DEPT OF EMERGENCY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS

Papago Park Military Reservation (PPMR), Phoenix, AZ

Salary: $21.1449 - $29.6109 per hour (DOE) 

Grade: 21

Closing Date: 11/8/2024

This position serves as a National Environmental Policy ACT (NEPA) Specialist for Army National Guard (AZARNG) and may supervise contractor staff. Will review, prepare, and forward project documentation in support of military construction (MILCON), maintenance projects (SRM), land acquisition and leasing. The incumbent shall facilitate the NEPA process and coordinate with staff so that the spirit and letter of the Act are fulfilled legally and efficiently with all Federal undertakings within Arizona. Position requires strong working knowledge of NEPA requirements and frequent in-state travel and occasional out of state travel.

• Responsible for NEPA review and recommendations for compliance of projects to include MILCON projects, SRM projects, land and real property acquisition. Responsible for completion of environmental reports such as Environmental Phase 1 ESA or Environmental Condition of Property (ECP). Participates in the Environmental Requirements Request (EER) process to ensure compliance. Works with the Environmental Department to communicate survey needs to be included in the STEP program for funding. Encompasses both State and Federal land and facilities. Also ensures any outside proponents complete the ERR and NEPA process. Ensures all needed documentation (Legal Record) for undertakings is complete.
• Applies education, professional experience and training to review environmental applications, reports, rules, plans and drafts. Investigates environmental regulations and makes recommendations to ensure compliance. Responds to complaints, questions, or issues within the environmental scope from internal or external customers. Must display excellent written and verbal communication skills to explain complex regulations to uninitiated customers. As the incumbent will be communicating with a wide variety of proponents and interested parties, excellent customer service skills are mandatory. May supervise contract staff.
• Provides moderate, scientific or technical information, guidance, support, and coordination within the AZARNG. Communicates regularly between the NEPA Program Manager and the Planning and Programming(P&P) department. Serves as the primary Point of Contact (POC) for planning employees with environmental questions. Incumbent is therefore expected to be knowledgeable about current, notional or future activities and the requirements needed to support those activities.
• Will be available for office and field work in support of the planning and programming team. This will encompass traditional environmental tasks as well as assisting other employees with real property site visits and with site and building inspections. Tasks may also include data collection, data entry, follow up and research. Work with project managers to procure relevant details of projects to ensure complete ERRs.
• May train others on programmatic and technical processes, use of resources such as materials, forms and equipment. Facilitates all AZARNG proponents with compiling all necessary information to effectively submit ERRs in clear and precise language.
• Attends Training to maintain knowledge of current environmental policies. Attends training and submits required forms to gain access to computers, programs, and applications in support of assigned tasks.

Knowledge of:
• NEPA processes, documentation, and law as it pertains to the ARNG
• Management, administrative practices and operating procedures.
• Working knowledge of budgetary principles and understanding of responsibility of parties to pay for functions relevant to their operation
• Working knowledge of ARCGIS mapping systems
• Basic knowledge of military construction and general repair work; can read a scope of work to determine environmental regulatory needs
• Basic knowledge of Arizona Army national Guard structure

Skilled in:
• Written and verbal communication, particularly in communicating the nuances of complex regulation to the uninitiated
• Customer service and interpersonal relationships with civilians, military and government representatives.
• Ability to balance, prioritize, and organize multiple tasks
• Problem analysis and resolution
• Advanced skill in the use of computers including MS Office products to include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook Adaptability and team building

Ability to:
• Analyze and resolve conflicts in policy and program objectives
• Work in an environment of high volume and heavy workload requiring a high level of accuracy
• Multi-task with speed and accuracy while remaining flexible with respect of changes in the environment or conditions.
• Analyze and determine documentation needs based on project scope.
• Develop effective operating processes and procedures
• Manage time efficiently in a solo or team environment
• Travel in and out of state to attend training, conferences, workshops seminars, meetings and events
• Ability to interact professionally with all levels of military and non-military personnel

Desired qualifications include any combination of experience, education, and training that meets the knowledge, skills, and abilities as described. The preferred candidate will possess a Bachelor’s of Science with 2+ years’ experience or 4+ years of combined experience in NEPA and environmental work; Familiar with DoD or military facility's and regulations; NEPA Certs and advanced NEPA Training; other certs/training related to position.

Special Job Requirements:
• This position requires possession of and ability to retain a current, valid state-issued driver's license appropriate to the assignment. 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.)
• In State and out of state travel required.
• Candidates for this position will be required to submit to a criminal background investigation as well as possess the ability to achieve a favorable Tier 1 investigation for the purpose of obtaining a Common Access Card (CAC) within one year of hire.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

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

The State of Arizona offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:
• Sick leave
• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
• Health and dental insurance
• Retirement plan
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance

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

Eligible DEMA employees participate in excellent retirement programs provided by the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and for fire personnel the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS).

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact hr@azdema.gov.
DEMA is a smoke-free work environment.
ADA/EEO Employer
The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity and Reasonable Accommodation Employer