Tank Section Team Leader (Engineer Manager I or Scientist Manager I)

Job Description

PLEASE ATTACH THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS LISTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE

Job ID: 34777
Agency: Agriculture & Natural Resources
Location:Pierre, SDSalary: SM1 $80,000-$85,000 OR EM1 $95,000-$100,000, depending on qualifications
Pay Grade: SM1 or EM1
Closing Date: 02/20/2026

The mission of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) is to protect and preserve agriculture, environment, and natural resources through effective regulatory services, natural resource conservation, and financial and technical assistance. DANR treats every person as a customer and maintains a high level of integrity through transparent government services and science-based decision making.

Are you looking for an organization that values a work-life balance? This position includes paid vacation leave, sick leave, and family leave. The state of South Dakota also offers a generous health benefits package which includes options for health, vision, and dental insurance in addition to one of the strongest retirement systems in the nation.

DANR is hiring a Tank Section Team Leader as either an Engineer Manager I or Scientist Manager I , with wage dependent on qualifications of the successful candidate. This position ensures the protection of South Dakota's natural resources by implementing the Underground and Aboveground Storage Tank Programs. This position acts as the technical expert and team leader for the Tank Section, which is comprised primarily of professional staff. This position provides day-to-day supervision of a team that carries out storage tank inspections, tank spill and release site remediation, oversight of the Abandoned Tank Program, and management of federal grants. Employees in this position are required to have a thorough knowledge of department environmental laws, rules, and policies, grant-management requirements for federal UST and LUST Trust grants, and ability to address complex environmental issues. This position will conduct evaluations of plans and specifications for aboveground and underground storage tank systems and will determine if the plans and specifications will achieve compliance with state regulatory requirements. Only applicants possessing a Bachelor of Science or Master of Science degree in geological, environmental, civil, or a related engineering field will be considered.

We are looking for applicants that have 4 or more years of progressive assessment and remediation experience as a Certified Petroleum Release Remediator. A Professional Engineer license is desired, but not required. Applicants should have a working knowledge of state government, experience and skill with grant and budget-management, the ability to guide a team of professionals, and significant experience with petroleum-release assessment and remediation.

Information regarding Engineering Track positions and compensation within State Government is available at:

• https://www.sd.gov/sys_attachment.do?sys_id=b54a86ad1b766a10f744edb5604bcbf8
• https://www.sd.gov/bhra?id=cs_kb_article_view&sys_id=bab149581b713290ff55631ee54bcbeb

Information regarding Scientist Track positions and compensation within State Government is available at:

• https://www.sd.gov/bhra?id=cs_kb_article_view&sys_id=713abf248772b690a086bae9cebb3589
• https://www.sd.gov/bhra?id=cs_kb_article_view&sys_id=bab149581b713290ff55631ee54bcbeb

The successful applicant must have or be eligible to obtain and maintain a Certified Petroleum Release Remediator (CPRR) certificate. Costs associated with obtaining and maintaining CPRR certification are reimbursed by the department. A Professional Engineering License is desired, but not required for this Team Lead position. Licensing activities can be completed during normal work hours.

This is a Full-Time position with the Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources. This exempt position is located in Pierre, and is not eligible for remote work. Working conditions are mostly inside a state office building with some overnight travel. Normal work hours for this salaried position are typically 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. However, fieldwork, spill response activities, emergency operations center activities, and other duties as assigned may require flexing of the work schedule to include longer work days and working on weekends and holidays. This position will be trained in the Incident Command System and will be available to work in South Dakota's Emergency Operations Center during times when the Governor declares an emergency.

For more information on the Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources, please visit https://danr.sd.gov/ .

Licenses and Certifications:
The selected applicant must have or obtain and maintain a Certified Petroleum Release Remediator certificate.
Current and continued licensure as a Professional Engineer is desired but not required.
This position requires a valid driver's license.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:
We are looking for candidates that have experience with:

• South Dakota geology, hydrology, and/or environmental sciences;
• The practical application of scientific principles, procedures, techniques, and methods to provide solutions for environmental and natural resources problems.
• Spill response, assessment and remediation processes and procedures;
• Federal and State Underground Storage Tanks Rules and Regulations;
• State Aboveground Storage Tank Rules and Regulations;
• Department and federal policies and procedures regarding the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Program, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, state environmental protection laws SDCL 34A-12, SDCL 34A-2-98, and SDCL 34A-2-99.

Skill to:

• Acquire and maintain the technical background and knowledge of underground and aboveground tank systems to be able to provide guidance to staff in the technical aspects of regulated tank systems;
• Use scientific rules and methods to solve problems;
• Ability to communicate in a clear and concise manner, treat everyone as a customer, and provide exceptional customer service that exceeds the expectations of all customers.

Ability to:

• Establish goals and expectations for the team members and make recommendations on resources and budgetary requirements;
• Act as the department's technical expert to review and approve plans and specifications on aboveground and underground storage tank systems;
• Take after-hours spill reports and direct emergency response, assessment and remediation activities;
• Enforce environmental policies, rules and regulations;
• Coordinate activities and plans, direct and utilize available resources across a broad area of responsibility to provide effective team/project management, achieve state, federal, and/or local goals, and ensure work is completed in accordance with established policies, laws, and rules;
• Develop or evaluate and approve standards and criteria established by professional staff; review and approve staff-prepared technical reports, recommended cleanup, and enforcement actions;
• Collaborate and communicate with other teams and technical experts to provide information and needed resources, and also communicate with the media and our customers in easy-to-understand terms;
• Educate professional staff on new developments and communicate critical information to ensure compliance and advancements in methods and techniques; encourage staff to keep current on technical advancements through newsletters, technical journals, conferences, EPA training, membership in technical societies or organizations; and encourage attainment of professional licenses such as Certified Petroleum Release Remediator, and other appropriate professional certifications;
• Initiate, prepare, negotiate, and manage grants and contracts to support the goals of the team and department and to maintain federal equivalency;
• Determine implications of legislative and regulatory changes and make recommendations on action to address them; monitor the effectiveness and consistency of internal practices, procedures, and policies; and recommend improvements;
• Coordinate with the Federal Environmental Protection Agency on the the management of the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Program and the Underground Storage Tank grants to include grant application preparation, program policy documents and program compliance documentation.

Additional Requirements: To be considered, please attach your resume, current documentation of licensure as a professional engineer if licensed, documentation of licensure as a Certified Petroleum Release Remediator, and a writing sample.

This position is exempt from the Civil Service Act.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information here . This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

Must apply online: https://gen-stateofsouthdako-trn.inforcloudsuite.com/hcm/xmlhttp/shorturl.do?key=3H4
You must apply online, emailed resumes or submissions will not be accepted.
South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources
Telephone: 605.773.3148 Email: careers@state.sd.us
http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus
"An Equal Opportunity Employer"

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