Are you interested in applying your leadership skills to protecting and enhancing Oregon’s environment? If so, please consider a career with the State of Oregon at the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality strives to build and sustain an inclusive 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, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or physical or mental disability.

Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may not meet every one of our listed preferred qualifications. Lived experience may count towards the preferred qualification. If you are excited about this position, we encourage you to apply. If you are unsure as to whether or not you meet the qualifications of this position, please contact us to discuss your application.

Opportunity:

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a full-time opportunity available for a Regional Services Manager (Business Operations Manager 1) in Bend, Oregon.

This position is limited duration through June 30, 2025 with the potential of being extended or made permanent pending Budget and Legislature approval.

The Agency:

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. 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. Here is a video about DEQ: https://youtu.be/E-Cs6M9AAlU

DEQ’s Regional Divisions are responsible for consistently implementing Water Quality, Air Quality, and Land Quality programs in partnership with other divisions and offices of DEQ, including the Air, Land, and Water Quality divisions; the Office of Compliance and Enforcement; and the Laboratory Division. Implementation includes issuing permits, inspecting regulated facilities for compliance, enforcing permits and regulations, responding to spills and other emergencies that have environmental impacts, and investigating complaints. Regional Divisions engage with tribal nations, local governments, communities, members of the public, regulated businesses, and local elected officials regarding the delivery of DEQ programs and services.

The Regions are comprised of Northwest, Eastern, and Western Region, and this position is within the Eastern Region.

Click here to view a map of all the DEQ offices.

What you will do!

You will oversee office management for all 4 Eastern Region Offices (Bend, Klamath Falls, Pendleton, and The Dalles), including managing infrastructure support, information technology, and vehicles in the Region; ensuring the offices are run safely; and ensuring the offices have what they need to allow regional staff to complete their work efficiently. Your work will include developing staff goals and objectives, and monitoring progress on those goals; identifying, prioritizing, and scheduling work; selecting and supervising support and infrastructure staff; resolving difficult administrative and facilities problems; and tracking and ensuring timeliness and responsiveness to the public, regional staff, and regulated community.

As a State supervisory manager, you will be expected to develop proficiency in, as well as model to others, these competencies: Proactive communication, Innovation, Intentional Engagement, Mentoring & Developing Others, Stewardship, and Business Acumen.

These competencies are demonstrated by:

• Ensuring staff are supported and have the tools, learning, and equipment necessary to perform their duties.
• Coaching, mentoring, and motivating staff; meeting regularly with staff to provide leadership, guidance, and feedback, and to encourage skill development and career growth.
• Setting clear work objectives, goals, and expectations for staff; evaluating performance and addressing performance in a timely manner.
• Building team cohesion; encouraging collaboration and ensuring staff are cross-trained.

Desired Attributes/Skills:

If you have these qualities, let us know! Candidates who are most competitive will reflect the following:

• Demonstrated commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity; proven experience developing and implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
• Experience building and supporting high-performing, collaborative teams that appreciate and encourage diverse thinking; proven experience fostering teamwork among subordinates; experience coaching, mentoring, and motivating subordinates.
• Demonstrated organization, leadership, supervision, planning, and team building skills.
• Supervisory or team lead experience in a government agency or organization; supervisory or team lead experience with a union-represented employer.
• 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.
• Experience with change management, including supporting employees through program, policy, and other changes.
• Demonstrated ability to lead both technical and program development teams using data collection, goal setting, measure design, and report development to address statewide challenges and opportunities.

Minimum Qualifications:

5 years of lead work, supervision, or progressively related experience or 2 years of related experience and a Bachelor’s degree.

What’s in it for you!

DEQ cares deeply about employee wellness and benefits. You will receive a comprehensive, competitive, and affordable benefits, leave, and wellness package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 11 paid holidays
• 10 hours of vacation per month, eligible to be used after 6 months of service
• 8 hours of sick leave per month, eligible to be used as accrued
• 24 hours of personal business leave per fiscal year, eligible to be used after 6 months of service
• Optional life insurance packages
• Flexible spending accounts
• Membership in the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)
• Optional deferred compensation retirement program
• Opportunity to potentially receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• Continuous growth and development opportunities
• Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work
• A healthy work/life balance, including flexible schedules and hybrid work options for many positions

This is a full-time, management service supervisory position.

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 Bend office and will require in-office work 3-5 days per week. The successful candidate may be eligible for hybrid work for the remaining days each week. 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.

There will be frequent in-state travel by car to the regional offices and to Headquarters in Portland to ensure efficient and effective operation of the Regional Support Services section, and to supervise employees located throughout the Region. Travel will involve overnight stays, evening work, and some weekend work. Travel will be for meetings, conferences, trainings, site visits, public hearings, workshops, and more. This job involves the occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds.