Address: Emergency Response Unit, Waste Programs Division
1110 W. Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007

Salary: $50K-$60K 

Grade: 21

Closing Date: OPEN until filled

We have an immediate opening for an Environmental Science Specialist 2 (ESS2) – Environmental Response Specialist in our Emergency Response Unit (ERU), Waste Programs Division. The ERU is dedicated to reducing casualties, property loss, and environmental impacts stemming from chemical accidents, fires, and various pollutant discharges. In this role, you will be responsible for the coordination of resources and actions aimed at the preparation for, response to, and investigation of pollutant or hazardous material incidents and risks. Our team ensures continuous readiness while operating on a 24/7 basis to provide an immediate response to any environmental emergency.

Key Responsibilities:
● Preparedness & Planning – Review emergency and safety plans, conduct risk assessment, and participate in training, drills, and exercises.
● Response Coordination – Respond to actual or potential hazardous material incidents impacting the environment. Conduct atmospheric monitoring. Oversight of emergency response contractors.
● Documentation & Compliance – Situation reporting and compliance management. Produces and provides timely reports to leadership and other stakeholders.
● Customer support - Tier II and spill reporting support. Serve as a technical resource for external stakeholders, customers, and the general public.

This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures. 

Ability to be on call and able to work anytime in a 24-hour period, all days of week.

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, and commissions, many State employees participate in the State’s Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

Emergency Response & Field Operations
● Response Management: Responds to actual or potential hazardous materials emergencies and coordinates response activities between ADEQ divisions and other first responders.
● Operational Execution: Plans, implements, and monitors clean-up and disposal activities; conducts maintenance and calibration of emergency response equipment.
● Field Investigation & Assessment: Conducts complex field investigations to evaluate hazards and threats, performs scientific studies to assess damage and the adequacy of clean-up efforts, and handles a broad range of response, assessment, and monitoring duties for complex emergencies.

Public Engagement & Stakeholder Collaboration
● Public & Agency Outreach: Bridges communication between the public and the Agency by building relationships with stakeholders, local officials, and community members. Provides information about ADEQ programs, regulations, and assistance, such as grant funding.
● Customer & External Support: Provides customer-facing support for EPCRA Tier II and spill reporting notifications; offers technical advice to other local, state, and federal agencies regarding environmental damage from hazardous spills.
● Professional Development & Networking: Attends Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) meetings, training, workshops, and exercises.

Documentation, Compliance & Analysis
● Reporting & Data Analysis: Writes detailed reports based on research and data evaluation; prepares clear status reports, preliminary damage assessments, and after-action evaluations.
● Regulatory Oversight: Determines appropriate monitoring and sampling strategies and ensures all local, state, and federal safety regulations and ordinances are strictly met.

KNOWLEDGE
● State and Federal environmental laws and regulations (e.g., EPCRA, Arizona Revised Statutes)
● Knowledge of OSHA Safety Standard 29 CFR 1910.120
● Microsoft Office and the G-Suite/Workplace

SKILLS
● Proficiency in delivering high-quality customer service
● Superior interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
● Proficient problem solving, problem analysis, and resolution
● Analyze, interpret, and communicate rules, statutes, and regulations

ABILITIES
● Ability to collaborate alongside scientists, engineers, public safety personnel, and government officials
● Demonstrate initiative and effective prioritization
● Collaborate as a team player across several divisions
● Establish and maintain effective and positive working relationships with agency staff and the public
● Apply LEAN concepts and engage in continuous problem solving
● Be organized, analytical, professional, and a problem solver
● Report work status, issues, and inquiries promptly

● Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in physical sciences, biological sciences, chemical sciences, environmental sciences, environmental studies, public health, engineering, emergency management, or homeland security.
● Environmental Science Specialist 2 (G21): 2 or more years of professional and/or technical experience involving emergency response field activities associated with environmental or atmospheric conditions which pose potential public health hazards and/or significant adverse environmental effects, especially those involving potentially acute hazards.
● Alternately, 2 years or more of specialized military training and experience in handling hazardous materials or related fields.
● OSHA 40 hour training or ability to obtain within 6 months of hire.
● Ability to be on call and able to work anytime in a 24-hour period, all days of week.

Driver’s license required; requires possession of and ability to retain a current, valid state-issued driver's license. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver's license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records and must complete any required driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.12.) Driver’s License Requirements.

Physical required at offer stage.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Among the many benefits of a career with the State of Arizona, there are:
· 10 paid holidays per year
· Accrual of sick and annual leave beginning at 12 and 13 days per year respectively for full-time employees
· Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
· A top-ranked retirement program with lifetime pension benefits
· A robust and affordable insurance plan to include medical, dental, life, short-term and long-term disability
· An incentivized commuter club and public transportation subsidy program
· We promote the importance of work/life balance by offering workplace flexibility
· We offer a variety of learning and career development opportunities

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Arizona State Retirement System Lifetime Benefits

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting HPO@azdeq.gov.
Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.