State of Maryland

A Geologist Program Consultant, Environmental Programs is the full performance level of professional work as a program consultant for environmental programs.  Employees in this classification function as the acknowledged expert within one or more environmental programs such as sedimentary rock geology, hard-rock geology, unsaturated zone geohydrology, hydrogeologic behavior of landfills and landfill-related contaminants, petroleum contaminant migration and fate, geostatistics, dense nonaqueous contaminant migration, hydrogeology, water well construction, aquifer testing, groundwater supply and specialized aspects of environmental restoration.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other Geologists, but provide technical and program expertise to program area staff, departmental executives and administrators as well as individuals outside the Department.

Employees in this classification receive managerial supervision from a Program Manager, Environmental Programs or higher-level administrator or executive.  The work is performed both in the office and in the field.  In the field, employees may experience a variety of conditions related to weather and terrain.  Employees must be available to travel throughout the State depending on the assignment.  Employees may be required to walk considerable distances over rough or unstable terrain.  Employees may be exposed to standard physical hazards associated with construction sites, and industrial and manufacturing operations and equipment.  Employees may be exposed to hazardous substances and fumes at field sites.  Employees may be required to carry heavy equipment exceeding 50 pounds.  Depending on the assignment, employees may be required to wear personal protective equipment.  Evening and weekend work may be required.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Geologist Program Consultant, Environmental Programs is differentiated from the Geologist Lead/Advanced, Environmental Programs in that the Geologist Program Consultant, Environmental Programs functions as the designated technical and program expert for one or more environmental program areas while the Geologist Lead/Advanced, Environmental Programs either assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains lower-level Geologists or functions as a technical resource within a section of an environmental program area.  The Geologist Program Consultant, Environmental Programs is differentiated from the Geologist Manager, Environmental Programs in that the Geologist Manager, Environmental Programs functions as a manager of a division of professional Geologists and other environmental staff.

Serves as the designated technical and program expert in a specialized area within environmental geology, a consultant to program managers or higher-level administrators or executives, or as the State or national expert in the field;

Recommends and designs programs and projects with potentially significant impact on agency policy;

Develops new environmental or advanced scientific methods for application in complex or high profile issues;

Provides expert opinion regarding interpretations of appropriate State and federal regulations and guidelines;

Determines appropriate enforcement activities and how violations of such regulations should be reported;

Develops instructional and educational materials and provides specialized training to individuals outside the Department;

Writes articles and technical reports for presentation and publication within the broader scientific community;

Represents the Department at technical meetings, public hearings, and legislative hearings by defending and promoting the Department’s mission and objectives;

Prepares technical documents, briefings for the Director or other members of senior management, and correspondence in response to public or executive inquiries;

Provides expert testimony for the State at judicial hearings;

May review final draft geological assessments in support of permit applications prior to final management review;

May maintain highly sensitive or confidential records, serve as the records custodian on essential files and oversee maintenance of key database or records systems;

May oversee an entire environmental process, such as construction, drilling, dredging process and all operations associated with that process;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles, theories, and techniques of geology and the related earth sciences, chemistry, physics and mathematics;

Knowledge of State and federal environmental laws and regulations;

Skill in interpreting regulations as they apply to one or more specialized areas or fields within environmental geology;

Skill in communicating highly technical information to lay persons;

Ability to establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with State, federal and community representatives, property owners, business owners, consultants and the general public;

Ability to use available tools, techniques and software applications to study and investigate geologic and environmental issues and problems.

Education:   A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Geology, Environmental Geology or a related earth science.

Experience: Six years of experience performing professional environmental geological work.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Geology, Environmental Geology or a related earth science for the required education and one year of the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience at a rank of Corporal/Petty Officer or higher as a commissioned officer in physical science classification or physical science specialty codes in the geology field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

1. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

2. Employees in this classification may be required to successfully complete and maintain certification as specified in the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration Regulations (Standards-29 CFR) 1910.120 Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response. Information about these regulations is available in the Human Resources Office of the Maryland Department of the Environment or may be obtained at the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration Website.

1. Employees in this classification may be required to walk over rough or unstable terrain or over long distances while wearing personal protection equipment such as respiratory protection equipment.

2. Employees in this classification may be subject to ongoing medical testing in accordance with the U.S. Occupational Safety and HealthAdministration Regulations (Standards - 29 CFR) 1910.120 Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response.

3. Employees in this classification may be subject to call-in on a twenty-four hour basis and, therefore, will be required to provide the employing agency with a telephone number where they can be reached.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit G- Engineering, Scientific and Administrative Professionals classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.