Initial Posting Date:04/16/2024

Application Deadline:04/30/2024

Agency:Department of Environmental Quality

Salary Range:$4,752 - $7,292

Position Type:Employee

Position Title:

Senior Research Analyst – Environmental Justice (Research Analyst 3)

Job Description:

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality strives to build and sustain an inclusive environment that embraces and values diversity. Employees at all levels of the agency work together to foster fairness, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, veteran, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or physical or mental disability. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may not meet every one of our listed preferred qualifications. Lived experience may count towards the preferred qualification. If you are excited about this position, we encourage you to apply. If you are unsure as to whether or not you meet the qualifications of this position, please contact us to discuss your application.

Are you passionate about preserving, enhancing, and protecting Oregon’s environment? If so, please consider a career with the State of Oregon at the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). At DEQ, employees have the opportunity to work with a dynamic and supportive team of mission-focused individuals tasked with maintaining, restoring, and enhancing the quality of Oregon’s air, land, and water. Here is a video about DEQ: https://youtu.be/E-Cs6M9AAlU

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a full-time opportunity for a Senior Research Analyst – Environmental Justice (Research Analyst 3) in Portland, Oregon.

Join our innovative team and contribute to the advancement of our agency's mission to protect and enhance Oregon's environmental quality. We recognize that not all individuals and communities are equally protected from environmental pollution. To address this issue, the State of Oregon established the Environmental Justice Council with the mission to ensure equal protection from environmental and health risks, fair treatment, and meaningful involvement in decision making of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, immigration status, income, or other identities with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies that affect the environment in which people live, work, learn, and practice spirituality and culture.

The Environmental Justice Council, in consultation with communities, research institutions, and state agencies, is charged with developing an environmental justice mapping tool. This position serves as DEQ’s lead project manager for this mapping tool. The mapping tool will assists the public and government agencies in understanding disparate environmental burdens that currently exist and that may develop in the future. This geospatial analysis includes an understanding of the current socio-economic makeup of communities, the health conditions that exist within those communities, and the air, land, and water pollution impacts that the communities face now and in the future. In developing this mapping tool, the Council is directed to conduct an inclusive community engagement process to receive input from communities across this state and to consult with natural resource agencies.

This position is within the Office of Equity, which plans and implements policies and programs to support DEQ’s efforts to become an anti-racist organization. The support is organized through Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Environmental Justice pathways. The Office aims to improve equitable outcomes for marginalized groups within DEQ and across Oregon’s communities. The Office contributes to this goal by leading and facilitating improvements in DEQ’s workforce diversity and retention of underrepresented populations, and advancing equitable statewide policies, procedures, and practices. These improvements are embodied through managing DEQ’s Governor-required DEI and strategic plans; working with DEI and EJ practitioners across all DEQ programs; providing education and information; and collaborating with partners and interested parties across the State enterprise, within DEQ, and throughout Oregon’s diverse communities.

Click here to view a map of all of the DEQ offices.

What you will do!

You will lead project management activities to develop and maintain Oregon’s environmental justice mapping tool. You will work closely with the Environmental Justice Council, DEQ (including the technical team of DEQ’s Environmental Justice Work Group), Oregon Health Authority, Department of Administrative Services, Portland State University (Population Research Center), and Oregon State University (Institute for Natural Resources). You will coordinate and lead DEQ’s data acquisition, integration, summarization, and visualization efforts and related activities within a multi-entity team working to develop the technical elements outlined in HB 4077. In addition, you will assist DEQ in the technical aspects of integrating environmental justice into specific programs.

What’s in it for you!

The opportunity to work in a productive and creative environment where no two days are ever the same! We offer a competitive benefits package that offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans for the employee and their qualified family members, as well as paid sick leave, vacation leave, personal leave, and 11 paid holidays a year. In addition, we offer membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and you have the opportunity to potentially receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). If you are passionate about Oregon's environment, apply today!

This is a full-time, AFSCME represented position.

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies.

What are we looking for?

Minimum Qualifications: 4 years of research experience using computerized applications to independently gather, compile, and analyze data, and prepare narrative or statistical reports. A Bachelor’s degree in any discipline that included 6 quarter units in statistics or quantitative analysis methods and procedures may substitute for 3 of the required years of experience.

Candidates who are most competitive will also reflect the following:

• Demonstrated understanding of environmental justice and the historical impacts for marginalized and underrepresented communities; ability to take personal responsibility for increasing their knowledge of environmental justice.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing policies and programs that promote equity and reduce disparities.
• Skills in cultural competency; commitment to ongoing development on unconscious bias, anti-racism, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Demonstrated project management experience, including development, implementation, and evaluation; experience developing program performance metrics.
• Proficiency with the following computer applications and OS platforms: Microsoft Office Suite, analytic applications (ex: R, SAS, and/or SPSS), GIS software (ex: ArcGIS), database software (ex: Access and SQL-Server), and data visualization software (ex: R, Tableau, and Microsoft PowerBl); knowledge of specialized computer data querying, structure, and scripting language (ex: SQL and XML).
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to provide clear, concise, and compelling communication of policy and technical information related to environmental impact analysis, environmental justice, and community public health tailored to the needs of diverse audiences.
• Experience writing and presenting clear and concise scientific reports that include qualitative and quantitative analyses, recommendations, and conclusions to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated experience building and fostering relationships with a diverse group of partners including colleagues, interested parties, communities, organizations, and businesses; skill in conflict resolution, negotiation, and collaboration.

Working Conditions:

DEQ believes in a diverse and inclusive work environment. All employees are expected to contribute to a work environment that collectively values and benefits from respecting its diversity and promotes a culture of inclusiveness.

This position will be based out of the DEQ Headquarters office in Portland, however, the successful candidate may be eligible for hybrid work. The logistics of hybrid work will need to be worked out with the Hiring Manager prior to your hire and may be changed at any time given specific job duties and business needs. DEQ will provide necessary hardware (laptop, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and cell phone) for an employee to successfully work from home. At DEQ sites, you will have access to a workspace, however, it may be shared with other employees.

This position requires occasional travel in-state and out-of-state for meetings, conference, trainings, public hearings, workshops, and workgroups, some of which may include evening work, weekend work, and/or overnight stays. This position may be required to lift up to 25lbs.

How to Apply: (complete the application in full)

• External Applicants Click on the “Apply” button and submit your application. Click this link for the External Candidate job aid, and view this video for additional information.
• Internal Applicants (current State of Oregon employees): Apply through your employee Workday account.  View this knowledge article for assistance.

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Please Note: In addition to your related work experience and education, DEQ will use the desired attributes and minimum qualifications above, under the “What are we looking for?” section to determine whom to interview. Please make sure your attributes and minimum qualifications are clearly demonstrated in your application material.

Veterans Information:

DEQ provides veterans’ preference points to all eligible veterans. For more information on veterans’ preference, please visit Veterans Resources, or call the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs at: 1-800-692-9666. For privacy reasons, please do not attach veterans’ preference documents when initially applying. You will be asked to submit those at a later time.

Pay Equity:

As an employer, the State of Oregon complies with HB 2005, the Pay Equity Bill. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected class in the payment of wages, and we do not screen applicants on the basis of their current or past compensation. Please visit http://www.oregon.gov/das/hr/pages/equity.aspx for more information. Please note: the salary listed is the non-PERS qualifying salary range. If the successful candidate is PERS qualifying, the salary range will reflect an additional 6.95% (6% goes to PERS and .95% covers payroll taxes). Please review the Classification and Compensation page for more details.

Work Authorization:

DEQ does not offer visa sponsorships. On the first day of employment, all hires will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States. In addition, hires will have three business days from their first day of employment to present documents that establish employment authorization and identity. DEQ is an E-Verify employer and will use E-Verify to confirm that hires are authorized to work in the United States.

Questions/Need Help?

If you have questions about the recruitment or need assistance to participate in the application process, please contact Grecia Lora Motz, Human Resources Analyst, at grecia.loramotz@deq.oregon.gov or (503) 863-0621. TTY users: please use the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.