Careers at SCDES: Where Passion Meets Preservation
Do you love South Carolina and protecting the environment? Come join our team at SCDES, put your passion to work with us! We are dedicated to protecting the state of South Carolina and we would love to have you as a member of our team!
Science | Service | Sustainability
Lead the statewide Criminal Investigative Unit and Shellfish Enforcement Program within SCDES to protect public health, safeguard natural resources, and uphold environmental quality. This role combines operational command, criminal case development, legal collaboration, and law enforcement leadership across South Carolina.
Statewide Program Leadership
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Oversees all daily operations of the Criminal Investigative Unit and the Shellfish Enforcement Program.
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Manages assignments, workload distribution, and case prioritization across the state.
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Provides strategic direction for law enforcement activities supporting agency goals
Criminal Investigations
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Supervises, directs, and participates in criminal investigations involving state and federal environmental violations.
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Ensures investigations involving scientific evidence, transaction reconstruction, and multi-step case development are conducted properly.
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Oversees development of search warrants, affidavits, reports, interview summaries, and prosecution packages
Legal Coordination & Case Development
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Works closely with prosecutors and enforcement partners to advance complex criminal cases.
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Supports agency leadership with advisement on criminal matters and law enforcement impacts.
Law Enforcement Training & Certification
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Provides law enforcement and firearms training to all agency officers.
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Serves as a Basic Instructor and Firearms Instructor for the SC Criminal Justice Academy (as stated in PD).
Environmental/Shellfish Enforcement
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Directs water quality and shellfish enforcement activities related to harvesting, handling, and transportation of shellfish.
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Ensures compliance with related environmental and food safety laws.
The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees:
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Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children. Click here for additional information.
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15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
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15 days sick leave per year
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13 paid holidays
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Paid parental leave
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S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available (S.C. Deferred Compensation)
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State Retirement Plan (PORS) - Defined benefit retirement plan for eligible public safety employees, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, and peace officers.
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Transfer and purchase past military and public service time to retire early!
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Disability Retirement Protection
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PORS Handbook available here
Application Process:
After you submit your application, it will be reviewed first. Following assessment, applicants who qualify will then be sent an online employment evaluation tool.
Institutions of Higher Learning must be recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Applicants indicating college credit or degree(s) on the application are encouraged to upload an unofficial copy of the transcript as an attachment to the application. If selected for an interview, a copy of the college transcript will be required via email or at the time of the interview. Please note that some departments within the agency may require an official, certified copy of the transcript prior to hiring or within a specific timeframe required by that area, after hiring. Failure to produce an official, certified transcript may result in not being hired or termination.