Are you interested in applying your leadership skills to protecting and enhancing Oregon’s environment? If so, please consider a career with the State of Oregon at the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality strives to build and sustain an inclusive and equitable environment that embraces and values diversity. Employees at all levels of the agency work together to foster fairness, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We strive to be a workplace where we share our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals, and while collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations. We celebrate and appreciate diversity, champion equity, and treat each other with respect and dignity.
We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, age, or physical or mental disability in the administration of our programs and activities. Visit DEQ’s Civil Rights and Environmental Justice page.
Opportunity:
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a full-time opportunity available for a Deputy Director (Deputy/Chief 6). This position is based out of DEQ’s Headquarters in Portland, Oregon.
The Agency:
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is the primary regulatory agency of the government of the U.S. State of Oregon responsible for protecting and enhancing the state’s natural resources. At DEQ, employees have the opportunity to work with a dynamic and supportive team of mission-focused individuals tasked with maintaining, restoring, and enhancing the quality of Oregon’s air, land, and water.
This position is located within the Director’s Office. The Director’s Office, with the Agency Leadership Team, provides policy formation and guidance, goal development, problem solving, conflict resolution, leadership, and accountability for the entire agency’s program efforts. The team balances needs, interests, and perspectives across the agency, and provides long-term strategic thinking and planning to ensure that DEQ’s priorities and core work are consistent with the agency’s mission, shared vision, and organization design principles. These efforts are grounded in anti-racist principles and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB).
For a visual representation of DEQ’s offices and their locations, view our DEQ Offices and Vehicle Inspection Testing Stations map.
What you will do!
You will lead and direct the administration of implementing and enforcing laws regulating air, water, and land pollution; administer authorities delegated by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) including the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Acts; administer state statutes including air, water, waste, and environmental cleanup; ensure the integration of environmental justice across agency programs; serve on behalf of the Director as an attendee of the Governor’s cabinet; and assist on behalf of the Director in efforts to coordinate Natural Resource Agencies. In addition, you will support the Director, Environmental Quality Commission (EQC), and overall effectiveness of the Agency by providing leadership and guidance to DEQ employees statewide, fostering organizational health and representing the Agency to constituent groups, interested parties, elected officials, and other partners.
As a State supervisory manager, you will be expected to develop proficiency in, as well as model to others, these competencies: Proactive communication, Innovation, Intentional Engagement, Mentoring & Developing Others, Stewardship, and Business Acumen.
These competencies are demonstrated by:
- Ensuring staff are supported and have the tools, learning, and equipment necessary to perform their duties.
- Coaching, mentoring, and motivating staff; meeting regularly with staff to provide leadership, guidance, and feedback, and to encourage skill development and career growth.
- Setting clear work objectives, goals, and expectations for staff; evaluating performance and addressing performance in a timely manner.
- Building team cohesion; encouraging collaboration and ensuring staff are cross-trained.
Desired Attributes/Skills:
If you have these qualities, let us know! Candidates who are most competitive will reflect the following:
Core Leadership Skills & Executive Experience:
- Strategic planning, long‑term visioning, and policy development experience, especially within public institutions; experience with high-level decision-making on complex, precedent‑setting issues.
- Experience with executive-level management of statewide programs and operational priorities.
- Ability to act on behalf of the Director, including participation in Governor’s cabinet and interagency coordination.
Environmental & Regulatory Expertise:
- Ability to lead and oversee regulatory programs across air, water, land, waste, enforcement, and cleanup.
- Dedication to scientific integrity and evidence-based decision-making.
Environmental Justice & Anti‑Racism Competencies:
- Ability to integrate Environmental Justice into agency programs, decision-making, and operations.
- Ability to amplify impacted voices, build trust, and embed equitable practices in hiring, supervision, and service delivery; strong active listening and inclusive communication skills.
Organizational Management & People Leadership:
- Experience supervising managers and overseeing large teams (direct supervision of 8; indirect oversight of 200+) in unionized environment; ability to manage recruitment, hiring decisions, and personnel actions.
- Skill in coaching, mentoring, performance management, and employee development.
Communication & Relationship-Building:
- Ability to communicate clearly, effectively, and professionally under pressure.
- High emotional intelligence and judgment when navigating sensitive or controversial issues.
- Ability to build effective relationships with local government officials, state agencies, environmental groups, and communities; demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with diverse groups.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Progressive management experience in a government agency or organization.
- Demonstrated leadership and commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity; proven experience developing and implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
- Progressive experience managing multiple large, complex programs, division, and services, preferably in the environmental / natural resources sector.
What’s in it for you!
DEQ cares deeply about employee wellness and benefits. You will receive a comprehensive, competitive, and affordable benefits, leave, and wellness package, including:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 11 paid holidays
- 10 hours of vacation per month, eligible to be used as accrued
- 8 hours of sick leave per month, eligible to be used as accrued
- 24 hours of personal business leave per fiscal year, eligible to be used after 6 months of service
- Optional life insurance packages
- Flexible spending accounts
- Membership in the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)
- Optional deferred compensation retirement program
- Opportunity to potentially receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
- Continuous growth and development opportunities
- Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work
- A healthy work/life balance, including flexible schedules and hybrid work options for many positions
This is a full-time, executive service supervisory position.
This position meets the executive service criteria in ORS 240.205 (4) and is a principal assistant that manages a major agency organizational component and reports directly to an executive or administrative officer. As such, pursuant to ORS 240.205(4), this position has the approval of the Director of Department of Administrative Services to be placed in unclassified, executive service (DAS CHRO Policy 30.000.01) and serves at the pleasure of the agency appointing authority. This appointment may be terminated at any time (DAS CHRO Policy 40.035.01).
Working Conditions:
DEQ believes in a diverse and inclusive work environment. All employees are expected to contribute to a work environment that collectively values and benefits from respecting its diversity and promotes a culture of inclusiveness.
This position will be based out of DEQ’s Headquarters office in Portland; however, the successful candidate may be eligible for hybrid work. The logistics of hybrid work will need to be worked out with the Hiring Manager prior to your hire and may be changed at any time given specific job duties and business needs. DEQ will provide necessary hardware (laptop, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and cell phone) for an employee to successfully work from home. At DEQ sites, you will have access to a workspace, however, it may be shared with other employees.
Most work is performed in a professional office setting with multiple demands on time. There is frequent work under tight deadlines. This position requires frequent travel on official State business for meetings, conferences, site visits, trainings, and public hearings, some of which may involve evening work, weekend work, and/or overnight stays. There may be extended working hours during Legislative session, inclement weather events, and other emergency situations. During site visits, there is the potential for exposure to pollutants, chemicals, contaminants, and inclement weather. This position involves occasional lifting.
This position is required to drive a state vehicle so the incumbent must have a valid driver’s license. Compliance with ORS 807.020 (1) is required. It is required that drivers of state-owned vehicles complete a defensive driving safety class every two years.
How to Apply: (complete the application in full)
- External Applicants Click on the “Apply” button and submit your application. For resources and support related to applying, view our External Candidate job aid and Workday Recruitment for External Job Applicants video.
- Internal Applicants (current State of Oregon employees): Apply through your employee Workday account. For step-by-step resources on how to apply, review the Jobs, search & apply knowledge article.
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Help Your Application Rise to the Top!
Your application materials are the perfect opportunity to highlight your interest in the position and showcase your amazing skills and experience. In addition to your related work experience and education, DEQ will use the desired attributes and minimum qualifications above, under the “What are we looking for?” section to determine whom to interview. Please make sure your attributes and minimum qualifications are clearly demonstrated in your application materials.
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Veterans Information:
DEQ provides candidate preference points to all eligible veterans and Oregon National Guard servicemembers (current and former). For more information on candidate preference, please visit Veterans Resources. For privacy reasons, please do not attach candidate preference documents when initially applying. Instead, you will be asked to submit those at a later time as part of a future task in Workday.
Equal Pay Analysis:
As an employer, the State of Oregon complies with HB 2005, the Pay Equity Bill. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected class in the payment of wages, and we do not screen applicants on the basis of their current or past compensation. All finalists have an equal pay analysis completed to determine their placement on the salary scale. Please note: the salary listed is the non-PERS qualifying salary range. If the successful candidate is PERS qualifying, the salary range will reflect an additional 6.95% (6% goes to PERS and .95% covers payroll taxes). Please review the Classification and Compensation page for more details.
Work Authorization:
DEQ does not offer visa sponsorships. On the first day of employment, all hires will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States. In addition, hires will have three business days from their first day of employment to present documents that establish employment authorization and identity. DEQ is an E-Verify employer and will use E-Verify to confirm that hires are authorized to work in the United States.
Questions/Need Help?
If you have questions about the recruitment or need assistance to participate in the application process, including an accommodation request under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact DEQ’s Recruitment Team at jobs@deq.oregon.gov or 503-229-5107. TTY users: please use the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.
