Tdec-Environmental Scientist 3 - 08122025-70241

Job Information

State of Tennessee Job Information

Opening Date/Time08/12/2025 12:00AM Central TimeClosing Date/Time08/25/2025 11:59PM Central TimeSalary (Monthly)$4,517.00Salary (Annually)$54,204.00Job TypeFull-TimeCity, State LocationChattanooga, TNDepartmentEnvironment and Conservation

LOCATION OF (1) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT & CONSERVATION, SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DIVISION, HAMILTON COUNTY

For more information, visit the link below:

This position and has some flexibility working from home on scheduled days.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in environmental science, physical sciences (e.g. physics, chemistry, geology, meteorology), ecology, sustainability or applied science in sustainability, life sciences (e.g. biology, microbiology, health physics or biophysics), environmental health, pre-medicine, engineering or other acceptable science or natural resource related field and three years of full-time professional environmental program, natural resource conservation work or full-time professional work that involved ensuring compliance with radiation safety standards and/or regulations.

Substitution of a Specific Bachelor's Degree for Experience: A bachelor's degree in health physics or nuclear engineering may substitute for one year of the required experience in the Division of Radiological Health.

Necessary Special Qualifications: Applicants for this class must:

• Possess a valid motor vehicle operator's license at the time of appointment in some positions.

Applicants who are working in the Division of Radiological Health must have successfully completed the training courses offered by the Division of Radiological Health. Failure to do so may result in termination.

• TDEC Environmental Scientist's 3 performing geologic duties the major portion of their time must: Either a.) have completed the required college course work at the time of appointment to be eligible to take the licensing examination offered by Tennessee's Department of Commerce and Insurance's Board of Professional Geologists, or b.) hold and maintain a current Geologic license from the State of Tennessee during employment or hold a current Geologic license from another State that Tennessee has evaluated and granted reciprocal licensing rights. Applicants hired with a current Geologic license from a reciprocal licensing State must obtain, and then maintain, a current license in Geology from the State of Tennessee Board of Professional Geologists within one year of appointment.
• Some TDEC Environmental Scientist 3 positions assigned to function as Biologists must meet the specific educational requirements for Biologists, as follows: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, including at least 36 quarter hours (or 24 semester hours) in biology, in one of the following areas: (1) biology or biological sciences, (2) botanical sciences, (3) environmental or conservation sciences, (4) zoological sciences, or (5) aquatic, terrestrial, or wetland biology or ecology or other acceptable biological science related field.

Overview

Under general supervision, may be responsible for professional environmental, natural resources and/or similar science related program work of average difficulty; and performs related work as required. This is the advanced working and/or lead level in the TDEC Environmental Scientist subseries. An employee in this class will perform a full range of complex environmental compliance inspection, monitoring, problem identification, corrective action and enforcement duties in an environmental regulatory or assistance division. An employee in this class may perform natural resource management and/or inventory duties in conservation or other non-regulatory programs.

Responsibilities

1. Conduct inspections and/or investigations of equipment, structures, materials, and/or sites/facilities when required by a specific TDEC program area (e.g. air pollution, water resources, mineral and geologic resources, remediation, underground storage tanks, solid waste management, radiological health, natural areas, etc.) to ensure proper installation, maintenance, and/or operation and determine compliance with laws, regulations, or standards. Perform laboratory or field tests in accordance with requirements and analyze and interpret the environmental data and/or other information (e.g. monitoring records, site inspections, sampling data, etc.) using relevant methods to evaluate data trends, data quality, and usability for determining if further action is necessary.

2. Develop or assist in developing, implementing, managing, and enforcing environmental or other federal and/or state standards, laws, rules, regulations, departmental and administrative policies and procedures (e.g. Standard Operating Procedures), and/or state programs (e.g. certifying officials/professionals, coordination and training, records management, and federal reporting requirements) through investigation of complaints; overseeing environmental sampling; and reviewing and evaluating applications, forms, plans, inspection documents, general correspondence, reports, or other records and taking corrective action as warranted, and if necessary, initiate legal action to effect compliance of established standards, laws, rules, regulations, or policies. Coordinate and lead trainings, meetings, and projects with staff and stakeholders to disseminate policies, procedures and program information and ensure operational and strategic priorities are met.

3. Review, analyze, and maintain relevant documents or data submitted by applicants or acquired by site inspections and/or other informative sources used for determining minimum environmental or other compliance with established standards. Prepare various publications, reports, and technical documents (e.g. permits, designs, layout blueprints, soil evaluations, maps, plans, etc.) in a concise and legally defensible manner to ensure Agency's missions are met. Reviews records, data, operational plans, enforcement action requests, reports, Quality Assurance/Quality Control parameters, etc. and interpret findings and results (i.e. site inspections, permits, lab results, etc.) to ensure acceptable methodologies are performed and communicates interpretation of findings and results using regulations, policy, guidance, etc. to stakeholders.

4. Performs environmental or health investigations, remediation, natural resource management, and/or collection of environmental samples and/or monitoring data (e.g. soil, rock, air, water, sediment, sludge, biological, etc.) under physically demanding conditions (i.e. ditches, uneven terrain, wading in water, climbing, lifting/carrying equipment weighing up to 50 pounds, etc.) and evaluates the results/data as required to determine compliance with permits, environmental or other standards, and/or ecological condition requirements.

5. Coaches, develops, and mentors staff in the proper methods and procedures for performing environmental work to improve their knowledge or skill for an assigned job task, and provides recommendations of staffs professional growth for performance evaluations as requested. Uses team building, leadership, and effective communication skills to encourage and involve staff in developing and meeting departmental goals.

6. Maintains, repairs, and calibrates electronic equipment [e.g. radiation detection meter, photo ionization detector, pH meter, GPS, and X-ray fluorescence (XRF)), scientific instruments, and mechanical equipment (e.g. ozone monitor, air monitor, laser level, watercraft, etc.), and inventories chemicals and supplies, disposing of expired materials in accordance with safety rules and regulations. Ensures the malfunctioning equipment is repaired, replaced, or surpluses according to state guidelines.

7. Provide technical expertise to emergency responders, stakeholders, and any other personnel during emergency events, industrial incidents/accidents, and natural catastrophes where impacts to the environment (e.g. release radiation and radioactive material, air contaminants, water contaminants, etc.) are imminent. Provide consultative, technical, or educational services to stakeholders (i.e. industry, municipalities, counties, individuals, or groups), the public, and/or staff regarding regulatory information and/or proper procedures for performing environmental work in an effort to enhance environmental stewardship, health or other standards, practices, and safety.

Competencies (KSA's)

Competencies:

1. Decision Quality

2. Communicates Effectively

3. Customer Focus

4. Tech Savvy

5. Business Insight

Knowledges:

1. Biology

2. Chemistry

3. Physics

4. Geology

5. Law and Government

Skills:

1. Critical Thinking

2. Active Learning and Listening

3. Judgement and Decision Making

4. Time Management

5. Writing

Abilities:

1. Written Comprehension

2. Inductive Reasoning

3. Deductive Reasoning

4. Limb and/or Full Body Flexibility

5. Prolonged Stamina

Tools & Equipment

1. Computer/Tablet/Printer/ Scanner/Copier/Fax

2. Telephone/Cellphone/Pager/ Two-Way Radios

3. Watercraft/ Motor Vehicle/ ATV

4. Sampling, Monitoring Equipment and Supplies/Tools

5. GPS/PPE/ Power and Hand Tools

TN Driver Standards

State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:

• A valid driver's license
• For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not have record of the following violations: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.

Please include your Driver's License Information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application.

Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.