ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST 1/2/3

Salary

$3,624.40 - $5,724.00 Monthly

LocationBaton Rouge, LA
Job Type

Classified

Job Number

25-65B ES BR KS

Department

Department of Environmental Quality

Division

OEA WATER STANDARDS & ASSESS / WTR PLAN

Opening Date

08/05/2025

Closing Date

8/15/2025 11:59 PM Central

About this Job

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The Department of Environmental Quality/Office of Environmental Assessment has a vacancy.

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality’s (LDEQ) mission is to provide service to the people of Louisiana through comprehensive environmental protection in order to promote and protect health, safety, and welfare.

Are you passionate about protecting water quality and driven by data? The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality is seeking a detail-oriented, technically skilled Environmental Scientist to support critical Clean Water Act initiatives. Dive into meaningful work evaluating water quality data, shaping environmental policy, and mentoring the next generation of scientists-all while helping preserve the health of Louisiana’s aquatic ecosystems.

Minimum Qualifications

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A bachelor’s degree in an environmental, biological, atmospheric, chemical, health, nuclear or physical science field, an engineering field, a geography/geosciences field, a natural resources field, or in a statistics or quantitative methods field; OR

A master’s degree or doctorate in an environmental, biological, atmospheric, chemical, health, nuclear or physical science field, an engineering field, a geography/geosciences field, a natural resources field, or in a statistics or quantitative methods field.

Job Specification

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The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Job Duties and Other Information

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Job Duties:

The incumbent of this Environmental Scientist position will perform work in the water quality program, Water Planning and Assessment Division, Office of Environmental Assessment, supporting the Clean Water Act (CWA) and Louisiana Environmental Quality Act (LEQA) and supporting regulations. The incumbent will be responsible for water quality data evaluation and reporting. The ES will be expected to become familiar with LDEQ contract laboratory requirements; familiar with Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs) associated with the data sets; familiar with appropriate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs); be able to read and understand water quality data analysis reports (including quality control data sets); and be able to evaluate the data based on applicable methods (for example: EPA and Standard Methods). The incumbent should have strong verbal and written communication skills and should possess technical, analytical, and computer skills with an understanding of spreadsheets, word processing, database querying, coding, data reporting tools, and statistical applications. The work is performed in accordance with Department rules, regulations, policies, quality management plans, applicable state and federal laws, internal policy based on historical precedents, draft regulations, and best professional judgment. The incumbent will be involved in staff development such as through training/mentoring for environmental scientists. Direct supervision is received from an Environmental Scientist Supervisor.

Position-Specific Details:

Appointment Type: This position may be filled as either a probational appointment, job appointment (a temporary appointment not to exceed four years), or promotion of permanent classified employee. If the position is filled as a job appointment, it could be converted to a probational appointment should funding become available.Domicile: East Baton RougeCareer Progression: This position may be filled as an Environmental Scientist 1, 2, or 3Compensation: This position offers a Special Entrance Rate (SER) listed below. This is the minimum compensation that may be offered. The job title and salary offered will be determined based on qualifications and experience.* Environmental Scientist 1: $20.91 per hour

• Environmental Scientist 2: $22.38 per hour
  
• Environmental Scientist 3: $25.62 per hour
  

Overview of the five major offices within the agency: It provides information on the mission, function, and organization along with a biography for each member of management.

• Office of the Secretary
  
• Office of Management and Finance
  
• Office of Environmental Services
  
• Office of Environmental Compliance
  
• Office of Environmental Assessment
  

Louisiana is a State As a Model Employer (SAME) that supports the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities. Equal Opportunity Employer.

How To Apply:

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

• Information to support your eligibility for this job title must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.
  

Please make every effort to attach a copy of your transcript to your application if possible (PDF format preferred). The selected candidate will be required to submit original documentation upon hire.

You must submit an equivalency evaluation statement for any international degree(s) by the closing of this announcement.

For recruitment purposes, applicants who are within 90 days of graduating with a qualifying degree may be eligible for this position.

Contact Information:

For further information about this vacancy, contact:

Kierra Smith

LDEQ/ Office of Management and Finance

602 N. Fifth Street

Baton Rouge, LA 70802

(225)291-3830

This agency participates in the E-Verify system for verification of citizenship and employment authorization.

Louisiana State Government represents a wide variety of career options and offers an outstanding opportunity to

make a difference through public service. With an array of career opportunities in every major metropolitan center and in many rural areas, state employment provides an outstanding option to begin or continue your career.

As a state employee, you will earn competitive pay, choose from a variety of benefits, and have access to a great professional development program:

Insurance Coverage More information can be found at https://info.groupbenefits.org/

Parental Leave - Up to six weeks paid parental leave

More information can be found at https://www.civilservice.louisiana.gov/Parental-Leave/Default.aspx

Holidays and Leave - State employees receive the following paid holidays each year:* New Year's Day

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
  
• Mardi Gras,
  
• Good Friday,
  
• Memorial Day,
  
• Independence Day,
  
• Labor Day,
  
• Veteran's Day,
  
• Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
  

* Additional holidays may be proclaimed by the Governor

State employees earn sick and annual leave which can be accumulated and saved for future use. Your accrual rate increases as your years of service increase.

Retirement- State of Louisiana employees are eligible to participate in various retirement systems (based on the type of appointment and agency for which an employee works). These retirement systems provide retirement allowances and other benefits for state officers and employees and their beneficiaries. State retirement systems may include (but are not limited to): Louisiana State Employees Retirement System (www.lasersonline.org). LASERS has provided thisvideoto give you more detailed information about their system*

• Teacher's Retirement System of Louisiana (www.trsl.org),
  
• Louisiana School Employees Retirement System (www.lsers.net), among others