Area Director - Bureau of Regional and Labratory Services

Careers at SCDES:
Where Passion Meets Preservation

Do you love South Carolina and protecting the environment?

Come join our team at SCDES, put your passion to work with us!

We are dedicated to protecting the state of South Carolina and we would love to have you as a member of our team!

The Area Director provides strategic leadership and daily oversight for the SCDES Low country (Beaufort) Office. In this role, you will guide a multidisciplinary team responsible for air, land, and water program activities. You will identify and address complex, multi-media environmental issues and coordinate with partners the local, state, and federal levels to ensure consistent, collaborative, and effective Agency action.

This position serves as a regional operations leader, a technical resource for environmental program development, and a key public-facing representative for SCDES. Strong communication skills, sound judgment, and the ability to manage diverse priorities are essential. The Director ensures staff are supported, trained, and aligned with Agency goals while promoting strong customer service, regulatory consistency, and responsive environmental protection throughout the region.

By leading this team, you play a vital role in protecting South Carolina’s environment and ensuring healthy, sustainable communities for generations to come.

• Lead, direct, and coordinate daily activities of Beaufort regional staff across air, land, and water program areas. Oversee workload assignments, shift resources when necessary, and ensure program commitments and goals are consistently met.
• Ensure staff receive appropriate training, guidance, and support to carry out their responsibilities effectively.

• Provide technical assistance and guidance to city, county, state, and federal officials; industry leaders; community groups, and the public on environmental issues of broad and varied scope.
• Represent SCDES at community meetings, educational events, and civic or professional gatherings. Serve as a key point of contact for environmental inquiries and assist in coordinating agency responses.

• Provide expertise and input to SCDES programs on complex environmental concerns, including processes, strategy development, planning initiatives, policy matters, and special studies.

• Conduct or supervise investigations across all SCDES program areas.
• Support and help maintain regional emergency operations readiness to ensure timely and effective response capabilities.

• Oversee administrative duties such as activity reporting, leave management, performance evaluations, travel coordination, vehicle utilization, procurement card oversight, requisitions, and supply/equipment needs.
• Maintain compliance with SCDES policies and procedures across regional operations.

• Perform additional duties as required to support Agency operations and regional environmental protection.

As a state employee, you’ll enjoy:

• Job Stability & Purposeful Work
  :
  Make an impact on your community as you contribute to protecting SC'S environment
• Great Benefits:Including paid holidays, 30 total days of leave per year, insurance options for you and your family and retirement benefit choices.
• Career Growth:Enhance your skillset and expand your impact with continuous learning and professional development opportunities.
• Work-Life Balance: A career that lets you enjoy South Carolina, inside and outsideof your job.

• A master's degree in the natural or physical sciences, public health or related…