Lateral Transfer List - Environmental Specialist - Generalist
Portland
Saturday, 25 April 2026
The City of Portland is seeking Environmental Specialists - Generalists to join the team! The eligible list may be utilized to fill current and future vacancies withing the Bureau of Environmental Service and the Portland Water Bureau. The Environmental Specialist position is a lead worker, project manager, and upper-level specialist position in the area of environmental resource science, watershed planning, water quality and project management. Employees in this position use analytic skills and professional judgment to independently develop, evaluate and/or select environmental or natural resource science techniques, procedures and criteria; analyze data; design sampling and monitoring plans; assess watershed impacts and restoration actions, programs, and plans, analyze water quality data; and write regulatory reports. Some positions function as an expert on issues related to developing and implementing programs, plans and policies to comply with City, Regional, State and Federal regulations. The Environmental Specialist is responsible for directing the work of professional staff and performing and overseeing all phases of assigned projects. The eligible list may be utilized to fill current and future vacancies within the Bureau of Environmental Services and the Portland Water Bureau Current Vacancies:Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) : The Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) is hiring an Environmental Specialist to support the Environmental Information Division (EID), Monitoring Coordination & Analysis (MCA) section. This Division provides a diverse array of expertise and services to develop and deliver actionable environmental information that is integral to BES infrastructure management and the protection and restoration of watershed health. The Division functions as a technical information hub to support bureau mission and objectives, such as regulatory compliance, watershed assessment, wastewater and stormwater management, treatment plant process control, natural resource protection, property acquisition, remediation, source control, and utility design and construction. The MCA Section provides monitoring project development and management to ensure that information delivered meets intended needs. Responsibilities include monitoring plan design, coordination across teams, statistical analysis, reporting, and data management. BES is a dynamic organization that provides sewage and stormwater collection and treatment services, protects surface and ground water quality, and works for clean rivers and healthy watersheds. The Bureau’s vision is to be recognized as a trusted service provider and innovative environmental leader through a demonstrated commitment to our mission and our community. This position will reside at the BES Water Pollution Control Laboratory. What you'll get to do/ Major job Duties: This position provides project management for environmental monitoring projects. This position is responsible for planning and coordinating the work of field and laboratory staff. Specifically, this position will:Work with project managers to refine objectives and to develop environmental monitoring plans to meet them. This includes utilizing existing data and ensuring that new information will meet the goals of the project. Develop sampling and analysis plans that provide the necessary information to perform the monitoring as requested. Establish data management plans for monitoring projects so that data is stored appropriately and readily available to customers when needed. Provide data analysis of monitoring data in support of permit-related reports and other project needs. Potential Upcoming Vacancies:Portland Water Bureau. The Portland Water Bureau’s Water Quality Division, housed in the Operations Group, might have Environmental Specialist vacancies in the future. The core function of the Water Quality division is to support the bureau in providing safe drinking water and meeting all federal and state drinking water regulations. Environmental Specialists in this group are lead workers in the areas of regulatory compliance, water quality sampling, and source water management. Employees in these positions have strong technical experience in drinking water regulations, water chemistry and treatment, water quality field sampling, and data analysis. This position might interpret and analyze lab data, produce regulatory reports, schedule and coordinate field work for a team of samplers, manage various sampling programs, use the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), manage lab contracts, and collect field data and laboratory samples. Qualified candidates commonly have backgrounds in environmental science, limnology, hydrogeology, biology, chemistry and environmental statistics. This classification is represented by Professional & Technical Employees Local 17 (PTE-17). View the agreement at: . Have a question? Contact Information:Bureau of Human Resourcesinboxrecruitment@portlandoregon.gov
To Qualify
Applicants must meet each of the following qualifications per HRAR 7.01:Hold regular status in this classification. Passed probationary period. Or Hold limited-duration status in this classification. Knowledge of relevant City, state, and federal policies, laws, statutes, codes, and regulations relating to wastewater, pretreatment, and/or environmental quality and protection, and/or drinking water, along with the ability to interpret and apply them. Ability to review, organize, and direct the work of a work group; motivate and collaborate a work group. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with management, staff, representatives of other governmental agencies, the regulated public, and others encountered in the course of work. Ability to work with a multicultural workforce, promote an equitable workplace environment, and apply equitable program practices to diverse and complex City services. Although not required, you may have one or more of the following: Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, chemistry, biology, or a related field; Four to six years of progressively responsible environmental or natural resource experience; preferably focused on pretreatment and wastewater processes. Four to six years of progressively responsible experience with drinking water systems.