Environmental Attorney

Read the overview of this opportunity to understand what skills, including and relevant soft skills and software package proficiencies, are required.

Job Posting Title

Environmental Attorney

Agency

292 DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Supervisory Organization

Environmental Quality Legal

Job Type

Full time

Compensation

Hiring Rates : Level I- $66,892.80

Level I- $66,892.80

Level II $74,651.20

Level III $78,395.20

This position is located in the Office of the Executive Director / Legal Services Division in the Land Protection Section in Oklahoma City.

Basic Purpose

Environmental Attorneys at the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) represent and assist DEQ staff with their mission to protect and improve public health and the environment.

This position would work primarily with DEQ staff in the Land Protection Division (LPD), which implements a number of environmental programs authorized under state or federal law, including the state’s Voluntary Cleanup Program, Hazardous Waste Management Program, Solid Waste Management Program, and others.

LPD Environmental Attorneys work under the direction of the LPD Supervising Attorney and DEQ’s General Counsel.

Application Requirements

All applicants must upload a resume, transcript, and a cover letter to be considered for this position. All applicants must be able to pass a background check and must be able to legally work within the United States.

DEQ does not allow sponsorships.

Typical Functions

• Draft notices of violation, consent orders, administrative compliance orders, and other enforcement documents and / or review these documents to ensure they are effective, legally sufficient, and as error-free as possible.
• Represent the agency in enforcement matters by participating in negotiations, hearings, and appeals.
• Provide legal research and advice to agency staff in relation to their program requirements, and assist agency staff in resolving complaints and / or issuing permits in a timely manner.
• Review permits and review permit-associated administrative records relating to the issuance or denial of permits or permit modifications for legal sufficiency, compliance with state and federal law, and compliance with requirements of EPA delegation / primacy agreements.
• Use and maintain appropriate tracking systems, files, records, and databases used by attorneys at DEQ.
• Assist the General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, and LPD Supervising Attorney with special tasks or initiatives from DEQ’s Executive Director.

Travel Requirements

Must be able to travel to work on weekdays and work in an office environment during business hours; must also be able to telework on occasion.

Must be able to represent the agency in litigation within the State of Oklahoma.

Education and Experience

Environmental Attorney I :

• Bachelor’s Degree;
• Juris Doctorate Degree from ABA-accredited law school;
• Active member of the Oklahoma Bar Association in good standing, or expect passing MBE bar score within 60 days from job posting.

Environmental Attorney II :

• All education and experience required for Environmental Attorney I;
• Two (2) years experience in the practice of law.

Environmental Attorney III :

• All education and experience required for Environmental Attorney I;
• Five (5) years experience in the practice of law.

Physical Requirements

Must be able to work in an office environment during business hours; must be capable of attending and participating in public meetings and / or hearings in a variety of settings.

Additional Considerations / Preference (These cannot eliminate a candidate)

Candidates with specialized training and / or experience in administrative law, environmental legal issues including Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), otherwise known as Superfund, in solid waste and / or radiation permitting and enforcement, or candidates with environmental technical experience, training, or education.

Benefits

• Generous leave including 15 days of vacation, 15 days of sick leave, and 11 paid holidays annually.
• A comprehensive Benefit Package with a generous benefit allowance to offset the cost of insurance premiums for employees and their eligible dependents.

Not all applicants will receive an interview. If you are selected to be interviewed, you will be notified by email.

Equal Opportunity Employment

The State of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of genetic information, race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability.

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