Portland Harbor Superfund Specialist

Are you passionate about protecting Oregon’s environment? Apply to be our next Portland Harbor Superfund Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 4) by May 20th, 2025! This position is eligible for a hybrid remote schedule reporting to our Salem office 2-4 times per month. The work of this position is focused in the Portland area and will be managed from our Salem Office, but statewide travel may also be required.

Make a Difference for Oregon. The Department of State Lands (DSL) 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 Portland Harbor Superfund Specialist, you will too. The primary purpose of this position is to serve as the Department’s policy and technical lead and subject matter expert for (1) the high-profile Portland Harbor Superfund Site and other state and federally designated remediation and restoration sites on lands managed by the Department and (2) implementation of the Department’s Division 145 rules governing the management of state-owned waterways subject to remediation and habitat restoration activities. 

The position works closely with the Department of Justice and the Governor’s office regarding Portland Harbor Superfund Site and other remediation projects on state-owned waterways. This position is responsible for duties relevant to policy development related to and implementation of remediation and habitat restoration activities and, as needed, general management of state-owned waterways including project coordination, waterway management, technical assistance and coordination and leading remediation and habitat restoration for cleanup and restoration sites.

This is a limited duration position with the potential to become permanent once funding is secured. This position is expected to last through June 30th, 2026 and is represented by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

What’s in it for you?

• Utilize your natural resource policy and management experience and project management skills to serve the public.
• Receive 1-on-1 mentoring and support from natural resource experts.
• Join an organization with smart, driven, co-workers who care about Oregon’s economy, environment, and communities, and their co-workers.
• Gain full benefits with 95% to 99% of medical insurance premiums paid by the agency for full-time employees, including mental health and alternative care coverage.
• Accrue 8 hours of sick leave and at least 8 hours of vacation leave per month, with your vacation leave accruals increasing every 5 years.
• Receive 11 paid holidays, 1 floating holiday, 3 personal business days and other employee benefits such as optional insurances and flexible spending plans.
• Automatically enroll into the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) after 6 months of full-time service.
• Earn the initial monthly salary range for this position starting at $6,122- $9,409 for employees new to DSL; current PERS participating members start at $6,545-$10,063.

Working Conditions:

A portion of the work is in a hybrid office setting; fieldwork in remote locations will be required, and travel is an essential function of the position. Overnight stays and/or extended work hours can be expected along with exposure to inclement weather, difficult and uneven terrain, and road conditions. DSL provides agency-maintained vehicles, reimbursement for field gear, and travel expenses for authorized, on-the-job travel and fieldwork. This position is expected to work both independently in the field or with a team.

What you will be doing:

As our Portland Harbor Superfund Specialist, you will have the opportunity to:

• Represent the Department on remedial design, remedial action, and other projects relevant to the Portland Harbor Superfund Site and other remedial actions on state-owned waterways.
• Review extensive, multidisciplinary projects, plans, reports and remedial activities.
• Provide comments or testimony representing the Department’s interests and represent the agency on advisory boards or committees.
• Provide Department representation and technical assistance to the Department of Justice for Portland Harbor Superfund Site-related mediation or litigation concerning the state’s liability for remedial action in the Portland Harbor Superfund Site, including record and factual research, mapping, document preparation and review, policy analysis, and interpretation of relevant regulations.
• Coordinate, communicate and/or consult with the public, potentially responsible parties, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, in matters related to Portland Harbor remedial and restoration activities.
• Advise on mapping projects and state ownership analyses in Portland Harbor Superfund Site and the Willamette River in Multnomah County.
• Represent agency, arrange for, prepare and conduct public meetings/hearings as necessary and report on these meetings/hearings to Division staff and Department of Justice.
• Process applications for authorizations for use of state lands, including authorizations that facilitate remedial or restoration activities within the Portland Harbor Superfund Site and other hazmat sites on DSL-managed lands. Manage existing authorizations within the Portland Harbor Superfund Site and the Willamette River in Multnomah County by processing renewals, assignments, and modifications of authorizations.
• Resolving trespass issues and violations by obtaining compliance through the administrative process.
• Assist applicants through the state proprietary or regulatory processes.
• Answer questions and explain land management in response to requests and calls from the public, or other interested parties. These duties include applicant assistance, interagency coordination, and communications and outreach.
• Answer questions and explain DSL’s land management activities in response to requests and calls from the public, or other interested parties.
• Serve as the Department’s lead issuing authorizations for remedial actions on state-owned waterways, including implementation of OAR Ch 141, Div 145.
• Coordinate with the department’s Deputy Director and Proprietary Specialist to develop relevant policy and guidance for DSL’s state-owned waterways program, prepare program practices and materials, and assist other staff with matters pertaining to remediation and habitat restoration.
• Lead review and update of relevant DSL practices and procedures, authorization templates, and rules. Develop correspondence, notices, and other forms of written documentation as applicable.

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/or experience:

Four (4) years of experience in natural resource management; at least one year must be at a technical or professional level performing activities such as researching and analyzing data, conducting investigations, applying pertinent laws and regulations or coordinating and monitoring project activities;

AND

A bachelor’s degree in environmental science, fish or wildlife science, environmental policy and/or law; another related field.

OR

Three (3) additional years of related experience.

NOTE: A master’s degree in environmental or a closely related field will substitute for up to one (1) year of the required experience and a doctorate degree in environmental science or a closely related field will substitute for up to two (2) years of the required experience.

Applicants who have obtained a master’s degree or Doctorate that included work experience from an internship, work/study, thesis, or similar program may list this experience in their application to receive credit for the work experience. The master’s degree/Doctorate and applicable work experience will be considered separately, and both the education and applicable experience may count toward minimum qualifications.

DESIRED ATTRIBUTES- tell us which of the following skills, experiences, and related talents you have by highlighting them in your application materials:

• Experience interpreting and synthesizing laws, regulations, and legal and policy documents to understand and share the implications of those with agency partners, other stakeholders, and the public.
• General knowledge of the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (commonly known as “Superfund”).
• Familiarity with Oregon’s hazardous waste and hazardous materials cleanup regulations, including ORS Chapter 465 or similar laws and regulations.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team on long-term projects.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. Examples of excellent written communication skills include, but are not limited to, documents clearly written with minimal errors, proper punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and grammar.
• Experience working with user groups of public lands and a basic understanding of public lands conflicts.
• General knowledge of land use regulations, land management, real property transactions and contracting and an interest in environmental matters.
• Prior experience and ability to engage in public speaking events and meetings on potentially controversial topics.

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.

How to apply:

• Complete the following required steps:
  • Fill out the application or attach a resume. Please contact the recruiter if you have any questions about how to fill out the experience fields or to attach a document. Your submitted experience fields or attached resume must include dates (MM/YYYY) for each employer, and any relevant volunteer and/or internship experience.
  • Attach a cover letter. Your cover letter should clearly demonstrate how your experience and training relates to the qualities that you have under the “Desired Attributes” section above.
    • Your cover letter must be limited to no more than two (2) pages.
    • Please address your cover letter to Josh Mulhollem, Waterways Stewardship Manager.
    • Generic cover letters that do not address the qualities that you have under the “Desired Attributes” section may receive lower scores than those that addressed the desired qualities.
    • You must upload your cover letter in the ‘Resume/Cover Letter’ section of the application.
  • Complete questionnaire. Answer the checkbox-style questions before submitting your application. If you are applying as an existing state employee for the Job Rotation option, please upload permission from your current supervisor.
• After you submit your application, please respond to the public records request authorization and gender identity questionnaire. This screen will come after you submit and will complete the process. If you are a current State of Oregon employee, the tasks will come to your Workday inbox.
• If you are a veteran, you may receive preference. The task to upload your documents will be available after you submit your application. For privacy reasons, please do not attach your military service document(s) to your application or combine it with any other required document attachments.

To learn more about our work, connect with us on Instagram: @oregonstatelands and LinkedIn.

Additional Information:

• This recruitment may be used to fill future positions.
• This position may be contingent upon the outcome of a driving records check.
• For more information about applying for positions with the State of Oregon via Workday, visit the Oregon job opportunities website.
• DSL complies with Oregon’s pay equity law. Salary offers are made with consideration of the candidate’s education and experience.
• For questions, assistance, or 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.