Initial Posting Date:

11/05/2026

Application Deadline:

11/19/2026

Agency:

Department of State Lands

Salary Range:

$6,275 - $9,644

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Mitigation Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 4)

Job Description:

Are you experienced in natural resources and passionate about wetlands and waterways? Apply to be one of our next Mitigation Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 4) by November 19, 2026! This is a full-time, permanent position eligible for a hybrid remote schedule.

 

The successful candidates must be able to travel to site visits within Oregon on short notice and, within six months of hiring, live within a reasonable commuting distance to the Salem office. 

 

Making a Difference for Oregon. The Department of State Lands manages the lands that help fund our public schools and protects the state’s waterways and wetlands for the many benefits they provide. Our stewardship ensures vital natural and financial resources contribute to a vibrant, healthy Oregon now and forever. The DSL team makes a difference for Oregonians every day. As our Mitigation Specialist, you will too.

 

This position serves as the technical lead and statewide subject matter expert for compensatory mitigation credit delivery through mitigation banks, in-lieu fee (ILF), and payment in-lieu (PIL) within the Planning and Policy Unit of the ARM. The position applies a strategic approach to mitigation delivery by identifying and communicating where credits exist and where more are needed, prioritizing assistance, and coordinating with Tribes, federal, state, and local partners to align mitigation efforts with broader watershed objectives.

 

What’s In It for You?

 

• Utilize your skills and experience in natural resources to protect Oregon’s waterways and wetlands through the state’s Removal-Fill Law while engaging the public, government agencies, and other interested parties.
• Receive 1-on-1 mentoring and support from natural resource experts.
• Join an organization with collaborative and engaged co-workers who care about Oregon’s economy, environment, communities, and their co-workers.
• Gain full benefits with 95% to 99% of medical insurance premiums paid by the agency for full-time employees, including mental health coverage.
• Accrue 8 hours of sick leave and 8 hours of vacation leave per month, with your vacation leave accruals increasing every 5 years.
• Receive 11 paid holidays, one (1) floating holiday, three (3) personal business days and other medical, vision and dental benefits, including flexible spending plans and mental health coverage.
• Automatically enrolled into the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) after six (6) months of full-time service.
• Possibly qualify for the Student Loan Forgiveness Program.
• Earn the initial monthly salary range for this position starting at $6,275 - $9,644 for employees new to public service. After 6 months, you will receive a 6.95% increase with 6% going to your PERS retirement.
• Current PERS employees start at $6,709 – $10,315 Please review the Classification and Compensation page for more details.
  • NOTE: Starting pay is determined by a pay equity analysis, which is partly based on the number of years of relevant experience.

 

This is a full-time, permanent position represented by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

 

Working Conditions

 

The successful candidates will primarily work in an office environment with occasional field work along waterways or on rough terrain to complete assigned work. Travel is an essential function of the position and may require overnight stays or site visits performed on the same day as the request.  Work hours during fieldwork can be irregular and sometimes long. Visits to on-site locations may be by vehicle, watercraft or on foot. Site visits sometimes involve walking over uneven terrain or in wet, muddy ground without pathways in all types of weather. Work can at times be in remote locations. DSL provides agency-maintained vehicles, field gear reimbursement, and travel expenses for authorized work-related travel and fieldwork.

 

What You Will Be Doing

 

Project Management and Technical Assistance. Serve as technical expert in compensatory mitigation credit delivery strategies to lead proposals through the approval process, coordinate internal and external reviews, and develop and maintain templates and forms.

Policy Development and Support. Interpret and explain pertinent laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures to the public, government officials, and agency personnel. Recommend policy and rule changes, including internal and interagency coordination.

• Agency Representation. Serve as a Department representative at meetings and hearings, communicate to members of the public, internal and external parties and industry professionals, and develop education and outreach materials.
• Program Monitoring and Reporting. Lead compensatory mitigation credit reporting, track and contribute towards achievement of the department’s strategic plan and other annual reporting.

For a full description of the duties and working conditions, please email us at DSL-Human.Resources@DSL.oregon.gov to request the position description.

 

Minimum Qualifications

 

To be considered for these positions, please ensure you have one of the following combinations of education and experience:

 

Four (4) years of experience in aquatic natural resources. At least one year of the experience must be at a technical level or professional level performing activities in a natural resource program such as analyzing data, conducting investigations, applying pertinent laws and regulations, or coordinating and monitoring project activities.

AND

 

a bachelor’s degree in a natural resource field such as biology, ecology, natural resources, or environmental science, or

 

OR

 

three (3) additional years of related experience.

NOTE: A master’s degree in a natural resource field such as biology, ecology, or environmental science will substitute for up to one (1) year of the required experience.

 

A doctorate degree in a natural resource field such as biology, ecology, or environmental science will substitute for up to two (2) years of the required experience.

Desired Attributes

Tell us which of the following skills, experiences and related talents you have by highlighting them in your application materials:

 

• Mitigation Policy and Implementation Experience. Supporting or leading compensatory mitigation credit generation, or prioritizing habitat restoration projects, through a selection strategy; leading projects through an approval process, and coordinating with Tribes, federal, state and local partners.

• Ecosytem Dynamics. In-depth knowledge of ecosystem dynamics and services including experience in environmental science, fisheries, hydrology, geomorphology, or soil science. 

• Technical & Professional Communication. Strong written and verbal communication skills including professional internal and external customer service and high-quality deliverables.  Experience interpreting and explaining environmental regulations or programs to a wide variety of technical and non-technical audiences including public, private, and government entities.

• Compliance & Enforcement. Applying or evaluating compliance with wetland and waterway resource regulations or similar environmental laws.

• GPS/GIS Skills.  Using GPS and GIS software, such as ArcGIS Pro, for data analysis and mapping.

• Teamwork & Problem Solving. Demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team, including strong conflict resolution abilities.

• Professional Skills. Reliable, professional, self-motivated, and able to work under strict deadlines with strong organizational and time-management skills.

Please attach a cover letter of two (2) pages or less describing the above desired attributes that you bring to this position. 

Complete the following steps to apply:

Fill out the application or attach a resume. Please contact the recruiter if you have any questions about how to fill out the experience fields or to attach a document. Your submitted experience fields or attached resume must include dates (MM/YYYY) for each employer, and any relevant volunteer and/or internship experience.

Attach a cover letter. Your cover letter should clearly demonstrate how your experience and training relates to the qualities that you have under the “Desired Attributes” section above.

• Your cover letter must be limited to no more than two (2) pages.
• Generic cover letters that do not address the qualities that you have under the “Desired Attributes” section may receive lower scores than those that addressed the desired qualities.

Complete questionnaire. Answer the checkbox-style questions before submitting your application. If you are applying as an existing state employee for the job rotation option, please upload permission from your current supervisor.

Respond to requests. After you submit your application, please respond to the public records request authorization and gender identity questionnaire. This screen will come after you submit and will complete the process. If you are a current State of Oregon employee, the tasks will come to your Workday inbox.

Upload your documents to receive preference. If you are a veteran or current or former Oregon National Guard servicemember, you may receive preference. The task to upload your documents will be available after you submit your application. For privacy reasons, please do not attach your military service document(s) to your application or combine it with any other required document attachments.

The Oregon Department of State Lands is committed to seeking and sustaining a culturally, racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse working environment. The Department hires staff interested in supporting environmental justice by including communities traditionally underrepresented in public processes. We encourage members of these communities to apply, even if they do not meet 100% of the desired attributes. The Oregon Department of State Lands understands that an authentic focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace will in turn create a workforce aligned to meet the challenge of serving all Oregonians.

 

Additional Information

 

• This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies.
• If you need an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to participate in the application or selection process, please contact DSL-Human.Resources@dsl.oregon.gov and include the job requisition number.
• For more information about applying for positions with the State of Oregon via Workday, you may visit the Oregon job opportunities website.
• Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given veterans' preference. For further information, please check out these Veteran’s Resources, or call the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs at: 1-800-692-9666.
• After you apply, you may be asked to provide additional optional information. Please be sure to check your Workday account for pending tasks or actions under your “My Applications” section. Be sure to check both your email and Workday account for updates regarding this recruitment.
• The state of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution during the application process.
• As an employer, DSL complies with Oregon’s Pay Equity law.
• Agency does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, applicants will be required to complete I-9 documentation and confirm authorization to work in the United States.
• For questions about the job duties or application process, please contact DSL-Human.Resources@dsl.oregon.gov or call 971-600-5831 to speak to our recruitment team