ECMC - Geothermal & Carbon Capture Storage (CCS) Specialist (PSRS II)

This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application. Are you interested in investing in a career that makes a difference? Consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. It’s our mission to manage and conserve Colorado’s natural resources for the benefit of people today – and tomorrow. That means we have to balance development with conservation so the state we all love provides similar opportunities for our children and their children. We invite you to explore our website at to find out more about the work we do to manage Colorado’s natural resources for today – and tomorrow. The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. Benefits Medical, Vision and Dental plans Strong, flexible retirement plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus pre‑tax and Roth 401K and 457 plans Paid life insurance Short‑ and long‑term disability coverage Employee Wellness programs Flexible Spending Accounts Health Savings Accounts 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave Flexible work schedule options and remote‑work options Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program For more detailed information, please visit State of Colorado Employee Benefits. About Colorado Energy & Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) The Colorado Energy & Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) regulates the development and production of Colorado's natural resources, including oil and gas, geothermal energy, and carbon capture and storage. The ECMC's mission is to do so in a way that protects the environment, public health, safety, and welfare. The Cumulative Impacts & Energy Transition (CIET) Unit leads the agency’s efforts to develop and implement clean energy programs, including deep geothermal, that support the state’s transition from fossil fuels to renewables in order to meet Colorado’s goals of 100% renewable grid energy by 2040 and zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The CIET Unit also leads the agency’s efforts to avoid, minimize, and mitigate adverse cumulative impacts, including climate impacts, through the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and other decarbonization and emissions‑reduction programs, including reductions in emissions and other impacts caused by upstream oil and gas development. The CIET Unit also supports local and tribal governments in the development of wind and solar projects. CIET’s programs and projects are delivered through a lens of environmental justice and equity, energy reliability and accessibility, and in a manner that protects public health, safety, welfare, the environment, and wildlife resources for both traditional and clean energy development. Job Overview This position supports emerging energy programs involving the development of deep geothermal (GT) and carbon capture and storage (CCS). This position applies geological, hydrological, and engineering theories, principles, and models in the regulation of deep geothermal resources and the long term storage of captured carbon. Specific job duties include but are not limited to: Support the evaluation, drafting, and editing of carbon sequestration or deep geothermal permits, which includes assisting with environmental and technical review of permit documents for completeness, accuracy, and demonstration of compliance with ECMC rules. Help ensure potential projects are designed to operate safely and are compliant with ECMC rules. If projects are unique or otherwise don’t readily appear to meet rule requirements, this position will elevate the project to senior staff or the AG’s office for additional consultation. Assist in the development and implementation of review tools, guidance documents, standard operating procedures, and other media associated with carbon storage and deep geothermal programs for permitting and reporting. This position will need to be able to predict and/or identify data gaps and inconsistencies in permit applications, and be able to effectively request and capture data that is not readily captured in electronic forms. Provide scientific support for development and implementation of deep geothermal and CCS regulations, programs, other emerging industries, and associated studies. Review scientific literature, conference proceedings, technical work proposals, and keep apprised of program developments, study needs, and provide information and testimony as required. This position will seek to stay current in industry technologies and practices, share information and collaborate with other state and federal agencies (including CDPHE, DWR, and EPA), and support outreach efforts with the Commission, operators and the regulated community, and other stakeholders. Minimum Qualifications Six (6) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position. A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to six (6) years. Additional appropriate education will substitute for the required experience on a year‑for‑year basis. Please note: The required experience must be substantiated within the work experience section of your application. Your resume will not be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications; only the work experience section of your application will be reviewed to determine this. “See Resume” statements on the application will not be accepted. In addition, part‑time work will be prorated. Preferred Qualifications Current or former State employment experience. Experience with permitting, regulatory compliance, or program development. Knowledge and/or experience with geothermal energy, carbon capture and storage, or a related energy sector. Experience in the technical review of environmental and/or subsurface data and how to translate it into plain language for diverse audiences. Effective communication, technical writing, and research proficiency. Experience with data management and analysis, ideally in an energy or similar context. Conducting scientific research, writing scientific reports, and communicating results to a variety of audiences. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Familiarity with ECMC rules and regulations and regulatory processes. Customer service experience working and collaborating with industry partners, regulatory agencies, and other internal/external stakeholders. The current work arrangement for this position is as follows: Hybrid: This position will work from a home office with occasional travel to the main Denver office and around the state for meetings as directed by their supervisor. Conditions of Employment Colorado residency is required at the time of application. This is a Remote/Hybrid position – Work is primarily performed from a home office, but the selected candidate must be willing and able, at times, to report to the office at 1120 Lincoln Street, Suite 801 – Denver, CO or other locations for meetings, training, and projects as directed by the supervisor. Former employees of the state of Colorado must have concluded employment in good standing to be eligible for rehire. You must be legally eligible to work in the United States to be appointed to this position. DNR does not sponsor non‑residents of the United States. Must possess and maintain a valid state of Colorado driver's license if operating a State vehicle. The Assessment Process All applications received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed by an HR Specialist against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process. Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position will be a structured application review by Subject Matter Experts. Resumes, cover letters and other attachments are not considered as part of initial reviews. Therefore, it is important to document in your application your education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications as outlined in the job announcement. Please thoroughly answer all supplemental questions (if listed) since question responses may be evaluated for content, writing ability, spelling, grammar, and effective communication. This recruitment may involve additional testing and/or exams to arrive at the top group for interviews. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. In all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. The Department of Natural Resources is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre‑employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, at View email address on click.appcast.io. The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness. The State is resolute in non‑discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities. ADAAA Accommodations Any person with a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided a reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an employment assessment. To request accommodation, please contact our Benefits Specialist at View email address on click.appcast.io at least five business days before the date that any accommodation will be required to allow us to evaluate your request and prepare for the accommodation. You may be asked to provide additional information, including medical documentation, regarding functional limitations and type of accommodation needed. Please ensure that you have this information available well in advance of the assessment date. E-Verify DNR uses E-Verify, an Internet‑based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities. Toll‑Free Applicant Support – Technical Help If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV at View phone number on click.appcast.io, Mon‑Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). The Human Resources Office will be unable to assist with technical issues. #J-18808-Ljbffr State of Colorado