Environmental Scientist

Job : 36262
Agency: Agriculture & Natural Resources
Location: Pierre, SD
Salary: $28.17 per hour

The mission of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) is to protect and preserve South Dakota's agriculture, environment, and natural resources. The Environmental Scientist in the Livestock Services Program works to safeguard water quality by implementing permitting for concentrated animal feeding operations.

As an Environmental Scientist, you will play an important role in the protection of South Dakota's water quality through the implementation of the state's permitting of concentrated animal feeding operations.

Responsibilities include:

• Reviewing submitted information and other available data to determine if process wastewater containment structures and nutrient management plan application sites are located over shallow aquifers.
• Providing technical assistance on the General Water Pollution Control Permit for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations shallow aquifer requirements.
• Reviewing monitoring well sampling results from permitted operations and recommending corrective actions.
• Administering program activities for operations with a Ground Water Discharge Permit.

The state of South Dakota offers a generous health benefits package which includes options for health, vision, and dental insurance plus one of the strongest retirement systems in the nation. Employees receive paid vacation leave, sick leave, and family leave. The role offers paid holidays, vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and retirement benefits, and is a member of Class A retirement.

Ideal Candidate Will Have:

• Bachelor's degree in geology or a related environmental or physical science field.

Knowledge of:

• The agronomic application of manure and process wastewater for fertilizer value.
• Hydrology and hydrogeology.
• Geological principles and practices.
• The principles of statistical analysis.
• Water pollutants and their effects.
• The potential environmental effects of improper land application of manure and process wastewater to shallow aquifers.
• The principles of effective human relations and dealing with the public.
• The methods and procedures of scientific and field inspections.
• Technical letter and report writing.

Skill to:

• Use scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
• Effectively communicate verbally and in writing.
• Work with others to reconcile differences.
• Effectively use Microsoft Office software.
• Effectively use Geographic Information Systems.

Ability to:

• Comprehend, interpret, and implement environmental laws.
• Communicate effectively and defend a position or decision.
• Compile and analyze data and information to solve scientific and technical problems.
• Develop creative ways to effectively solve a problem.
• Use GIS to organize and analyze data.
• Organize and prioritize tasks.
• Work on your own and as part of a team.

Veterans' Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.
An Equal Opportunity Employer.