Technical Environmental Specialist
Date Posted: Aug 30, 2025
Requisition ID: 464736
Location:
Indianapolis, IN, US, 46204
Work for Indiana
Begin a fulfilling career with the State of Indiana by joining one of the largest employers in the state, offering a range of opportunities across 60+ agencies. At the state, you'll find competitive compensation, a robust benefits package and a commitment to work-life balance. Most importantly, you'll have the chance to make a real and measurable impact on the lives of Hoosiers across Indiana.
About the Indiana Department of Environmental Management:
Our mission is to implement federal and state regulations to protect human health and the environment while allowing the environmentally sound operations of industrial, agricultural, commercial, and governmental activities vital to a prosperous economy. We issue air, water, and solid and hazardous waste permits that restrict discharges to environmentally safe levels. Staff members inspect and monitor regulated entities; provide compliance and technical assistance; monitor and assess air, land, and water quality; use enforcement actions as necessary to ensure compliance; and respond to incidents involving spills to soil or waters of the state.
Role Overview:
This Technical Environmental Specialist is assigned to the Industrial NPDES Permits Section, Office of Water Quality, Indiana Department of Environmental Management. However, work duties may extend to all areas of the Permits Branch or Office of Water Quality, as needed. This E7's primary duties include: serving as a technical expert and resource in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits; drafting the most difficult NPDES permits; reviewing and processing CWA Section 316(a) and (b) demonstrations; drafting and reviewing Wasteload Allocation (WLA) reports; and providing peer review of permits and other work products within the Industrial NPDES Permits Section and more broadly the Permits Branch, as necessary. The E7 is expected to provide technical, regulatory, and policy input to the Industrial NPDES Permits Section and may work across the Branch and OWQ on wide-ranging and technically challenging NPDES, water quality modeling assignments, and special project work, as needed, in order to keep the functions of the Branch operating as efficiently as possible. This E7 coordinates with other IDEM Offices and sections, and other State and Federal agencies, to represent the Industrial Section's interests and resources, as well as to provide training and technical resources to other Section staff by acting as a mentor and providing training to less experienced staff. Assignments are both individual and collaborative, and multiple time-sensitive and highly complex assignments must be managed simultaneously, often with little direct supervision. These activities support the NPDES program and the OWQ as part of the Office's overall effort to protect water quality as well as human health and the environment.
Salary Statement:
The salary for this position traditionally starts at $67,314.00 but may be commensurate with education or work experience.
Essential Duties/Responsibilities:
Serve as technical expert and liaison in NPDES permit-related matters to permittees, IDEM, other State agencies, EPA, and the public
Review NPDES permit applications and associated materials, including CWA 316(a) and (b) submittals, variance requests, and antidegradation demonstrations, to draft industrial-@type NPDES Permits
Schedule and lead internal and external meetings related pending NPDES permits or related submittals.
Provide and assist section staff with response to comments from applicants, the general public, and EPA, as well as assist in the legal defense of permit actions or agency decisions under litigation
Conduct and review Wasteload Allocation Analyses (WLAs), Reasonable Potential To Exceed (RPE) examinations, and other water quality modeling activities
Provide review of staff work products, develop and recommend improvements to training materials, procedures, and policies, lead training sessions, and provide mentoring on NPDES and water quality modeling
Represent the Branch in various internal and external workgroups
Act as Acting Section Chief when the Section Chief is out of office for extended periods
Shall perform other duties as assigned
Job Requirements:
Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field of Science or Engineering.
Extensive knowledge of the body of rules, principles, concepts, and methodology relevant to the NPDES Permit Program. This knowledge typically must be gained through job experience, independent work assignments, and/or be supplemented through extended graduate study or experience, which has provided skills to carrying out assignments, operations, and procedures that are significantly difficult and complex.
Excellent communication skills, both orally and in writing, especially on high level technical issues.
Extensive knowledge of the office's structure and operations; extensive subject-matter expertise and job-specific knowledge of the theories, practices, principles, policies, standards, practices, and methods used in one of the areas listed in "Duties" above.
Extensive knowledge of and the ability to research, interpret and apply a wide variety of Federal and State laws and regulations
In-depth working knowledge of common wastewater treatment processes
An ability to draft new rule language, standard operating procedures and non-rule policies
Ability to lead projects and workgroups with little direct supervision
An ability to draft and review any NPDES permit
Experience with and expert level understanding of water quality modeling
An ability to work with stakeholders such as: wastewater treatment plant operators, consultants, environmental activists, elected officials, other State agencies, federal, state and local officials and attorneys on NPDES permits, rules, policy and procedure issues.
An ability to provide technical support and assistance to Branch staff
An ability to manage several projects simultaneously with little supervision
Demonstrated ability to work independently or as a team member
Benefits of Employment with the State of Indiana:
The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefit package for full-time employees which includes:
Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans
Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards
Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution
Deferred compensation 457(b) account (similar to 401(k) plan) with employer match
Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options
A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to:
150 hours of paid New Parent Leave and up to eight weeks of paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothers
Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave
Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off
12 paid holidays, 14 on election years
Education Reimbursement Program
Group life insurance
Referral Bonus program
Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits
Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
Free Parking for most positions
Free LinkedIn Learning access
Equal Employment Opportunity:
The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, selecting, developing, and promoting employees based on individual ability and job performance. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to complete the application and interview process as well as perform the essential functions of a role. If you require reasonable accommodations to complete this application, you can request assistance by contacting the Indiana State Personnel Department at jobs@spd.IN.gov.
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