Assistant Engineer (Environmental) / Engineer Trainee - NY HELPS

Duties Description This position is located in DEC’s Avon office, in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region of New York State. You’ll work in a close-knit office with other engineers, geologists and environmental specialists and other programs including the Divisions of Water, Materials Management, and Law Enforcement. You will also have the opportunity to interact with other DEC staff who are passionate about conservation. The work is varied and unique: you’ll experience a mix of office and field work; have the opportunity to travel for conferences and trainings throughout the state; and much more. The Region 8 Division of Environmental Remediation Spill Response Assistant Engineer will participate in all aspects of Spill Prevention, Response and Remediation within our eleven counties.

Spill Response:

• Respond to petroleum and chemical spills and other environmental emergencies in a manner consistent with agency policies & procedures during working hours.

• Part of after-hours (nights, weekends and holidays) on-call rotation for receiving spill calls and responding to spill calls as needed/as directed.

• Use your knowledge of engineering to manage investigation and remediation of assigned spill sites including report review and approvals, oversight of fieldwork by consultants and contractors, citizen outreach, preparation of technical reports and other activities in accordance with the Division’s Remedial Programs.

• Retain and direct state-hired contractors for both emergency response and containment of spills, and for investigation and long-term remediation at spill sites.

• Prepare investigative summary reports (ISR) for cost recovery purposes for incidents where a state-hired contractor is utilized.

• Review payment packages submitted to the Department by state-hired contractors to ensure billable charges for time and equipment are accurate and appropriate for the work performed.

• Coordinate spill response activities with outside agencies and other organizational units and maintain working relations with organizations and individuals.

• Review proposals, site assessments, compliance reports; develop investigation/remediation plans; maintain accurate records and inspection reports. Utilize engineering skills to evaluate and assess the performance of remedial systems.

• Work with DEC legal staff/law enforcement re: consent orders and violations.
• Prepare and/or participate at public meetings or hearings and respond to requests from the public per Department policies.

• Must possess good organizational, communication and writing skills, have competent computer skills in MS Office including but not limited to Word, Excel & PowerPoint and have functional knowledge of GIS mapping software use and applications.

• Must be able to navigate difficult terrain-up and down road embankments, stream banks, ladders into secondary containment, etc. and work outside in inclement weather.

• Occasional long-term mutual aide to other parts of the state for response.

• Attend various training opportunities related to spill response, site cleanup/remediation, and bulk storage. Attend various health and safety related training.
Occasional overnight travel for training.

• The removal of covers from manholes, drop inlets, catch basins may be necessary for investigation and product recovery purposes. Tank top sump covers may also need to be removed. Covers may weigh up to or exceed 50 pounds.

Bulk Storage:

• Become proficient with NYS petroleum and chemical bulk storage regulations, and the Federal Underground Storage Tank regulations.

• Conduct comprehensive inspections of facilities for compliance with the NYS Petroleum Bulk Storage (PBS) and Chemical Bulk Storage (CBS) regulations and the Federal Underground Storage Tank Regulations.

• Generate inspection reports and complete Notice of Violations (NOV's) as necessary.

• Track compliance submissions for past inspections required under NOV's.

• Enforce PBS and CBS regulations and Article 17 of the NYS Environmental Conservation Law.

• Review applications/modification forms for completeness and accuracy.

• Use your knowledge of engineering when assessing tank closure reports, facility spill prevention reports, and facility response plans.

• Data entry and processing registrations.

• Inspect tank installations and tank removals.

• Interacting with and educating the regulated community, property owners, the public and governmental agencies.

• Work with DEC legal staff/law enforcement re: consent orders and violations.

*** This position requires passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam within no later than 2 years of start date.

Minimum Qualifications This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).

For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply.

At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.

Reassignment - Currently in the title and an employee of DEC
or

Reinstatement Eligible - Previously held the title on a permanent competitive basis.
or

Transfer Eligible - One year of permanent competitive service in a title designated as appropriate for transfer in accordance with Section 70.1 of Civil Service Law.

For eligibility under 70.4 transfer or 55b/c, employees must meet the minimum qualifications below. Please note that if applying under the 55b/c, candidates must include with their resume or application, a copy of the letter from Civil Service which indicates approval for the 55b/c program.

Minimum Qualifications for appointment to Engineer Trainee, NS:

A bachelor's degree or higher in engineering or engineering technology as listed below;

Qualifying degrees: Aeronautical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering Technology, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Civil Engineering Technology, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Engineering Technology, Environmental Design Engineering, Environmental Resources Engineering, Environmental Systems Engineering, Forest Engineering, Geological Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Paper Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Plastics Engineering, Sanitary Engineering, Soil and Water Resources Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, or Engineering Science with a recognized concentration in any of the above listed engineering degrees.

OR proof of passing the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering Examination (FE) AND one year of full-time engineering experience as listed below.

Qualifying experience: One year of full-time experience in sanitary, public health or environmental engineering.

NOTE: Individuals appointed as an Engineer Trainee are required to complete a minimum of one year of successful performance as an Engineer Trainee and pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. If you obtain your FE by the end of the first year, you will be advanced to the appropriate appoint-level-changed (PR-50) Grade 20 Assistant Engineer title. If you do not obtain your FE by the end of the second year of the traineeship, you will be terminated from your position.

Minimum Qualifications for appointment to Assistant Engineer (Environmental), SG-20:

Proof of passing the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Fundamentals of Engineering Examination (FE) AND a bachelor's degree or higher as listed below;

Qualifying degrees: Aeronautical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering Technology, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Civil Engineering Technology, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Engineering Technology, Environmental Design Engineering, Environmental Resources Engineering, Environmental Systems Engineering, Forest Engineering, Geological Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Paper Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Plastics Engineering, Sanitary Engineering, Soil and Water Resources Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, or Engineering Science with a recognized concentration in any of the above listed engineering degrees.

OR Proof of passing the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Fundamentals of Engineering Examination (FE) AND one year of full-time qualifying engineering experience as listed below:

Qualifying experience: One year of full-time experience in sanitary, public health or environmental engineering.