Environmental Scientist Graduate Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Job Information
State of Tennessee Job Information
Opening Date/Time
06/16/2026 12:00AM Central Time
Closing Date/Time
06/29/2026 11:59PM Central Time
Salary (Monthly)
$4,057.00 - $5,078.00
Salary (Annually)
$48,684.00 - $60,936.00
Job Type
Full-Time
City, State Location
Columbia, TN
Department
Environment and Conservation
LOCATION OF (1) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT & CONSERVATION, MAURY COUNTY
For more information, visit the link below:
https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/environment/job-announcements-/preferred-service/01006428_env_sci_2_dwr_columbia_efo_tdec-job-opp_ps_ua.pdf
Qualifications
Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's or higher of science or arts degree in environmental science, physical sciences (e.g. physics, chemistry, geology, meteorology), ecology, sustainability or applied science in sustainability, life sciences (e.g. biology, microbiology, agricultural science, agronomy, health physics or biophysics), environmental health, pre-medicine, engineering or other acceptable science or natural resource related field and one year of full-time professional environmental program, natural resource conservation work or full-time professional work that involved ensuring compliance with radiation safety standards and/or regulations. An acceptable, environmental, physical, or life science degree will be considered based on assignment by the specific program area.
Substitution of Education for Experience: Graduate coursework in environmental science, physical
sciences (e.g. physics, chemistry, geology, meteorology), ecology, sustainability or applied
science in sustainability, life sciences (e.g. biology, microbiology, agricultural science,
agronomy, health physics or biophysics), environmental health, pre-medicine, engineering or other
acceptable science or natural resource related field may be substituted for the required
experience, on a year-for-year basis, to a maximum of one year (24 semester hours or 36 quarter
hours is equivalent to one year).
Necessary Special Qualifications: Applicants for this class must:
1. Possess a valid motor vehicle operator's license at the time of appointment in some positions; if position requires operating a boat, must obtain a boater's license.
2. Applicants for the TDEC Environmental Scientist 1* in the Division of Radiological Health must successfully complete the training courses offered by the Division of Radiological Health, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, or other federal agencies.
3. TDEC Environmental Scientist's 1* performing geologic duties the major portion of their time must: have completed the required college course work at the time of appointment to be eligible to take the licensing examination offered by Tennessee's Department of Commerce and Insurance's Board of Professional Geologists, or b.) hold and maintain a current Geologic license from the State of Tennessee during employment or hold a current Geologic license from another State that Tennessee has evaluated and granted reciprocal licensing rights;
4. Some TDEC Environmental Scientist 1* positions assigned to function as Biologists must meet the specific educational requirements for Biologists, as follows: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, including at least 36 quarter hours (or 24 semester hours) in biology, in one of the following areas: (1) biology or biological sciences, (2) botanical sciences, (3) environmental or conservation sciences, (4) zoological sciences, or (5) aquatic, terrestrial, or wetland biology or ecology or other acceptable biological science related field.
Overview
Under general supervision, is responsible for performing a wide variety of professional environmental, health physicist, natural resources, sustainability, laboratory, geological, and/or similar science related program work of average difficulty; and performs related work as required. This is the working-level in the TDEC Environmental Scientist sub-series. An employee in this class may perform a full range of environmental compliance activities, including inspections, monitoring, problem identification, sample collection, report writing, corrective action, emergency response, surveying, lab work, and enforcement duties in environmental regulatory, radiological health, natural resources, or sustainable practices program areas. An employee in this class may perform natural resource management and other non-regulatory duties.
This class is flexibly staffed and differs from the TDEC Environmental Scientist 1, in that an incumbent of the latter functions at the entry-training level. This class differs from TDEC Environmental Scientist 3 in that an incumbent of the latter functions at an advanced level and may lead other staff.
Responsibilities
1. Conduct inspections and/or investigations of equipment, structures, materials, and/or sites/facilities when required by a specific TDEC program area (e.g. air pollution, water resources, mineral and geologic resources, remediation, underground storage tanks, solid waste management, radiological health, natural areas, etc.) to ensure proper installation, maintenance, and/or operation and determine compliance with laws, regulations, or standards. Perform laboratory or field tests in accordance with requirements and analyze and interpret the environmental data and/or other information (e.g. monitoring records, site inspections, sampling data, etc.) using relevant methods to evaluate data trends, data quality, and usability for determining if further action is necessary.
2. Adhere and enforce environmental or other federal and/or state standards, laws, rules, regulations, and/or administrative policies and procedures (e.g. Standard Operating Procedures) through investigation of complaints; overseeing environmental sampling; and reviewing and evaluating applications, forms, plans, inspection documents, general correspondence, reports, or other records and taking corrective action as warranted, and if necessary, initiate legal action to effect compliance of established standards, laws, rules, regulations, or policies.
3. Review, analyze, and maintain relevant documents or data submitted by applicants or acquired by site inspections and/or other informative sources used for determining minimum environmental or other compliance with established standards. Prepare various publications, reports, and technical documents (e.g. permits, designs, layout blueprints, soil evaluations, maps, plans, etc.) in a concise and legally defensible manner to ensure Agency's missions are met. Reviews records, data, operational plans, enforcement action requests, reports, Quality Assurance/Quality Control parameters, etc. and interpret findings and results (i.e. site inspections, permits, lab results, etc.) to ensure acceptable methodologies are performed and communicates interpretation of findings and results using regulations, policy, guidance, etc. to stakeholders.
4. Performs environmental or health investigations, remediation, natural resource management, and/or collection of environmental samples and/or monitoring data (e.g. soil, rock, air, water, sediment, sludge, biological, etc.) under physically demanding conditions (i.e. ditches, uneven terrain, wading in water, climbing, lifting/carrying equipment weighing up to 50 pounds, etc.) and evaluates the results/data as required to determine compliance with permits, environmental or other standards, and/or ecological condition requirements.
5. Maintains, repairs, and calibrates electronic equipment [e.g. radiation detection meter, photo ionization detector, pH meter, GPS, and X-ray fluorescence (XRF)], scientific instruments, and mechanical equipment (e.g. ozone monitor, air monitor, laser level, watercraft, etc.), and inventories chemicals and supplies, disposing of expired materials in accordance with safety rules and regulations.
6. Provides technical expertise to emergency responders, stakeholders, and any other personnel during emergency events, industrial incidents/accidents, and natural catastrophes where impacts to the environment (e.g. release radiation and radioactive material, air contaminants, water contaminants, etc.) are imminent. Provide consultative, technical, or educational services to stakeholders (i.e. industry, municipalities, counties, individuals, or groups), the public, and/or staff regarding regulatory information and/or proper procedures for performing environmental work in an effort to enhance environmental stewardship, health or other standards, practices, and safety.
Competencies (KSA's)
1. Decision Quality
2. Communicates Effectively
3. Customer Focus
4. Tech Savvy
5. Manages Complexity
Knowledge:
1. Chemistry
2. Biology
3. Geology
4. Physics
5. Law & Government
Skills:
1. Critical Thinking
2. Active Learning and Listening
3. Judgement and Decision Making
4. Time Management
5. Writing
Abilities:
1. Written Comprehension
2. Deductive Reasoning
3. Inductive Reasoning
4. Limb and/or Full Body Flexibility
5. Prolonged Stamina
Tools & Equipment
1. Computer/Tablet/Printer/Scanner/Copier/Fax
2. Telephone/Cell Phone/Pager/Two-Way Radios
3. Watercraft/Motor Vehicle/ATV
4. Sampling, Monitoring Equipment and Supplies/Tools
5. GPS/PPE/Power and Hand Tools
TN Driver Standards
State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:

• A valid driver's license
• For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not have record of the following violations: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.

Please include your Driver's License Information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application.
**Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.