Job Responsibilities

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

The Director of Mining and Solid Waste Management directs all activities of the Mining and Solid Waste Management Division. Administers the effective permitting and restoration/reclamation programs. Administers the Office of Recycling. Establishes goals and objectives for the division, supervises division staff, and prepares periodic reports of division activities. Develops and manages federal and state operating budgets including grants awarded to external entities.

Responsibilities

• Administers the provisions of the SC Mining Act to direct and make assignments to division staff for its implementation. Duties include planning, regulation development, permitting, compliance inspections and reclamation oversight.
• Administers the provisions of the Solid Waste Policy and Management Act to make assignments to division staff for its implementation. Duties include regulation development, planning, permitting, environmental restoration, recycling program development/implementation.
• Performs personnel appraisals, provides coaching and counseling to build staff capacity and address issues according to agency policy. Ensure that Managers effectively perform personnel duties.
• Represents the Department in inter-agency matters relative to mining and solid waste management including coordination with advisory councils and other local, state, and federal officials and agencies. Maintains open dialogue with mining and solid waste industry, environmental organizations, and citizen's groups concerning status of permits, reclamation activities, and promulgation of regulations.
• Administers and manages the various fees and grants within the Division. Develops and manages federal and state operating budgets including grants awarded to external entities. Ensures that all objectives and commitments are met.
• Other duties as required.

Minimum and Additional Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in the natural or physical sciences, public health or related field and seven (7) years of environmental experience.
• A master’s degree in the natural or physical sciences, public health or related field and six (6) years of environmental experience.

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. Please note that the agency may require an official, certified copy of the transcript or diploma prior to hiring.

Additional Requirements

• Experience with Solid Waste, Mining, and Recycling principles and practices.
• Ability to manage a government program, it's staff and budget in an effective manner.
• Requires a positive collaboration with the Solid Waste Advisory Council, the Waste Tire Sustainability Coalition, the Mining Council, the USEPA, environmental groups, local governments and elected officials.
• Some overnight travel required.
• Must have a valid driver's license, 10-year driving record that complies with State and Agency Fleet guidelines, and the ability to drive a state vehicle.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with federal and state budgeting process and electronic data management systems.
• Professional Engineer License (PE) or Professional Geologist (P.G).

Additional Comments

SCDES is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. The Department will not sponsor H1B visas for this position.

The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees:

• Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children. Click here for additional information.
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available (S.C. Deferred Compensation)
• Retirement benefit choices*
• State Retirement Plan (SCRS)
• State Optional Retirement Program (State ORP)
• Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.