Aquatic Resource Specialist

Are you experienced in natural resources and passionate about wetlands and waterways? Apply to be our next Aquatic Resource Coordinator (Natural Resource Specialist 3) by January 21, 2026! This position is eligible for a hybrid remote schedule based out of our Salem office, with required in-office days 2 times per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) for the first six weeks and then 2-3 times per month for the duration of the position. The successful candidate must be able to travel on site visits within Oregon on short notice and, within six months of hiring, live within commutable distance to the Salem office. 

Making a Difference for Oregon. The Department of State Lands manages the lands that help fund our public schools and protects the state’s waterways and wetlands for the many benefits they provide. Our stewardship ensures vital natural and financial resources contribute to a vibrant, healthy Oregon now and forever. The DSL team makes a difference for Oregonians every day. As our Aquatic Resource Coordinator (Natural Resource Specialist 3), you will too.

The primary purpose of this position is to represent the regulatory program of the Department of State Lands. This includes issuing Removal-Fill Permits, reviewing monitoring reports for compensatory mitigation, and conducting compliance for authorized and unauthorized activities.

What’s In It for You?

• Join our team of collaborative and engaged co-workers who care about Oregon’s economy, environment, and communities. Use your skills and experience in natural resources to protect Oregon’s waterways and wetlands through the state’s Removal-Fill Law while engaging the public, government agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Gain full benefits with 95% to 99% of medical and dental insurance premiums paid by the agency for full-time employees, including mental health coverage.
• Accrue eight (8) hours of sick leave and eight (8) hours of vacation leave per month, with your vacation leave accruals increasing every five (5) years.
• Receive 11 paid holidays, one (1) floating holiday, three (3) personal business days and other medical, vision and dental benefits, including flexible spending plans.
• Automatically enrolled into the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) after six (6) months of full-time service.
• Possibly qualify for Student Loan Forgiveness Program.
• Earn the initial monthly salary range for this position starting at $5,320 – $8,141 for employees new to public service. After 6 months, you will receive a 6.95% increase with 6% going to your PERS retirement.
• Current PERS employees start at $5,690- $8,707. Please review the Classification and Compensation page for more details.
  • NOTE: Starting pay is determined by a pay equity analysis, which is partly based on the number of years of relevant experience and education.

This position will report directly to our main Salem office. This is a full-time, permanent position represented by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Working Conditions

The successful candidate will work in an office setting, however, fieldwork and travel to remote locations are essential functions of the position. Work site visits may involve walking on uneven terrain or on wet muddy ground without pathways in all types of weather. Overnight stays and/or extended work hours can be expected along with exposure to inclement weather and difficult road conditions. Visits to on-site locations may be by vehicle, watercraft, or on foot.

What You Will Be Doing

As an Aquatic Resource Coordinator, you will have the opportunity to:

• Review, coordinate, and process applications including mitigation plans; prepare complex removal-fill permits.
• Explain and interpret laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures for the public, consultants, stakeholders, legislatures, and other agency partners.
• Use your skills and experience in natural resources to aid in State jurisdictional determinations within waterways and wetlands.
• Conduct site visits and investigate complaints to ensure compliance with removal-fill laws and regulations.
• Negotiate resolutions with applicants, landowners, responsible parties and their representatives, state agencies, federal agencies, tribal agencies, and local governments.
• Conduct outreach to the public, legislators, beneficiaries, and other constituents on behalf of DSL and its programs to increase awareness, build support, and facilitate positive, continuing relationships.

For a full description of the duties and working conditions, please email Tricarico.schwartz@dsl.oregon.gov to request the position description.

Minimum Qualifications

To be considered for this position, please ensure you have one of the following combinations of education and experience:

Three (3) years of experience in aquatic resource experience. At least one year of the experience must be at a technical level or professional level performing activities in a natural resource program such as analyzing data, conducting investigations, applying pertinent laws and regulations, or coordinating and monitoring project activities.

AND

A bachelor’s degree in a natural resource field such as biology, ecology, natural resources, or environmental science, or three (3) additional years of related experience.

NOTE: A master’s degree in a natural resource field such as biology, ecology, or environmental science will substitute for up to one (1) year of the required experience.

A doctorate degree in a natural resource field such as biology, ecology, or environmental science will substitute for up to two (2) years of the required experience.

Desired Attributes

Tell us which of the following skills, experiences, and related talents you have by highlighting them in your Application materials:

• Excellent customer service, time management, and organizational skills
• Excellent written communication skills as demonstrated in application materials
• Experience interpreting and explaining environmental regulations to a wide variety of people and abilities
• Experience with local, state, federal, and tribal regulatory programs
• Experience using GPS tools in field settings as well as ESRI desktop products including ArcGIS Pro
• Experience conducting natural resource field surveys, wetland delineations and/or preparing permits for wetland, waterway or other aquatic natural resource inventories
• In-depth knowledge of ecosystem dynamics and services including experience in hydrology, geomorphology or soil science
• Experience related to compliance or enforcement of natural resource laws or regulations
• Plant identification including native and invasive species in Oregon
• Self-motivated and ability to work under strict deadlines
• Ability to work well both individually and as part of a team. This includes the ability to collaborate with others
• Experience reading or interpreting engineered drawings and natural resource data

How To Apply

Please attach a resume plus a cover letter of two (2) pages or less describing the above desired attributes you bring to this position.

Current state employees are encouraged to apply to this position as a job rotation by including written approval from their current supervisor.

The Oregon Department of State Lands is committed to seeking and sustaining a culturally, racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse working environment. The Department hires staff interested in supporting environmental justice by including communities traditionally underrepresented in public processes. We encourage members of these communities to apply, even if they do not meet 100% of the desired attributes. The Oregon Department of State Lands understands that an authentic focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace will in turn create a workforce aligned to meet the challenge of serving all Oregonians.

Additional Information

• This position may be used to fill future vacancies.
• If you need an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to participate in the application or selection process, please contact tricarico.schwartz@dsl.oregon.gov
  and please be sure to include the job requisition number.
• For more information about applying for positions with the State of Oregon via Workday, you may visit the Oregon job opportunities website at: www.oregon.gov/jobs.
• The state of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution during the application process.
• This position may be contingent upon the outcome of a driving records check.
• Eligible veterans and Oregon National Guard servicemembers (current and former) who meet the qualifications of the position will be awarded candidate preference. For further information, please see the following website: Veterans Resources, or call Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs at: 1-800-692-9666.
• After you apply, you may be asked to provide additional optional information. Please be sure to check your Workday account for pending tasks or actions under your “My Applications” section. Be sure to check both your email and Workday account for updates regarding this recruitment.
• As an employer, DSL complies with Oregon’s pay equity law. Salary offers are made with consideration of the candidate’s education and experience. For more information on pay equity, click here.
• Agency does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, applicants will be required to complete I-9 documentation and confirm authorization to work in the United States.
• For questions about the job duties or application process, please contact tricarico.schwartz@dsl.oregon.gov or call 971-304-5881 to speak to our recruitment team.