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Environmental Specialist II

Virginia Department of Transportation
Ruckersville, VA
Assist in planning, organizing, managing, and coordinating program activities related to the proper identification, evaluation, and mitigation of hazardous materials and related issues. Ensure and, or provide the necessary tools and assistance to the Hazardous Materials Region's transportation planning, construction and maintenance programs to ensure compliance with applicable solid and hazardous material, waste and substance laws and regulations. Ensure liabilities potentially incurred by VDOT are minimized through appropriate engineering feasibility, cost-benefit, and, or risk management analyses and decision making. To provide leadership, environmental expertise and guidance for assigned area(s) of responsibility. Plan, organize and coordinate program responsibilities to include assisting with assessment, training and compliance with state and federal rules and regulations governing assigned programs. Provide analysis to ensure liabilities potentially incurred by VDOT are minimized through engineering feasibility, cost-benefit, and risk management analyses and decision-making. Communicate policies and procedures related to program areas and coordinate with applicable parties. Provide guidance, training, direction and assistance to internal and external customers.

How you will contribute:
  • Communication: Represent VDOT in interactions with public, federal, state and local agencies to fulfill program commitments. Attend public hearings, citizen informational meetings, field inspections, citizen informational meetings and provide technical guidance to districts, as needed. Clearly communicate regulations related to assigned program area(s), policies, and science. Provide expert testimony and assistance to the attorney general related to litigation of transportation projects. Prepare technical briefings and position papers on complex, sensitive issues and provide expert advice on assigned program area designs that may have significant implications.
  • Consultant Coordination: Plan and develop specifications, special provisions, and, or contracts for completion of cost effective abatement or remediation strategies. Provide consultant management, using consultant resources when needed and maintaining fiscal accountability for consultant service delivery. Provide oversight of consultant activities, review consultant reports and provide comments and recommended revisions, and process invoices in conjunction with CO Environmental Contracting Office.
  • Hazmat Expertise: Serve as regional technical expert for hazardous material studies. Communicate information and point of view in writing, graphically and, or orally in a manner that is useful and understandable to intended audience.
  • Hazmat Program Guidance: Provide support for hazardous material issues that are associated with maintenance and equipment facilities and maintenance operations. Support Environmental Compliance Assessment and Assistance Program. Provide feedback as needed.
  • Program Assessment and Guidance: Provide guidance, support, and assistance for assigned program area(s) and communicate with appropriate stakeholders. Determine process improvements and policy changes or impacts, update the appropriate documentation and communicate changes. Monitor compliance to determine areas of improvement needed.
  • Program Oversight: Provide daily hazmat guidance, consultation, and assistance during project plan development and construction. Ensure project-related issues are identified and hazardous material concerns for right of way properties are addressed prior to project advertisement. Initiate studies of project corridors and specific right of way parcels and provide feedback during project development. Ensure proper considerations are made during project development for mitigating hazmat-related problems or issues. Develop and submit project specific special provisions and, or copied notes for inclusion in contract documents. Provide comments on Environmental Plan submissions for lead based paint projects and technical support to field staff. Provide coordination of asbestos inspections for right of way structures and review inspection reports for content.
  • Programmatic Goals: Assist in development of guidance to support districts across the agency. Partner with local resources to determine best protocols and programs to utilize and interface with additional subject-matter experts as needed.
  • Training and Technical Expertise: Serve as technical expert for assigned program area(s). Prepare and conduct periodic training. Communicate information and updates to policies and procedures to all applicable stakeholders in a timely manner.
  • Training: Participate in program planning, training and technology transfer activities. Participate, plan and develop training for assigned programs, including providing technical guidance and training. Use engineering knowledge, project management training, Value Engineering and other training to recommend solution-oriented ideas to improve program processes. Participate in program planning related to workload, budget and research opportunities.

What will make you successful:
  • Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing to include preparing and delivering presentations conveying technical reports on construction projects and environmental impacts to elected officials, agency heads and executives.
  • Ability to coordinate complex projects with federal, state, local agencies and general public.
  • Ability to demonstrate proper use of technical, legal and scientific principles and practices.
  • Ability to effectively coordinate consultant activities and manage contracts.
  • Ability to effectively negotiate solutions to environmental obstacles.
  • Ability to interpret and apply state and federal environmental laws, regulations, policies, programs, and procedures related to environmental programs.
  • Ability to interpret assessment reports and develop reasonable and effective solutions.
  • Ability to interpret highway construction plans and develop sound, cost effective technical approaches for determining potential impacts of environmental impact on construction projects.
  • Ability to manage multiple technical projects.
  • Ability to plan, organize, and work on multiple tasks concurrently.
  • Ability to prepare and deliver presentations related to construction projects with environmental impacts to VDOT staff and environmental agencies.
  • Ability to review and critically comment on proposed mitigation plans regarding technical competency, appropriate engineering measures and suitability of proposed mitigation.
  • Ability to work as a team member or independently under the pressure of deadlines.
  • Ability to work with professionals to advise and resolve environmental engineering problems related to issues in a transportation context.
  • Ability to work with project managers to avoid, minimize, and mitigate environmental impacts from assigned areas on projects.
  • Good planning and organizational skills.
  • Knowledge of and ability to interpret environmental laws, regulations, policies, programs, and procedures related to transportation project delivery.
  • Knowledge of environmental science, environmental engineering, hydrogeology, and chemistry principles and practices.
  • Knowledge of federal, state, and local solid and hazardous substance, materials, and waste laws and regulations.
  • Knowledge of project planning, construction alternative analysis and coordination procedures and practices.
  • Knowledge of transportation project development process and engineering design practices.
  • Skill in project development and management of transportation projects.
  • Skill in the use of computers and software applications to perform tasks which support VDOT operations.
  • Strong math, spreadsheet or database skills.
  • Technical knowledge of environmental auditing principles and environmental management systems.
Minimum Qualifications:
  • Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
  • Ability to effectively coordinate consultant activities.
  • Ability to interpret highway construction plans and develop sound, cost-effective technical approaches for determining potential impacts of contamination on construction projects.
  • Ability to manage multiple technical projects.
  • Ability to obtain 40-hour OSHA HAZWOPER certification.
  • Experience applying working knowledge of federal, state, and local solid and hazardous substance, materials, and waste laws and regulations.
  • Experience evaluating regulations, policies, guidance, and technical reports to resolve hazmat impacts on highway construction and maintenance projects or at maintenance and equipment facilities.
  • Experience reflecting knowledge of environmental science, environmental engineering, hydrogeology, and chemistry principles and practices.
  • Skill in the use of computers and software applications.
Additional Considerations:
  • A combination of training, experience, or education in Environmental Science, Geology, Hydrogeology, Chemistry, Ciivil Engineering, Environmental Engineering or related field desired.
  • A combination of training, experience, or education in Environmental Science, Natural Science, Forestry, Vegetation Management, Biology, Ecology, Chemistry, Geology, Hydrology, Urban Planning, Engineering or related field desired.
  • Possession of 40-hour OSHA HAZWOPER certification.
  • Possession of Asbestos Supervisor or Inspector License (Virginia) or Asbestos Management Planner License (Virginia).
  • Relevant experience providing hazardous materials-related services in an industrial, commercial, consulting capacity or in a regulatory oversight capacity.
Click below to learn more about the Competency Model associated with this Position:
Competency Model

Physical Requirements

VDOT employees must abide by VDOTs Code of Ethics and the Commonwealths Standards of Conduct.
VDOT Code of Ethics
Standards of Conduct
Posted 2025-07-30

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