wages.

Please send direct Inquiries or correspondence to the recruiter listed on this announcement.

Benefits include:

• Health Insurance: Medical, dental, life, and disability insurance programs for employees and their dependents/family are offered through the Public Employees’ Benefits Program (PEBP) .
  
• Vacation: Accrual of three weeks of annual leave each year.
  
• Sick Leave: Accrual of three weeks of sick leave each year.
  
• Holidays: 12 paid holidays per year.
  
• Retirement: Participation in the Nevada Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) . Employees do not contribute to Social Security but will contribute to PERS if their position is at 50% or more full-time equivalency. For more information on how PERS service may impact Social Security benefits, visit the SSA publication .
  
• Deferred Compensation: The State offers a voluntary Deferred Compensation Program .
  
• No Nevada state income tax.
  
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness: Eligible due to public sector employment.
  
• Longevity Payments Eligibility: Employees who have received a performance rating of “standard” or better and have completed eight (8) or more years of continuous service are eligible for longevity pay.
  

Additional benefits may apply to employees covered under a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), depending on their designated bargaining unit. For more information, visit the Labor Relations Unit (LRU) .

For more details about your rights and responsibilities as a State of Nevada employee, please review the State of Nevada Employee Handbook (PDF) .

*** State Holidays The holiday schedule for State employees is established by the Legislature.

The following are legal holidays:

January 1.............................................. New Year's Day

Third Monday in January.................. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday

Third Monday in February................ Washington’s Birthday

Last Monday in May........................... Memorial Day

June 19................................................ Juneteenth Day

July 4.................................................... Independence Day

First Monday in September.............. Labor Day

Last Friday in October....................... Nevada Day

November 11........................................ Veterans' Day

Fourth Thursday in November........ Thanksgiving Day

Friday following the Fourth Thursday in November...................... Family Day

December 25........................................ Christmas Day

When January 1, June 19, July 4, November 11, or December 25 falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday is the observed legal holiday. If these days fall on Sunday, the following Monday is the observed holiday. Eligibility for holiday pay is covered by the provisions of NAC 284.255

Closing Date/Time: 4/20/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

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• STATE OF NEVADA

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