ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST 3

Posting number: 2026-03377

Department: DCNR - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Job classification: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST 3

Posting type: Open Competitive

Categories: Sciences

Summary

The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP), Bureau of Corrective Actions is hiring for an Environmental Scientist 3 position located in the Las Vegas location. This position will serve as an Environmental Cleanup Case Officer in the Remediation and Leaking Underground Storage Tank Branch. Case Officers are responsible for providing regulatory oversight, review, and concurrence on environmental cleanup projects involving contaminated soil and groundwater in the State of Nevada. The Case Officer reviews work plans, provides guidance, analyzes data, drafts letters, and ensures compliance with State regulations of cleanup work conducted by property owners, responsible parties, or the State's cleanup contractors. Cleanups overseen by the Case Officer may involve petroleum hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents, heavy metals, or other environmental contaminants from a number of release sources affecting differing soil types and groundwater conditions. The ideal candidate will have experience overseeing environmental remediation cases and a basic understanding of groundwater flow, contaminant transport principles, and identifying risks to human health and the environment.

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. 

Examples of duties

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in the physical, natural resource or life sciences, engineering or closely related field and three years of professional environmental experience which involved environmental program research and planning; OR graduation from high school or equivalent and five years of professional environmental experience as described above; OR one year of experience as an Environmental Scientist 2 in Nevada State service; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience as described above.

Qualifications

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 local policy and regulation development.

Develop grant applications, proposals for performance, grant workplans, budgets and applications using federal and State policies 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.