Tdec-Environmental Scientist1* - 08042026-79709

State of Tennessee Job Information

Opening Date/Time 08/04/2026 12:00AM Central Time

Opening Date/Time 08/04/2026 12:00AM Central Time

Closing Date/Time 08/17/2026 11:59PM Central Time

Salary (Monthly) $4,057.00

Salary (Annually) $48,684.00

Job Type Full-Time

City, State Location Columbia, TN

Department Environment and Conservation

https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..pdf

Education and Experience:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's or higher in environmental science, physical sciences (e.g. physics, chemistry, geology, meteorology), ecology, sustainability or applied science in sustainability, life sciences (e.g. biology, microbiology, agricultural science, agronomy, health physics or biophysics), environmental health, pre-medicine, engineering or other acceptable science or natural resource related field. An acceptable, environmental, physical, or life science degree will be considered based on assignment by the specific program area.

• Possess a valid motor vehicle operator's license at the time of appointment in some positions; if position requires operating a boat, must obtain a boater's license.
• Applicants for the TDEC Environmental Scientist 1
  * in the Division of Radiological Health must successfully complete the training courses offered by the Division of Radiological Health, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, or other federal agencies.
• TDEC Environmental Scientist's 1
  * performing geologic duties the major portion of their time must: have completed the required college course work at the time of appointment to be eligible to take the licensing examination offered by Tennessee's Department of Commerce and Insurance's Board of Professional Geologists, or b.) hold and maintain a current Geologic license from the State of Tennessee during employment or hold a current Geologic license from another State that Tennessee has evaluated and granted reciprocal licensing rights;
• Some TDEC Environmental Scientist 1
  * positions assigned to function as Biologists must meet the specific educational requirements for Biologists, as follows:
  Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, including at least 36 quarter hours (or 24 semester hours) in biology, in one of the following areas: (1) biology or biological sciences, (2) botanical sciences, (3) environmental or conservation sciences, (4) zoological sciences, or (5) aquatic, terrestrial, or wetland biology or ecology or other acceptable biological science related field.

Under immediate supervision, is responsible for learning professional environmental, natural resources, sustainability, environmental assistance program, radiological health and/or similar science related program work of routine difficulty; and learns to perform related work as required. This is the entry level class in the TDEC Environmental Scientist subseries. An employee in this class may be assigned to learn a variety of environmental compliance inspection, monitoring, problem identification, corrective action and enforcement duties in an environmental regulatory or assistance division.

An employee in this class may be assigned to learn natural resource management and/or inventory in conservation or other, non-regulatory programs. This class differs from TDEC Environmental Scientist 3 in that an incumbent of the latter performs environmental program duties at the advanced working or lead level under general supervision.

• An applicant appointed to this flexibly staffed class will be reclassified to TDEC Environmental Scientist 2
  * after successful completion of a mandatory one-year probationary period; inadequate or marginal performance during the probationary period will result in automatic termination.

• Conduct inspections and/or investigations of equipment, structures, materials, and/or sites/facilities when required by a specific TDEC program area (e.g. air pollution, water resources, mineral and geologic resources, remediation, underground storage tanks, solid waste management, radiological health, natural areas, etc.) to ensure proper installation, maintenance, and/or operation and determine compliance with laws, regulations, or standards. Perform laboratory or field tests in accordance with requirements and analyze and interpret the environmental data and/or other information (e.g. monitoring records, site inspections, sampling data, etc.)
  
  using relevant methods to evaluate data trends, data quality, and usability for determining if further action is necessary.
• Adhere and enforce environmental or other federal and/or state standards, laws, rules, regulations, and/or…