Geologist jobs in Stilwell, KS

Important Recruitment Information for this vacancy

• Job Posting closes: May 25, 2023
• Required documents uploaded by: May 25, 2023

Kansas Department of Health and Environment:

Our agency is led by Secretary Janet Stanek, who was appointed by Gov. Kelly in Dec 2021. KDHE is comprised of three divisions: Public Health, Environment, and Health Care Finance (which includes the State’s Medicaid program, KanCare). We are the only agency in the nation to have these three entities under one roof which allows us to take a holistic approach to improving and protecting the health and well-being of all Kansans.

http://www.kdhe.ks.gov/

About the Position

• Who can apply: Anyone (External)
• Classified/Unclassified Service: Unclassified
• Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm (Flexible schedules available)
• Eligible to Receive Benefits: Yes
• Veterans' Preference Eligible: Yes

Compensation:

• Pay Range:
• Geology Trainee - $22.72 per hour
• Geology Associate - $25.05 per hour
• Professional Environmental Geologist (Remedial Project Manager) - $66,518.00 annually

• Salary can vary depending upon education, experience, or qualifications.

Employment Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, mental, dental, vision, and additional coverage
• Sick & Vacation leave
• Work-Life Balance programs: parental leave, military leave, jury leave, funeral leave
• Paid State Holidays (designated by the Governor annually)
• Fitness Centers in select locations
• Employee discounts with the STAR Program
• Retirement and deferred compensation programs

Visit the Employee Benefits page for more information…

Position Summary & Responsibilities

Position Summary:

The position (K0232191)

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has a Geologist opening in Topeka. The Bureau of Water, Geology & Well Technology Unit is seeking a Geology Trainee, Geology Associate, or Professional Geologist to assist with our three programs: the Underground Hydrocarbon Storage (UHS) program, the Underground Injection Control (UIC) program, and the Water Well program. This is mostly a field work position and will include a considerable amount of travel at least once a week to our permitted facilities (all in Kansas) to conduct wellhead inspections, brine pond inspections, mechanical integrity tests, oversee brine spill remediation efforts, communicate with facility personnel, and conduct any other field activities that our unit may require. Other geology work will include assisting the programs with permit, plan, and project review, including preparing technical comments concerning deficiencies, assimilating and interpreting geologic and groundwater data, communicating with facility personnel, assisting with drafting, reviewing, and issuing unit permits, assisting with reviewing water well records, gathering groundwater monitoring reports, and assisting brine spill coordinator with brine spills and compliance issues. Other duties include assisting the unit chief and staff with daily operations including policy development and research.

Job Responsibilities may include but are not limited to the following:

Assist with the Underground Hydrocarbon Storage (UHS) Program within the Geology and Well Technology Unit (GWTU). Conducts wellhead inspections, and witnesses brine pond inspections for wells and brine ponds permitted with the UHS program. Assists with the Underground Injection Control (UIC) program within the GWTU. Conducts routine and comprehensive inspections and mechanical integrity tests for wells permitted with the UIC program. Reviews the designs, plans, calculations and testing for UHS well and UIC well project permit applications, projects and proposals. Prepares and provides comments concerning deficiencies and initiates appropriate follow up with industries, well owners or consultants to address noted deficiencies. Develop background information, technical review comments and fact sheets on applications and draft permits. Review UHS and UIC permit applications including surface geology and hydrogeologic maps, maps of the extent and configuration of water producing zones and geologic cross-sections of water bearing zones and confirm intervals to determine protective requirements. Assimilates and interprets geologic and groundwater data. Reviews groundwater contour maps and geologic cross sections. Assists with the Water Well Program within the GWTU. Reviews well logs and plans for well construction and plugging projects as needed. Prepares comments concerning deficiencies and initiates appropriate follow-up with industries, facilities, water well contractors, well owners or consultants to address noted deficiencies. Review geologic and hydrogeologic data to develop proper well design. Defines and eliminates groundwater pollution sources related to improper well construction and improper well plugging.

Assist with administering compliance and violation tracking of the UHS Program, UIC Program and Water Well Program within the GWTU. Incumbent is responsible for assuring consistency, developing, modifying and implementing quality assurance/quality control, fairness, and follow all agency/bureau/section guidelines and policies for compliance. Evaluates activities that GWTU permits for environmental justice (EJ) by generating reports using the U.S. EPA’s EJ screening tool for any new permit, permit renewal, or major permit modification. Consider, prepare, and implement measures consistent with the agency Non-Discrimination Policy to ensure meaningful involvement from members of potentially impacted communities. May assist with planning, coordination and conducting surveillance and inspection activities for well construction, mechanical integrity testing, routine inspections and abandonment for UIC facilities, UIC wells, and UHS wells. Assist with compliance issues related to the Water Well program including working with district offices, entering compliance issues, gathering information for any necessary legal actions, to define and eliminate groundwater pollution sources related to improper well construction and improper well plugging.

Assist with evaluation of groundwater monitoring reports at existing facilities and geologic conditions and hazards to determine feasibility, location and safe development of UHS and UIC projects. Prepares and provides comments concerning deficiencies and initiates appropriate follow up with industries, well owners or consultants to address noted deficiencies. Reviews surface geology and hydrogeologic maps, maps of the extent and configuration of water producing zones and geologic cross-sections of water bearing zones, confining intervals and disposal intervals to determine protective requirements. Assimilates and interprets geologic and groundwater data. Ensures EPA commitments are met. Prepares or assists in preparing reports as required by the EPA UIC Program. Assist Class V program manager with Local Environmental Protection Programs to address endangering Class V injection wells. Provide hydrogeologic and technical support to the Underground Hydrocarbon Storage and Water Well Programs.

Assist the brine spill coordinator for UHS and UIC Class III related brine spills. Take information from Operators notification, place into tracking database. Assess reported volumes, remediation plans, creates log of all contact and information submitted. Follow up with Operators to ensure timely and through cleanup of spills so events can be closed in spill database.

Qualifications

• Education:
  • High School, GED
• Licensing & Certification:
  • Valid Driver's License - Incumbent is required to have and maintain a valid driver's license when operating a state vehicle, a private vehicle, or a rental vehicle for the benefit of the State.
• Minimum Qualifications:

  • Geology Trainee

  • Bachelor's degree in geology/hydrogeology/earth science/geoscience or other related field.
  • Within 6 months of hire, incumbent must pass a physical which certifies the individual can work in the necessary protective gear.
    Incumbent is required to work towards professional geology licensure ultimately maintaining a professional geology license while in this position.

  • Geology Associate

  • Bachelor's degree in geology/hydrogeology/earth science/geoscience or other related field.
  • Within 6 months of hire, incumbent must pass a physical which certifies the individual can work in the necessary protective gear.
    Incumbent is required to work towards professional geology licensure ultimately maintaining a professional geology license while in this position.
  • Valid Intern Geologist certificate recognized by the Kansas Board of Technical Professions.

  • Professional Environmental Geologist (Remedial Project Manager)

  • Bachelor's degree in geology/hydrogeology/earth science/geoscience or other related field.
  • Within 6 months of hire, incumbent must pass a physical which certifies the individual can work in the necessary protective gear.
    Incumbent is required to work towards professional geology licensure ultimately maintaining a professional geology license while in this position.
  • Valid Professional Geologist license recognized by the Kansas Board of Technical Professions.
• Preferred Qualifications:
  • Bachelors Degree in Geology/Earth Science
  • Masters Degree in Geology/Earth Science
  • Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access
  • Proofreading, editing, attention to detail
  • Ability to use personal protective equipment
  • Employee must work towards obtaining intern geology (FG) exam certification while in position
  • Experience with technical report writing, data collection and analysis, experience with working with large data sets, or experience with environmental regulations.

Recruiter Contact Information

• Name: Hope Stover
• Email: Hope.Stover@ks.gov
• Mailing Address: 1000 SW Jackson St. Suite 580 Topeka, KS 66612

Job Application Process

• First Sign in or register as a New User.
• Complete or update your contact information on the Careers> My Contact Information page. *This information is included on all your job applications.
• Upload required documents listed below for the Careers> My Job Applications page. *This information is included on all your job applications.
• Start your draft job application, upload other required documents, and Submit when it is complete.
  • Manage your draft and submitted applications on the Careers> My Job Applications page.
• Check your email and My Job Notifications for written communications from the Recruiter.
  • Email – sent to the Preferred email on the My Contact Information page
  • Notifications – view the Careers> My Job Notifications page

Helpful Resources at jobs.ks.gov: “How to Apply for a Job – Instructions” and “How to Search for a Job – Instructions"

Required Documents for this Application to be Complete

Upload these on the Careers - My Job Applications page

• Transcripts
• DD214 (if you are claiming Veteran’s Preference)

Upload these on the Attachments step in your Job Application

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Helpful Resources at jobs.ks.gov: “How, What, & Where do I Upload Documents”

How to Claim Veterans Preference

Veterans' Preference Eligible (VPE): Former military personnel or their spouse that have been verified as a "veteran"; under K.S.A. 73-201 will receive an interview if they meet the minimum competency factors of the position. The veterans' preference laws do not guarantee the veteran a job. Positions are filled with the best qualified candidate as determine by the hiring manager.

Learn more about claiming Veteran’s Preference

Equal Employment Opportunity

The State of Kansas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential elements that create and foster a welcoming workplace. All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, political affiliation, disability or any other factor unrelated to the essential functions of the job.

If you wish to identify yourself as a qualified person with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and would like to request an accommodation, please address the request to the agency recruiter.