Initial Posting Date:
08/07/2026
Application Deadline:
08/23/2026
Agency:
Department of Environmental Quality
Salary Range:
$7,537 - $11,098
Position Type:
Employee
Position Title:
Regional Solutions Liaison (Operations and Policy Analyst 4)
Job Description:
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.
Are you passionate about preserving, enhancing, and protecting Oregon’s environment? If so, please consider a career with the State of Oregon at the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). 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.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a full-time opportunity available for a Regional Solutions Liaison (Operations and Policy Analyst 4). This position will be located in Coos Bay or Medford, Oregon (finalist may choose work location).
Please consider joining an innovative team, and work to advance our agency’s mission to protect and improve Oregon’s environmental quality.
About DEQ!
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.
The Regional Solutions Center (RSC) Program – consisting of advisory committees, Governor’s coordinators, and interagency state teams – provides a one-stop shop for communities throughout the state. 11 Regional Solutions teams support community and economic development to help attract and expand business and industry, create good jobs, and improve the economy. They bring the right people to the table and coordinate state action to solve problems and streamline government. These state agency teams help integrate and align permitting requirements, remove barriers to business retention and expansion, and quickly respond to issues that address community and economic development priorities in the region.
Established by Governor Kitzhaber’s Executive Order No. 11-12 in 2011 and enacted by Legislation in 2014, the RSC Program recognizes the unique needs of each Oregon region, and the importance of working locally to identify priorities, solve problems, and seize opportunities to get projects done.
The RSC emphasizes multi-agency coordination and collaboration on projects of local and statewide significance. In addition to DEQ, the following state agencies are core members of the RSC: Oregon Economic and Community Development Department (OECDD)/Business Oregon, Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD), and Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) Other state agencies may also be part of the RSC as needed.
Regional Solutions Centers are located throughout Oregon. Starting at the local level to identify priorities, each center works from the local level upwards to solve problems and complete projects. These centers integrate state agency work and funding to ensure that projects are finished as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.
This position sits within the Western Region with a primary focus on Southern Oregon.
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 serve as a Western Region Liaison to the Southern-Western Regional Solutions Center and partner with businesses, communities, and local, state, and federal government partners to identify barriers, propose solutions, ensure consistent support for resolving environmental issues, improve regulatory coordination, and advance DEQ’s mission across the Western Region.
What’s in it for you!
The opportunity to work in a productive and creative environment where no two days are ever the same! DEQ cares deeply about employee wellness and benefits. We offer a competitive benefits package that offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans for the employee and their qualified family members, as well as paid sick leave, vacation leave, personal leave, and 11 paid holidays a year. In addition, we offer membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and you have the opportunity to potentially receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). If you are passionate about Oregon's environment, apply today!
This is a full-time, management service non-supervisory position.
This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies.
What are we looking for?
Minimum Qualifications: 8 years of experience performing professional-level evaluative, analytical, and planning work.
Substitutions:
- Bachelor’s degree in business or public administration, environmental science, behavioral or social sciences, political science, or a closely related field may substitute for 3 of the required years of experience.
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Master’s degree in business or public administration, environmental science, behavioral or social sciences, political science, or a closely related field may substitute for 4 of the required years of experience.
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Doctorate degree in business or public administration, environmental science, behavioral or social sciences, political science, or a closely related field may substitute for 5 of the required years of experience.
Candidates who are most competitive will also reflect the following desired attributes:
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Demonstrated understanding of environmental justice and the historical impacts for marginalized and underrepresented communities; ability to take personal responsibility for increasing their knowledge of environmental justice and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
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Commitment to ongoing development on unconscious bias, anti-racism, and diversity, equity, and inclusion; skills in cultural competency.
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Skill and experience in communication and outreach to underrepresented communities; ability to build partnerships across diverse communities and interested parties and their respective interests.
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Experience resolving inter-agency, multi-jurisdictional, and local disagreements concerning community development needs and environmental issues; demonstrated political adroitness.
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Skill in conflict resolution, negotiation, collaboration, and engagement; strong interpersonal skills with an ability to break down traditional barriers that exist between programs, challenging people to take a coordinated rather than independent perspective.
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Demonstrated ability to advise executives and other decision-makers; excellent verbal and written communication skills; skill, tact, and communication abilities necessary to act as a spokesperson for the Western Regional Solutions Center and the Agency.
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Highly motivated; a willingness to take initiative; ability to work creatively to find solutions; innovative; and excellent problem-solving skills involving detailed thinking for solving complex issues.
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Ability to interpret and implement environmental programs, and federal, state, and local regulations and guidance, and the ability to communicate complex technical information to non-expert audiences.
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Experience within the environmental science field, regulatory processes, community engagement, and/or project coordination, with strong familiarity of water quality topics, concerns, and regional-specific attitudes and issues concerning water quality.
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Experience within political or policy-driven environments within Oregon.
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 office in Coos Bay or Medford; 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.
This position requires regular statewide travel by car for site visits, meetings, conferences, trainings, and workshops, some of which may involve extended work hours, overnight stays, and /or weekend work. Travel can be at least 25% of the work week and will be throughout the Southern Oregon area, as well as throughout Oregon as a whole to ensure efficient, effective coordination between the various Regional Solutions Team (RST) liaisons.
Should you choose to drive a motor vehicle you must have a valid driver’s license. If not, you must have an alternate method of transportation. 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
During site visits, there may be exposure to adverse weather conditions, pollutants, chemicals, contaminated soil and water, fumes, airborne contaminants, and fall or tripping hazards, stairs.
How to Apply: (complete the application in full)
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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.
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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 [email protected] or 503-229-5107. TTY users: please use the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.
