Geologist - Petroleum Scientist , or ; Permitting & Compliance

Office of Permitting & Compliance - Geology

The Office of Permitting and Compliance (OPC) oversees all permitting and regulatory functions within the Department, ensuring clarity, consistency, and regulatory integrity. By streamlining processes, accelerating permitting timelines and enhancing data-driven decision making, the Office ensures compliance with environmental standards while supporting responsible economic development.

OPC centralizes all permitting and compliance functions, aligning engineering, geology, ecology, design, and compliance divisions into a single workflow. Its structure includes integrity and production audits, UIC and storage regulation, groundwater protection, coastal permits and mitigation, and reservoir and legacy site management.

The Petroleum Scientist 1, 2, or 3 performs advanced professional-level work in support of program, divisional, and departmental initiatives related to the preservation and management of the state's groundwater resources. This position is responsible for overseeing, coordinating, and actively participating in environmental activities, including inspections, monitoring, data collection and analysis, research, and technical evaluations. The incumbent provides scientific and technical expertise to support regulatory compliance, resource management, and informed decision making on matters affecting groundwater quality and protection.

A bachelor's degree in a geoscience field or engineering.

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

This Petroleum Scientist 1, 2, or 3 position is located within the Geology Division of the Office Permitting & Compliance and is domiciled in Baton Rouge, LA. The incumbent in this position reports to the Petroleum Scientist Manager
1. Primary responsibilities are focused more specifically on subsurface phenomena requiring a high degree of initiative, independent analysis, and decision making. Possession of a thorough knowledge of subsurface geology, geomechanics, and mapping techniques is required.

Duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Prepares rules and regulations pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act for application of the Appointing Authority's duties and responsibilities.
• Attends and participates in professional meetings, pre-hearing conferences, public hearings, regulatory hearings, etc. to provide expert testimony on geology related matters.
• Reviews complex geological and technical data submitted at meetings which may be controversial in the geological interpretation.
• Maintains knowledge of groundwater resources, water well installation, well plugging and abandonment, and driller licensing programs through regulatory review and professional training.
• Obtains, assembles, correlates, and interprets appropriate geological, hydrogeological, and engineering data such as well logs, base maps, directional surveys, core analyses, etc. to conduct thorough and comprehensive evaluations of all aspects of geology related matters.
• Correlates geophysical logs for the preparation of various surface and subsurface structure maps, fault plane maps, isopach maps or cross-sections used in conducting reservoir, well and field evaluations.
• Oversees review of water well location and construction data and other technical reports submitted by water users and drillers to document compliance.
• Disseminates geological, environmental and technical information - both orally and in writing - to the general public, industry representatives, federal, and state agencies, etc. on various geological matters.
• Provides guidance to water well owners, water well drillers, agency personnel and other stakeholders on proper procedures for water well notification and reporting groundwater use data.
• Reviews results of computer model predictions for the movement of groundwater and contaminants.
• May perform other duties as assigned.

• Appointment Type: Probational
• Career Progression: This position does participate in a Career Progression Group.
• Work Schedule: Work hours are flexible.
• Compensation: Salary varies by title and qualification. Premium pay of up to $2.00 per hour is available for licensed employees. Special Entrance Rate (SER) ranges apply.
• Salary Ranges:
  • Petroleum Scientist 1: $57,512-$90,022 annually.
  • Petroleum Scientist 2: $63,544-$103,064 annually.
  • Petroleum Scientist 3: $70,220.80-$117,988 annually.
  • Petroleum Scientist 1 (Petroleum Engineering degree): $60,008-$90,022 annually.
  • Petroleum Scientist 2 (Petroleum Engineering degree): $68,702.40-$103,064 annually.
  • Petroleum Scientist 3 (Petroleum Engineering degree): $78,665.60-$117,998 annually.

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

To apply for this vacancy, click on the "Apply" link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their…