Air Permitting Environmental Justice Coordinator Job ID - 80100

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

Job Summary

Under the direction of section leadership at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), this position provides coordination to ensure effective and efficient implementation of environmental justice (EJ) processes within the air quality permitting program, in line with the long-term goal of the MPCA to reduce or prevent disproportionate negative impacts from pollution. This position analyzes existing policies, procedures, and practices, and recommends revisions and new processes as appropriate to continually improve the efficient, effective and economical delivery of services for the air quality permit section. This position evaluates existing agency and program goals and objectives for EJ and recommends revisions and new performance measures to continually drive improvements in the environmental justice process. The position will maintain and update process documents, keep track of EJ projects, and document the activities and outcomes of EJ work. They will be responsible for organizing or providing training to the section for new staff and ongoing training and updates to all staff on the process and EJ concepts. They will increase the section's knowledge by attending conferences and trainings related to EJ. They will find, maintain, and share resources with staff and permitted sources that could help reduce pollution from permitted sources.

This position will also assist the Air Quality Permit Section by providing coordination and leadership of the EJ process for permitting projects in EJ areas. The incumbent will help permit engineers follow the air permitting EJ process and assist the section in implementing agency EJ policies. This work will include attendance of project scoping meetings to determine what outreach efforts are needed for each project, keeping records of scoping documents and decisions made at scoping meetings, leading or attending additional meetings with staff from community affairs, office of equity and EJ, and communications as needed to advance outreach activities, and leading discussions with facilities located in EJ areas to inform them of EJ concepts and opportunities to advance outreach or reduce emissions.

Minimum Qualifications

Three (3) years of professional-level experience in leading or administering programs or projects in environmental regulation, assistance, management, or analysis; natural resources; land-use; urban/regional planning, or other related areas. A bachelor’s degree in engineering or environmental or related sciences will substitute for one year of experience.

Understanding of federal and state regulatory frameworks and their applicability to industrial facilities and the operations of various industry sectors. 

Accomplished project management skills to complete special projects. 

Ability to effectively represent the MPCA before a variety of groups relative to social, economic and environmental issues. 

Demonstrated skills in verbal communications and technical/administrative writing, including Business English, grammar, and spelling, necessary to organize and effectively present ideas to the intended audience clearly and tactfully, even in stressful situations.

Accomplished in using computer programs and equipment to include ability to learn agency's database (Tempo).

Valid Class D Driver's License

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency/Environmental Quality Board will not sponsor applicants for work visas. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Preferred Qualifications

Knowledge or experience of environmental justice concepts and policies.

Air Quality permitting experience or experience working with permitted industries. 

Ability to question regulated parties to better understand the barriers to completing a project and finding appropriate solutions that reduce pollution. 

Big-picture view of state, national and global environmental problems and solutions.

Additional Requirements

This position requires successful completion of the following:

A driver’s license is an essential function of this position. This requires possession of an unrestricted Class D Driver’s License. The job offer is contingent on confirmation of a valid driver’s license AND a satisfactory driver's license record check. Requires a Class D driver's license: a single unit vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of less than 26,000 pounds. This is a basic driver's license. Operators may also tow vehicles/trailers as long as the gross combination weight does not exceed 26,000 pounds.

About Pollution Control Agency 

Our mission is to protect and improve the environment and human health. We work with many partners (citizens, communities, and businesses, all levels of government, environmental groups and educators) to prevent pollution, conserve resources, and to help ensure polluting does not have disproportionate impact on any groups of people. We emphasize work-life balance with flex schedules, compressed schedules, and options to telework for some positions.