Initial Posting Date: 

Application Deadline:

Agency:

Salary Range:

Position Type:

Position Title:

Job Description:

Are you an experienced policy leader in natural resources and passionate about wetlands and waterways? Apply to be one of our next Housing Project Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 4) by November 11th, 2025! 

This full-time, permanent position is eligible for a hybrid remote schedule based out of our Salem office. The successful candidate will be expected to be in the office 2 times a week for the first six weeks and then 2-3 times per month for the duration of the position. The successful candidate must be able to travel throughout Oregon to perform site visits on short notice, including same day requests.

Making a Difference for Oregon. The Department of State Lands manages the lands that help fund our public schools and protects the state’s waterways and wetlands for the many benefits they provide. Our stewardship ensures vital natural and financial resources contribute to a vibrant, healthy Oregon now and forever. The DSL team makes a difference for Oregonians every day. As our Housing Project Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 4), you will too.

The primary purpose of this position is to make DSL policy and program level decisions for housing development projects that provide efficiency for wetland and waterway permitting within the Operations team. This position reviews and applies standards for DSL jurisdictional determinations for aquatic features including wetlands, ditches, streams, and rivers; standards for complete removal-fill permit application preparation; coordination of application review process; and permit acquisition.

What’s In It for You?

• Join our team of collaborative and engaged co-workers who care about Oregon’s economy, environment, and communities. Use your skills and experience in natural resources to protect Oregon’s waterways and wetlands through the state’s Removal-Fill Law while engaging the public, government agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Gain full benefits with 95% to 99% of medical and dental insurance premiums paid by the agency for full-time employees, including mental health coverage.
• Accrue eight (8) hours of sick leave and eight (8) hours of vacation leave per month, with your vacation leave accruals increasing every five (5) years.
• Receive 11 paid holidays, one (1) floating holiday, three (3) personal business days and other medical, vision and dental benefits, including flexible spending plans.
• Automatically enrolled into the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) after six (6) months of full-time service.
• Possibly qualify for Student Loan Forgiveness Program.
• Earn the initial monthly salary range for this position starting at $6,122 - $9,409 for employees new to public service. After 6 months, you will receive a 6.95% increase with 6% going to your PERS retirement. 
• Current PERS employees start at $6,545- $10,063. Please review the Classification and Compensation page for more details.
• NOTE: Starting pay is determined by a pay equity analysis, which is partly based on the number of years of relevant experience.

This position will report directly to our main Salem office. This is a full-time, permanent position represented by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Working Conditions

The successful candidate will work in an office setting with regular computer use and at times in a fast-paced work environment with multiple demands. This position requires the ability to work on multiple tasks, sometimes under pressure of high priority deadlines. Occasional fieldwork may involve walking along and within waterways, on uneven terrain, on wet and muddy ground, and without pathways in all types of weather. Travel is an essential function of the position.  This position may require site visits performed on the same day as the request.  Occasional overnight stays and/or extended work hours may occur along with exposure to inclement weather, field, and road conditions. Work can at times be in remote locations. DSL provides agency-maintained vehicles, reimbursement for field gear, and travel expenses for authorized, on-the-job travel and fieldwork.

What You Will Be Doing

As a Housing Project Specialist, you will have the opportunity to:

• Be an agency technical expert and provide technical interpretation of the removal-fill law, wetland delineation and determination regulations, other relevant regulations.
• Represent DSL to entities including the Governor's Office’s Regional Solutions Teams; permittees; local, state, and federal agencies; public; and industry professionals.
• Review wetland delineation reports submitted for Department approval and recommend final action.  Site visits and data collection may be required before concurring with a reports.
• Review removal-fill permit applications submitted for Department approval and provide permit decision recommendations.  This includes, but not limited to, reviewing, understanding, and explaining function and value assessments; alternative analysis; compensatory mitigation plans; rectification plans, engineering drawings; and anticipated direct and indirect impacts to waters of this state.
• Conduct on-site and off-site jurisdictional determinations of waters of this state and convey and explain results.
• Investigate and perform site visits, including data collection, to determine if projects are compliant with permit terms and conditions; determine functions and values associates with jurisdictional waters; and determine jurisdictional boundaries of wetlands and other waters of this state.
• Receive, investigate, and process complaints to determine if there is a removal/fill violation.

For a full description of the duties and working conditions, please email Tricarico.schwartz@dsl.oregon.gov to request the position description.

Minimum Qualifications

To be considered for this position, please ensure you have one of the following combinations of education and experience:

Four (4) years of experience in wetland and waterway resources. At least two years of the experience must be at a technical level or professional level completing or reviewing wetland determinations or delineations and removal-fill permit applications including function and value assessments, alternatives analysis, and compensatory mitigation plans.

AND

A bachelor’s degree in a natural resource field such as biology, ecology, natural resources, or environmental science, or three (3) additional years of related experience.

NOTE: A master’s degree in a natural resource field such as biology, ecology, or environmental science will substitute for up to one (1) year of the required experience.

A doctorate degree in a natural resource field such as biology, ecology, or environmental science will substitute for up to two (2) years of the required experience.

Highly Desired Attributes 

Tell us which of the following skills, experiences, and related talents you have by highlighting them in your application materials.

• Experience preparing or providing detailed reviews of Removal-Fill applications. This includes compensatory mitigation plans and functional assessments.
• Experience preparing or providing detailed review of wetland delineation reports, including wetland plant identification, using the USACE Arid West supplement or USACE Western Mountains, Valleys, and Coast Region supplement.
• Professional experience communicating with higher level officials, media, or public relations.

Desired Attributes 

Tell us which of the following skills, experiences, and related talents you have by highlighting them in your application materials.

• Experience with compliance or enforcement of wetland and waterway resource laws or regulations.
• Knowledge of, interpreting, and explaining land use regulations, housing policies, and environmental permitting.
• Experience with local, state, federal, and tribal regulatory programs.
• Experience using GPS tools in field settings and ArcGIS Pro.
• Ability to work well both individually and as part of a team, including excellent conflict resolution skills.
• Excellent customer service, time management, and organizational skills.
• Superior written and oral communication in all interactions and deliverables.
• Professional, punctual, self-motivated, and ability to work under strict deadlines.

How To Apply

• Complete the following required steps:
  • Fill out the application or attach a resume. Please contact Tricarico.schwartz@dsl.oregon.gov if you have any questions about how to fill out the experience fields or to attach a document. Your submitted experience fields or attached resume must include dates (MM/YYYY) for each employer, and any relevant volunteer and/or internship experience.
  • Attach a cover letter. Your cover letter should clearly demonstrate how your experience and training relates to the qualities that you have under the “Highly Desired Attributes” and “Desired Attributes” sections above.
    • Your cover letter must be limited to no more than two (2) pages.
    • Please address your cover letter to Melinda Butterfield, Operations Manager.
    • Generic cover letters that do not address the qualities that you have under the “Highly Desired Attributes” and “Desired Attributes” sections may receive lower scores than those that addressed the desired qualities.
    • You must upload your cover letter in the ‘Resume/Cover Letter’ section of the application.
  • Complete questionnaire. Answer the checkbox-style questions before submitting your application.
• After you submit your application, please respond to the public records request authorization and gender identity questionnaire. This screen will come after you submit and will complete the process. If you are a current State of Oregon employee, the tasks will come to your Workday inbox.
• If you are a veteran, you may receive preference. The task to upload your documents will be available after you submit your application. For privacy reasons, please do not attach your military service document(s) to your application or combine it with any other required document attachments.

To learn more about our work, connect with us on Instagram: @oregonstatelands and LinkedIn.

NOTE: The use of outside resources such as Artificial Intelligence software during applicant skill assessments, examinations, and/or interviews is prohibited unless otherwise stated by the hiring agency. Unauthorized use of outside resources during the hiring process will result in disqualification.

The Oregon Department of State Lands is committed to seeking and sustaining a culturally, racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse working environment. The Department hires staff interested in supporting environmental justice by including communities traditionally underrepresented in public processes. We encourage members of these communities to apply, even if they do not meet 100% of the desired attributes. The Oregon Department of State Lands understands that an authentic focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace will in turn create a workforce aligned to meet the challenge of serving all Oregonians.

Additional Information

• This position may be used to fill future vacancies.
• If you need an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to participate in the application or selection process, please contact tricarico.schwartz@dsl.oregon.gov and include the job requisition number.
• For more information about applying for positions with the State of Oregon via Workday, you may visit the Oregon job opportunities website.
• This position may be contingent upon the outcome of a driving records check.
• Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given veterans' preference. For further information, please check out these Veteran’s Resources, or call the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs at: 1-800-692-9666.
• After you apply, you may be asked to provide additional optional information. Please be sure to check your Workday account for pending tasks or actions under your “My Applications” section. Be sure to check both your email and Workday account for updates regarding this recruitment.
• As an employer, DSL complies with Oregon’s Pay Equity law. 
• The state of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution during the application process.
• Agency does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, applicants will be required to complete I-9 documentation and confirm authorization to work in the United States.
• For questions about the job duties or application process, please contact Tricarico.schwartz@dsl.oregon.gov or call 971-304-5881 to speak to our recruitment team.