Air Quality Manager (Principal Executive/Manager E)

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality strives to build and sustain an inclusive environment that embraces and values diversity. Employees at all levels of the agency work together to foster fairness, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, veteran, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or physical or mental disability. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may not meet every one of our listed preferred qualifications. Lived experience may count towards the preferred qualification. If you are excited about this position, we encourage you to apply. If you are unsure as to whether or not you meet the qualifications of this position, please contact us to discuss your application.

Are you passionate about preserving, enhancing, and protecting Oregon’s environment? If so, please consider a career with the State of Oregon at the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

About the Opportunity

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a full-time opportunity available for an Air Quality Manager (Principal Executive/Manager E) in Medford or Salem, Oregon. (The finalist may choose their work location).

Please consider joining an innovative team, and work to advance our agency’s mission to protect and improve Oregon’s environmental quality. There are 3 regions (Northwest, Western, and Eastern); this position is in Western Region.

The Regions provide the following services: compliance inspection of regulated entities; enforcement of permit requirements and administrative rules; issuance of air, water, and solid waste permits; investigation of complaints; issuance of subsurface permits in counties; response to spills or other incidents with environmental impacts; direct contact and liaison with other governmental entities, industries, and the public; and technical assistance to regulated entities and the public. Click here to view a map of all of the DEQ offices.

What you will do!

You will manage and lead the Western Region’s environmental programs related to air quality. This work includes developing program goals and objectives and monitoring progress; identifying, prioritizing, and scheduling work; selecting and supervising staff; resolving difficult technical or administrative problems; assisting in the development of statewide rules, procedures, and guidelines for the air quality program; tracking and ensuring timeliness and responsiveness to the public and regulated community; and providing direction and guidance in emergency response situations.

What’s in it for you!

The opportunity to work in a productive and creative environment where no two days are ever the same! We offer a competitive benefits package that offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans for the employee and their qualified family members, as well as paid sick leave, vacation leave, personal leave, and 11 paid holidays a year. In addition, we offer membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and you have the opportunity to potentially receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). If you are passionate about Oregon’s environment, apply today!

Note: This is a full-time, management service-supervisory position. Also, this recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies.

What are we looking for?

Minimum Qualifications:

• 3 years of management experience in a public or private organization, which included responsibility for each of the following: development of program rules and policies, development of long and short-range goals and plans, program evaluation, and budget preparation.

Candidates who are most competitive will also reflect the following:

• Demonstrated ability to evaluate emerging air quality programmatic priorities with both statewide and national implications.
• Demonstrated ability to lead both technical and program development teams using data collection, goal setting, measure design, and report development to address statewide environmental challenges and opportunities related to air quality.
• Demonstrated ability to advise executives and other decision-makers; excellent verbal and written communication skills; skill, tact, and communication abilities necessary to act as a spokesperson for the Western Region Air Quality section and the Agency.
• Public policy and program development experience in leading discussions with external stakeholders and agency responsibilities to protect human health and the environment.
• Supervisory management experience in a government agency or organization; management experience with a union represented employer.
• Ability to be resourceful and pay attention to detail; ability to switch priorities or projects seamlessly; ability and skill to manage complex projects with many stakeholders and multiple deliverables within resource constraints.
• Experience in strategic planning, plan implementation, and change management.
• Demonstrated experience and personal commitment to building and sustaining an equitable and inclusive culture where all team members feel empowered to contribute.
• Ability and experience managing human, financial, and informational resources in a manner that instills employee and public trust and accomplishes the organization’s mission.
• Proven experience fostering teamwork among subordinates; experience coaching, mentoring, and motivating subordinates.
• Skill and experience in communication and outreach to underrepresented communities; ability to build partnerships across diverse community and stakeholder groups and interests. 

Working Conditions:

Work is primarily in an office setting. This position requires frequent in-state travel between regional offices and to headquarters in Portland, as well as occasional travel on official State business for meetings, conferences, and public hearings, as well as to resolve complex issues. Some overnight stays may be required. Meetings and public hearings are often held in the evenings, requiring occasional irregular work hours. This position requires frequent driving. Physical outdoor activity involved during field activities or site inspections may include adverse weather conditions; exposure to pollutants, chemicals, contaminated soil, water, fumes, and/or airborne contaminants; fall or tripping hazards; climbing of stairs; kneeling; crouching; and substantial walking.

How to Apply

External Applicants Click on the “Apply on Company Website" below and follow instructions. 

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Please Note: In addition to your related work experience and education, DEQ will use the desired attributes and minimum qualifications above, under the “What are we looking for?” section to determine whom to interview. Please make sure your attributes and minimum qualifications are clearly demonstrated in your application material.

Veterans Information:

DEQ provides veterans’ preference points to all eligible veterans. For more information on veterans’ preference, please visit Veterans Resources, or call the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs at: 1-800-692-9666. For privacy reasons, please do not attach veterans’ preference documents when initially applying. You will be asked to submit those at a later time.

Pay Equity:

As an employer, the State of Oregon complies with HB 2005, the Pay Equity Bill. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected class in the payment of wages, and we do not screen applicants on the basis of their current or past compensation. Please visit http://www.oregon.gov/das/hr/pages/equity.aspx for more information. Please note: the salary listed is the non-PERS qualifying salary range. If the successful candidate is PERS qualifying, the salary range will reflect an additional 6.95% (6% goes to PERS and .95% covers payroll taxes). Please review the Classification and Compensation page for more details.

Work Authorization:

DEQ does not offer visa sponsorships. On the first day of employment, all hires will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States. In addition, hires will have three business days from their first day of employment to present documents that establish employment authorization and identity. DEQ is an E-Verify employer and will use E-Verify to confirm that hires are authorized to work in the United States.

Questions/Need Help?

If you have questions about the recruitment or need assistance to participate in the application process, please contact Maddy Ouye, Human Resources Analyst, at maddy.ouye@deq.oregon.gov or (503) 347-5759. TTY users: please use the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.