Water Quality Specialist

Title: Water Quality Specialist

State Role Title: Environmental Specialist I

Hiring Range: Starting at $43,888.00+ DOE

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Department of Forestry

Location: Eastern Office Waverly

Agency Website: www.dof.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Department of Forestry (DOF) is seeking a motivated and self-driven individual to fill a Water Quality Specialist position in the DOF Eastern Region.
The Water Quality Specialist role provides consistent enforcement of the Silvicultural Water Quality Law and implementation of the agency's silvicultural water quality program to protect and enhance water quality in Tidewater Virginia. This role is primarily field based. This specialist will spend the majority of their time on timber harvest operations, working with loggers, consulting foresters, & DOF staff to provide technical Best Management Practice (BMP) guidance on timber harvests.
This position will primarily work in the southern half of the Eastern Region, south of the James River, from the interstate 95 corridor east to the Eastern Shore.

The duties of this position include:
• Providing technical recommendations to DOF field personnel and the forestry community on Best Management Practice implementation to protect water quality during silvicultural activities.
• Developing & delivering water quality related training in coordination with the Virginia SHARP logger program.
• Inspecting timber harvests
• Developing pre-harvest plans and other site-specific recommendations for ensuring proper timber harvests.
• Administering DOF cost share programs to loggers to facilitate BMP installation.
• Conducting audits of closed timber harvests to track BMP implementation.
• Investigating and tracking reports of timber theft.
• This position is a responder for wildland fires and emergencies across the Commonwealth. Responsible for use and maintenance of specially equipped firefighting bulldozer and transport truck.

This position reports to the Eastern Region Water Quality Engineer.
All Virginia state employee benefits are provided including paid holidays and vacation, healthcare, and a state retirement plan. For more information visit: https://www.dhrm.virginia.gov/employeebenefits

Minimum Qualifications

At a minimum, candidates should demonstrate:
• Working knowledge of forest harvesting systems common to Eastern Virginia.
• Ability to design effective solutions and prepare plans to eliminate or minimize water quality problems related to silvicultural activities.
• Working knowledge of the scientific principles and application of Forestry BMPs and/or SHARP logger certified.
• Understanding of the Administrative Process Act.
• Possesses excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to effectively interact with a variety of individuals and agencies.
• Leadership experience and desire to mentor new employees.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently, multi-task, and meet procedural deadlines.
• Physically fit and able to traverse all types of forested terrain on foot, ability to walk over and through logging debris, swamps/mud, heavy brush, and other adverse terrain for an extended period of time in all kinds of weather conditions; ability to climb onto and around heavy equipment.
• Wildland fire suppression training & experience.
• Possesses valid driver's license and willing to travel around the State and stay overnight on occasion.
• Experience/ability to use a personal computer and Microsoft Office software.
• Experience using Geographic information systems (GIS), GPS units, and digital mapping tools.

Additional Considerations

Top candidates for this position should demonstrate the following qualifications in their application:
• Experience in technical/professional forestry or logging.
• Experience with heavy equipment (such as a bulldozer) operation.
• Commercial Drivers License holder (class A or B w/ air brake endorsement)

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Successful candidate must live within the DOF Eastern Region - south of James Rive