ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST 4

***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 recruitment is for the Supervisor of the Reclamation Branch within the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Mining Regulation and Reclamation in Carson City, NV. The functions of the branch include performing reviews of Exploration/Mine Plans of Operations, Reclamation Plans, and reclamation cost estimates to ensure land affected by mining activities will meet the regulatory requirement for a productive post mining land use. The branch ensures compliance with NRS 519A and NAC 519A through the issuance of reclamation permits. Upon approval, a financial assurance determination letter is issued to the operator to post a surety bond in coordination with the State or Federal agencies. The supervisor of this branch is responsible for recruiting, training, mentoring and supervising branch staff; reviewing work products; planning and coordinating branch resources; project management; improving processes by streamlining and developing applications and templates; and coordinating with other branches and stakeholders. A valid driver’s license is required to legally drive State vehicle for site inspections. In order to gain access into mine site inspections, the position requires 24 hr mine safety training (MSHA) provided by the State upon being hired.

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 and four years of professional environmental experience which involved environmental program research and planning; OR graduation from high school or equivalent and six years of professional environmental experience as described above; OR one year of experience as an Environmental Scientist 3 in Nevada State service; 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 perform the full range of duties described above and either:
Organize and supervise the work of lower-level Environmental Scientists, Engineers, Interns, federal Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) staff and other contractors for one or more components of the air, water, federal facilities, mining, biology, corrective actionor waste programs. Incumbents develop, implement and manage new or existing programs; develop and make formal presentations to regulatory boards, commissions, natural resource agencies and the legislature; draft legislation and develop regulations and rules; develop budgets, approve purchases and monitor expenditures; negotiate with other federal, State and local entities concerning contracts, grants, cases, incidents and other multi-jurisdictional issues; and interpret and implement appropriate federal and State statutes and regulations. Work is reviewed through progress reports and meetings. This is the first-line supervisor level class in the series; orServe as the technical scientific expert for a bureau within the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; assist and support bureau staff as technical advisor and subject matter expert; develop, organize and implement complex programs related to the control of biological and chemical agents, radioactive and/or hazardous waste and/or pollutants discharged into the environment; analyze information, technical data, problems, risks, situations, practices and procedures and define the problem or objective; make comprehensive recommendations on environmental problems; draft legislation; develop complex technical regulations, guidance, plans and procedures; develop and make formal presentations to the public, regulatory boards, commissions, natural resource agencies, scientific community and the legislature; negotiate with other federal, State and local entities concerning cases, incidents and other multi-jurisdictional issues; organize and/or participate in statewide, regional and national conferences and meetings; make decisions and judgments independently; and interpret and implement appropriate federal and State statutes and regulations. Incumbents may serve as lead worker and work is reviewed through progress reports and meetings. This is the non-supervisory, subject matter expert level class in the series and only one position per bureau may be allocated at this level.
Perform related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

This class specification lists the major knowledge, skills and abilities of the job and is not all inclusive. Incumbent(s) will be expected to have knowledge, skills and abilities from a previous level.

Detailed knowledge of: federal, State and division contract, grant, procurement and budgeting policies and procedures; personnel policies and procedures; federal,Nevada and other state statutes and regulations and programs related to pollution control.

Working knowledge of: the scientific principles and current technology associated with pollution control and related environmental terminology; the environmental impact associated with the release of hazardous chemicals, biological agents and radioactive and/or hazardous waste.

Ability to: evaluate program needs and plan and implement one or multiple program elements; evaluate and monitor program performance; prepare and administer contracts, grants and budgets and ensure tracking of expenditures in order to make contract, grant and budget adjustments during the fiscal year; develop program documents with or without federal and State guidelines; develop and draft permits for industry and governmental entities; interpret environmental statutes and regulations and apply them to varying situations; apply environmental science knowledge and technical data obtained in written form and/or through hearings and/or field investigations to a variety of complex situations and formulate logical and objective conclusions; write clear and concise legal agreements; interpret complex regulations in the broader context of its impact on other programs within the agency; apply conflict resolution and related skills to issues involving other governmental agencies, the regulated community, potentially responsible parties, other interested stakeholders and staff and work objectively towards resolution; review and evaluate the work of others.

RECRUITER CONTACT INFORMATION: Jon Terrazas at j.terrazas@admin.nv.gov

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: 4/1/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

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• STATE OF NEVADA

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