Environmental Law Specialist (Environmental Law Specialist) – Two Openings

Initial Posting Date:

01/15/2026

Application Deadline:

01/29/2026

Agency:

Department of Environmental Quality

Salary Range:

$6,732 - $10,335

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Environmental Law Specialist (Environmental Law Specialist) – Two Openings

Job Description:

**Note: Effective Feb. 1, 2026, the compensation plan for this position will be increased to reflect a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) of 2.5%. The salary listed in this posting does not reflect the COLA.**

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality strives to build and sustain an inclusive and equitable environment that embraces and values diversity. Employees at all levels of the agency work together to foster fairness, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We strive to be a workplace where we share our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals, and while collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations. We celebrate and appreciate diversity, champion equity, and treat each other with respect and dignity.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, age, or physical or mental disability in the administration of our programs and activities. Visit DEQ’s Civil Rights and Environmental Justice page.

Are you passionate about preserving, enhancing, and protecting Oregon’s environment? If so, please consider a career with the State of Oregon at the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). At DEQ, employees have the opportunity to work with a dynamic and supportive team of mission-focused individuals tasked with maintaining, restoring, and enhancing the quality of Oregon’s air, land, and water.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has two (2) full-time opportunities available for an Environmental Law Specialist (Environmental Law Specialist) in Portland, Oregon.

Please consider joining an innovative team, and work to advance our agency’s mission to protect and improve Oregon’s environmental quality.

About DEQ!

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is the primary regulatory agency of the government of the U.S. State of Oregon responsible for protecting and enhancing the state's natural resources.  

The Office of Compliance and Enforcement (OCE) has statewide responsibility for issuing formal enforcement actions, including civil penalties and corrective actions, against persons, companies, municipal governments, and other governmental agencies that violate environmental laws, rules, and permits.  In addition, OCE represents DEQ in the appeal process of formal enforcement actions, including settlement negotiations, presenting contested case hearings to the Office of Administrative Hearings and the Environmental Quality Commission (EQC). OCE receives referrals for formal enforcement actions from DEQ Regions and Divisions as well as Counties and DEQ agents. The Office of Compliance and Enforcement (OCE) is not located within any Region or any Division. This position is located at DEQ Headquarters within the Office of the Director.

OCE’s enforcement of environmental laws is necessary to DEQ’s mission of restoring, maintaining, and enhancing the quality of Oregon’s air, land, and water by stopping unlawful acts that put those resources at risk, by mitigating adverse impacts, by deterring future violations, and by creating a level playing field for the regulated community.

For a visual representation of DEQ’s offices and their locations, view our DEQ Offices and Vehicle Inspection Testing Stations map.

What you will do!

You will analyze and evaluate facts and evidence, as well as appliable rules, laws, and policies; review the violator’s compliance history; refine cases; develop appropriate enforcement or compliance strategy; write legal documents to initiate and conclude the formal enforcement processes; prepare cases for contested case hearings and for appeals to the EQC and Court of Appeals; act as the Department’s lay representative in contested case hearings and before the EQC; meet with violators and/or their attorneys; and negotiate and draft settlements and consent orders. In addition, you will provide advice and assistance to DEQ staff and assist Divisions in developing enforceable rules, permits, and policies that will ensure compliance and deterrence.

What’s in it for you!

The opportunity to work in a productive and creative environment where no two days are ever the same! DEQ cares deeply about employee wellness and benefits. We offer a competitive benefits package that offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans for the employee and their qualified family members, as well as paid sick leave, vacation leave, personal leave, and 11 paid holidays a year. In addition, we offer membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and you have the opportunity to potentially receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). If you are passionate about Oregon's environment, apply today!
 

This is a full-time, AFSCME represented position.

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies.

What are we looking for?

Minimum Qualifications:

• 6 years of experience in an environmental or natural resources agency drafting and handling enforcement cases (civil penalties and orders) against violators of statutes, rules, and permits; OR
• A JD with course work in environmental and natural resources law; OR
• A JD degree with 1 year of full-time experience in administrative, environmental, or natural resources law analyzing, researching, and drafting legal documents, as well as evaluating evidence and interviewing clients

Candidates who are most competitive will also reflect the following desired attributes:

• Demonstrated understanding of the Clean Water Act and/or Oregon’s water quality statutes, specifically National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits.
• Demonstrated understanding of environmental justice and the historical impacts for marginalized and underrepresented communities; ability to take personal responsibility for increasing their knowledge of environmental justice and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• General knowledge of legal concepts and principles; knowledge of environmental law and administrative law processes.
• Experience working independently and creatively to develop case-specific enforcement strategy, including experience evaluating whether there is sufficient evidence to support a case.
• Experience in a public sector legal environment.
• Experience conducting settlement discussions and negotiations with violators or other attorneys.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to provide clear, concise, and compelling communication of policy and technical information tailored to the needs of diverse audiences; skill in writing and presenting clear and concise reports that include qualitative and quantitative analyses, recommendations, and conclusions to diverse audiences.
• Skill representing an organization in meetings, hearings, or negotiations.
• Strong research and policy analysis skills and experience.
• Skill in conflict resolution, negotiation, collaboration, and engagement; strong interpersonal skills with an ability to break down traditional barriers that exist between programs, challenging people to take a coordinated rather than independent perspective.

Working Conditions:

DEQ believes in a diverse and inclusive work environment. All employees are expected to contribute to a work environment that collectively values and benefits from respecting its diversity and promotes a culture of inclusiveness.

This position will be based out of DEQ’s Headquarters office in Portland, however, the successful candidate may be eligible for hybrid work. The logistics of hybrid work will need to be worked out with the Hiring Manager prior to your hire and may be changed at any time given specific job duties and business needs. DEQ will provide necessary hardware (laptop, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and cell phone) for an employee to successfully work from home. At DEQ sites, you will have access to a workspace, however, it may be shared with other employees.

This position requires occasional statewide travel for meetings, trainings, conferences, contested case hearings, informal discussions, and public hearings, some of which may include evening work, weekend work, and/or overnight stays.

How to Apply: (complete the application in full)

• External Applicants Click on the “Apply” button and submit your application. For resources and support related to applying, view our External Candidate job aid and Workday Recruitment for External Job Applicants video.
• Internal Applicants (current State of Oregon employees): Apply through your employee Workday account. For step-by-step resources on how to apply, review the Jobs, search & apply knowledge article.

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Help Your Application Rise to the Top!

Your application materials are the perfect opportunity to highlight your interest in the position and showcase your amazing skills and experience. In addition to your related work experience and education, DEQ will use the desired attributes and minimum qualifications above, under the “What are we looking for?” section to determine whom to interview. Please make sure your attributes and minimum qualifications are clearly demonstrated in your application materials.

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Veterans Information:

DEQ provides candidate preference points to all eligible veterans and Oregon National Guard servicemembers (current and former). For more information on candidate preference, please visit Veterans Resources. For privacy reasons, please do not attach candidate preference documents when initially applying. Instead, you will be asked to submit those at a later time as part of a future task in Workday.

Equal Pay Analysis:

As an employer, the State of Oregon complies with HB 2005, the Pay Equity Bill. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected class in the payment of wages, and we do not screen applicants on the basis of their current or past compensation. All finalists have an equal pay analysis completed to determine their placement on the salary scale. Please note: the salary listed is the non-PERS qualifying salary range. If the successful candidate is PERS qualifying, the salary range will reflect an additional 6.95% (6% goes to PERS and .95% covers payroll taxes). Please review the Classification and Compensation page for more details.

Work Authorization:

DEQ does not offer visa sponsorships. On the first day of employment, all hires will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States. In addition, hires will have three business days from their first day of employment to present documents that establish employment authorization and identity. DEQ is an E-Verify employer and will use E-Verify to confirm that hires are authorized to work in the United States.

Questions/Need Help?

If you have questions about the recruitment or need assistance to participate in the application process, including an accommodation request under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact DEQ’s Recruitment Team at jobs@deq.oregon.gov or 503-229-5107. TTY users: please use the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.