Environmental Analyst Jobs for OPT Students

Overview

The Water Investment Division's Clean Water Initiative Program (CWIP) is seeking a motivated individual with expertise in clean water, technical, organizational, and communication skills. CWIP collaborates with state and federal agencies to fund, track, and report on projects aimed at restoring Vermont's waters and communicates progress toward water quality restoration targets. The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) partnership is crucial to the state's efforts to reduce pollution and protect ecosystem health in the Lake Champlain basin. The Vermont Coordinator to the LCBP works with Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) professionals, the LCBP, and its partners.

This role involves developing, managing, and monitoring federal grants awarded to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the LCBP, supporting alignment between LCBP initiatives, ANR priorities, and CWIP efforts. The position is based in Montpelier with the option to telework two days a week.

Job Duties:

• Program Coordination (25%): Act as the LCBP liaison, leading strategic coordination and supporting representation on committees. Represent DEC programs and priorities, follow the annual LCBP budget process to support implementation of CWIP's mission to align & coordinate clean water efforts statewide. Coordinate ANR input on projects and initiatives.

• Budget Development (20%): Assist the CWIP Manager in developing and implementing annual clean water funding initiatives, including LCBP-EPA funds. Lead the development of VTDEC LCBP budget priorities and award applications.

• Technical Program Design and Management (20%): Develop and design funding initiatives and project scopes that complement other initiatives and align with tracking and reporting. Collaborate with technical staff to achieve initiative goals. Serve as a Technical Project Manager, drafting RFPs, agreements, monitoring progress, managing data collection, and approving deliverables.

• Supervision (15%): Lead the LCBP branch in CWIP, supporting VTDEC LCBP grant management and project oversight.

• Award Management (10%): Oversee the management of VTDEC LCBP-EPA awards, including reporting and amending workplans. Ensure programmatic and financial tracking aligns with workplans and project outputs.

• Crosscutting Team Functions (10%): Support core CWIP functions and priorities, including project-related tracking, communications, and continuous improvement efforts. Perform other duties as assigned.

Ideal Candidate Qualifications:

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to coordinate work among various partners.
• Expertise in grant, budget, and project management, including managing multimillion-dollar budgets.
• Technical knowledge in surface water management strategies across various sectors (e.g., stormwater, natural resources, agriculture, wastewater).
• Ability to interpret complex information and translate it into grant and project management tasks.
• Supervisory experience and ability to support staff in workload management.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Team player with initiative and the ability to work independently.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Proficiency with standard office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and data management.

Cover letters and resumes are requested.

Who May Apply

This position, Environmental Analyst VI - Clean Water Initiative Program (Job Requisition #53713), is open to all State employees and external applicants.

If you would like more information about this position, please contact Sarah Coleman at sarah.coleman@vermont.gov.

Please note that multiple positions in the same work location may be filled from this job posting.

Resumes will not be accepted via e-mail. You must apply online to be considered.

Environmental Factors

Duties are largely performed in an office setting; however, some field travel may be necessary for which private means of transportation must be available. Field work may involve exposure to chemicals, gases, hazardous liquid and solid waste, and construction sites during all weather conditions; and may involve traversing rough terrain and bodies of water. Some work outside of regular working hours, including attendance at public meetings, may be required. Strong differences of opinion may be encountered on a regular basis.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in a biological-life or physical science, engineering, a social science, data science, or an environmental or natural resources field AND three (3) or more years of experience in a natural resources field.

OR

Master's degree or higher in a biological-life or physical science, engineering, a social science, data science, or an environmental or natural resources field AND two (2) or more years of experience in a natural resources field.

OR

Six (6) years or more of experience in an engineering, environmental, social science, data science, or natural resources field.

Total Compensation

As a State employee you are offered a great career opportunity, but it's more than a paycheck. The State's total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation, including:

• 80% State paid medical premium and a dental plan at no cost for employees and their families
• Work/Life balance: 11 paid holidays each year and a generous leave plan
• State Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FMLI)
• Two ways to save for your retirement: A State defined benefit pension plan and a deferred compensation 457(b) plan
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Flexible spending healthcare and childcare reimbursement accounts
• Low cost group life insurance
• Incentive-based Wellness Program
• Qualified Employer for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program

Want the specifics? Explore the Benefits of State Employment on our website.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of Vermont celebrates diversity, and is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect and meaningful inclusion that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The State does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, membership in an employee organization, family medical history or genetic information, or family or parental status. The State’s employment decisions are merit-based. Retaliatory adverse employment actions by the State are forbidden.