RRC - Natural Resources Specialist - II

RRC - Natural Resources Specialist I - II )

Organization: RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS

Primary

Location:

Texas-Austin

Work Locations: RRC Headquarters, 1701 N Congress Avenue, Austin, 78701

Job: Management

Employee Status: Regular

Schedule: Full-time Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00

Travel: Yes, 10% of the Time

State Job Code:

Salary Admin Plan: B Grade: 1618

Salary (Pay Basis): 4,150.00-4,473.00 (Monthly)

Number of Openings: 1

Overtime Status: Exempt

Job Posting Date: Feb 20, 2026, 5:11:04 PM

Closing Date: Mar 7, 2026, 5:59:00 AM

The Railroad Commission of Texas is a state agency with primary regulatory jurisdiction over the oil and natural gas industry; pipeline transport and pipeline safety; natural gas utilities; the LP-gas industry; and surface mining operations. You can find more details about us on the Railroad Commission of Texas' website here.

To support our mission to serve Texas, we have a great working environment along with outstanding benefits, including:

• Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick time, and at least 12 paid holidays per year
• Telework options for eligible positions
• Flexible work schedules
• Retirement pension with a 150% agency match – you can watch this You Tube video that describes this amazing benefit 401(k), 457(b) and Roth
• Health premiums 100% paid for full-time employees
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Wellness and Exercise Leave
• Career development programs/opportunities for advancement

For a complete list of our total compensation package, please visit our website at . To view benefits available to all State of Texas employees, visit the Employee Retirement Systems website at

Job Description

The Railroad Commission of Texas seeks a Natural Resources Specialist to work within the Applications and Permits (A&P) Section of the Surface Mining and Reclamation Division (SMRD). This position offers the opportunity to implement the Texas Coal Mining Regulations for mines in the State of Texas. The successful candidate will work under the supervision of the Director. The ideal candidate has demonstrated technical and regulatory aptitude, is friendly, professional, and enjoys advanced problem-solving.

The job title for this position will be determined by the Division's business needs and the selected applicant's qualifications.

Essential Job Duties

• Review permit application sections (new, renewals, revisions, transfers) relating to post-mine land use, geology, and soil baseline information, post-mine soil reconstruction plans, post-mine soil monitoring plans, and post-mine revegetation plans.
• Review monitoring reports (soils and revegetation) to determine whether they meet regulatory requirements for approval.
• Review bond release applications.
• Prepare detailed technical reports advancing a professional opinion regarding the adequacy of an application or monitoring report in meeting the requirements of the Texas Coal Mining Regulations and program requirements with respect to baseline, operations-plan, and reclamation-plan information for the technical areas listed below.
• Responsible for the technical evaluation of submissions in some or all of the following areas of expertise:
  • Soil and overburden data and handling plans
  • Agronomic plans for the re-establishment of soils and vegetation to support post-mine land-use plans
  • Surface-water quality and quantity data
• A working knowledge of:
  • Environmental protection practices
  • Procedures for successful revegetation of mined lands
  • Quality control of analytical data
  • Statistical methods in the assessment of natural resources data
  • Facilitate the completion of multidisciplinary application processing as project coordinator.
  All evaluation reports may be subject to being presented as evidence in administrative hearings, and the reviewer may need to provide expert oral testimony at such hearings.
• Upon request, assist field personnel in field evaluations and aid other earth science and agronomy staff with research and tasks related to permitting activities and monitoring of surface mining and reclamation operations.
• Respond effectively to inquiries and requests from the regulated industry and the public concerning all aspects of surface coal mining, reclamation, exploration permit…