RRC - Program Specialist IV - Environmental Permitting Specialist (00049674)
Organization: RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS
Primary Location: Texas-Austin
Work Locations: RRC Headquarters 1701 N Congress Avenue Austin 78701
Job: Office and Administrative Support
Employee Status: Regular
Schedule: Full-time
Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00
Travel: Yes, 5 % of the Time
State Job Code: 1573
Salary Admin Plan: B
Grade: 20
Salary (Pay Basis): 4,700.00 - 4,985.01 (Monthly)
Number of Openings: 1
Overtime Status: Exempt
Job Posting: May 2, 2025, 2:02:07 PM
Closing Date: May 16, 2025, 11:59:00 PM
Description
The Railroad Commission of Texas is a state agency with primary regulatory jurisdiction over the oil and natural gas industry; pipeline transport and pipeline safety; natural gas utilities; the LP-gas industry, and surface mining operations. You can find more details about us on the Railroad Commission of Texas’ website here https://www.rrc.texas.gov/about-us/.
To support our mission to serve Texas, we need great people to join our team. We provide a great working environment along with outstanding benefits, including:
•Generous paid time off including vacation, sick time, and at least 12 paid holidays per year
•Retirement pension with a 150% agency match – you can watch this YouTube video that describes this amazing benefit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJI6M7g73-w
•Health premiums 100% paid for full-time employees
•Wellness and Exercise Leave
•Career development programs/opportunities for advancement
For a complete list of our total compensation package please visit our website at https://www.rrc.texas.gov/about-us/jobs/. To view benefits available to all State of Texas employees visit the Employee Retirement Systems website at https://ers.texas.gov/benefits-at-a-glance.
General Description
The Railroad Commission of Texas is seeking a Program Specialist IV to respond to highly complex Open Records Requests (ORRs), serve as the liaison for EPS reviews needed by Office of General Counsel (OGC) on permits, and perform highly complex licensing and permitting work for the Environmental Permitting and Support Unit (EPS) within the Oil and Gas Division. Work is performed under the limited supervision with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Works under limited supervision, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment and will report directly to the EPS Manager and Administrative Team Leader.
•Work involves highly complex (senior-level) coordination with EPS permitting staff and OGC on reviews necessary to issue permits by the Unit and coordination with industry on legal notices for permit applications.
•ORR work involves highly complex (senior-level) records and information management work in evaluating, reviewing, responding, implementing, updating, and maintaining a records and information management program within EPS.
•Permitting work includes establishing and maintaining current registration information to Operators using a new registration system for authorized pits including associated financial security requirements and serve as the Unit lead for record retention and file clean-up.
•Serve as a backup to permits issued by the Administrative Team when primary staff assigned are out of office for an extended period of time.
Other work assisting peers in the Unit generally includes communicating with external and internal customers, ensuring compliance with applicable policies, administrative codes, and statutes.
Successful applicants must be highly organized, have demonstrated experience with responding to ORR’s in a regulatory setting, and be familiar Windows based applications and/or terminal based systems and databases. Excellent verbal, written and telecommunication skills are necessary to effectively work with internal and external customers of various backgrounds and skill sets.
Essential Job Functions
•Serve as lead Unit liaison for permitting items to be reviewed by Office of General Counsel (OGC) including but not limited to, deeds, leases, restrictive covenants, etc and coordinate with Unit Team Leaders on legislative timeframes.
•Serve as the Unit liaison for permitting notice requirements under 16 TAC Chapter 4, Subchapters A & B. This includes close coordination between Operators who need to file notice, permitting team reviewers, and legislative timeframes.
•Receives, collects information responsive, and provides timely responses for EPS to process Open Records Requests (ORR) within designated timeframes.
•Quickly identifies information marked as “confidential” to Commission OGC when requested in an ORR.
•Receive, process, and track registrations and associated financial security for authorized pits until the Commission adopts a fully digital system.
•Serve as the Unit expert for record retention and lead EPS file clean-up work within the Unit necessary to meet the Commissions record retention requirements.
•Assist Administrative Team as a backup staff member to issue minor permits (e.g., Hydrostatic Test, Domestic Wastewater, etc) when the primary staff assigned is out of office for an extended period of time (e.g., on vacation)
•Inputs required technical data into appropriate computer applications, databases, and systems.
•Meet and maintain measured work standards, with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
•Research and interpret hardcopy records, microfilms, and databases.
•Skilled in prioritizing workloads to meet deadlines.
•Performs additional related essential tasks to maintain production workflow.
For Military Crosswalk information, please visit: Military Crosswalk for Occupational Category -Program Management
QualificationsMinimum Qualifications
•High School Diploma or GED.
•Minimum of 4 years demonstrated experience of professional administrative support work.
•Minimum of 4 years demonstrated experience working with Microsoft Excel.
•Demonstrated professional level experience responding to highly complex requests such as those filed under a Public Information Act (PIA), compiling information for legal cases, legislative or executive level reviews, or producing highly complex briefs for management through rule, policy, or procedure to support an agency.
•Must be able to work in downtown Austin, TX Monday through Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Preferred Qualifications
•Strong preference will be given to candidates who meet the minimum qualifications at a regulatory or government agency.
•Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university.
•Preferred >5 years of professional experience in professional administrative support work, responding to highly complex requests described in the minimum qualifications.
•Proficiency in business information management system (such as LoneSTAR, CASES, or any other RRC Online supported databases).
•Experience using some advanced functions to facilitate workflows in Microsoft Excel.
•General knowledge of Oil and Gas Division functions, rules, and regulations.
•Experience with call centers, problem solving, regulatory permitting inquiries, or other related customer support services.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
•Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws related to the program area; public administration
•and management techniques; statistical analysis processes; budget processes; research
•techniques; training and marketing techniques; and program management processes and
•Skill in identifying measures or indicators of program performance and the use of a computer
•and applicable software.
•Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts; to devise solutions to problems; to
•market programs; to prepare reports; to develop, evaluate, and interpret policies and
•procedures; to communicate effectively; and to provide guidance to others.Ability to accurately file, sort, organize, and distribute documents and retrieve files.
•Ability to operate copy machine, fax, scanner and other general office equipment.
•Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
•Ability to lift, carry, and move up to 30 pounds.
•Ability to stoop, reach low and high, push and pull heavy file drawers and/or cart.
•Ability to stand or sit for long periods of time while performing administrative or technical duties.
•Ability to work independently and on a team.
•Ability to work well under pressure and be flexible.
•Ability to maintain professional appearance and demeanor.
•Ability to maintain punctuality and regular attendance.
•Ability to work in downtown Austin, TX Monday through Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Work Hours: Standard office hours for Commission employees are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Our agency offers alternate schedules for employees, as long as it does not adversely affect operations and service levels, and standard hours of operation are maintained. Alternate work schedules may be discussed with the hiring manager during the interview process.
APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED THROUGH WORK IN TEXAS: Work In Texas (WIT) applicants must complete the CAPPS Recruit Prescreening Questionnaire to be considered for the posting. To complete the Prescreening Questionnaire, go to CAPPS Recruit to register or login: https://capps.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en
Remarks:
* There is one available position.
•Official transcripts, DD214 or DD1300, copies of license/certifications, or other minimum requirement validations will be requested at the time of the job offer.
•Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa.
THE RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS ONLY ACCEPTS ONLINE APPLICATIONS FOR THIS POSTING.
Due to the high volume of applications we do not accept telephone calls. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted. Notifications to applicants are sent electronically to the email address you provide.
The Railroad Commission of Texas is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not
discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age
or disability in employment or in the provision of services.
The Railroad Commission of Texas is a tobacco-free workplace.
Austin, TX
Full-time
$56,400-$59,820
