Environmental Chemical Specialist Staff

The Department of Environmental Quality/Office of Environmental Services has a vacancy.

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality's (LDEQ) mission is to provide services to the people of Louisiana through comprehensive environmental protection to promote and protect health, safety, and welfare.

Join the LDEQ Team as an Environmental Chemical Specialist!

Are you a licensed Chemical or Mechanical Engineer ready to lead with impact? Join the Air Permits Division as a senior technical authority, where you'll shape air quality across Louisiana by reviewing complex permit applications, mentoring junior staff, and applying cutting-edge pollution control strategies. This is more than a section-level role-it's your chance to influence the entire division!

A bachelor's degree in an engineering field plus three years of experience in process design; OR

A master's degree in an engineering field or a chemical or physical science field plus two years of experience in process design; OR

A doctorate degree in an engineering field or a chemical or physical science field plus one year of experience in process design.

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.Job Duties:

The incumbent performs technical reviews of air permit applications and other air quality-related reports and correspondence, and drafts air permits and other actions for major and minor sources of air pollution for subsequent review. The incumbent also reviews draft air permit actions prepared by lower-level staff in the Air Permits Division for accuracy and completeness. A Word version of the current position description is attached.

Duties include:

• Conducts in-depth technical reviews of air permit applications and emissions calculations to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations for major and minor pollution sources.
• Drafts and finalizes complex air permits, including Title V, PSD, Acid Rain, and NSR actions, along with supporting documents such as Statements of Basis and enforcement referrals.
• Mentors and reviews the work of junior Environmental Chemical Specialists and Scientists, ensuring accuracy, regulatory alignment, and professional development across the division.
• Provides expert guidance and representation, entering data into EPA systems, participating in site visits, and offering technical testimony in legal proceedings and public forums.
• Supports rulemaking and policy development by drafting regulations, reviewing legislation, and validating Emission Reduction Credits for enforceability and compliance.

Position-Specific Details:

Appointment Type: This position may be filled as either a probational appointment, a job appointment (a temporary appointment not to exceed four years), or a promotion of a permanent classified employee. If the position is filled as a job appointment, it could be converted to a probational appointment should funding become available.

Domicile: East Baton Rouge Parish

Compensation: This position offers a Special Entrance Rate (SER) listed below. This is the minimum compensation that may be offered. The job title and salary offered will be determined based on qualifications and experience.

• Environmental Chemical Specialist Staff: $34.66 per hour

Overview of the five major offices within the agency: It provides information on the mission, function, and organization, along with a biography for each member of management.

• Office of the Secretary
• Office of Management and Finance
• Office of Environmental Services
• Office of Environmental Compliance
• Office of Environmental Assessment

Louisiana is a State As a Model Employer (SAME) that supports the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities. Equal Opportunity Employer.

How To Apply:

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

To apply for this vacancy, click on the "Apply" link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

• Information to support your eligibility for this job title must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education). Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.

Please make every effort to attach a copy of your transcript to your application if possible (PDF format preferred). The selected candidate will be required to submit original documentation upon hire.

You must submit an equivalency evaluation statement for any international degree(s) by the closing of this announcement.

Contact Information:

For further information about this vacancy, contact:

Kierra Smith

LA DEQ/ Office of Management and Finance

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This agency participates in the E-Verify system for verification of citizenship and employment authorization.