Geologist/Hydrologist I - Underground Storage Tank Management Division

Richland County, SC, SC, US Until 9/24/2026 0+ years exp First posted July 21, 2026 Last posted July 26, 2026
Job description
<p style="margin: 0.25in 0 4pt; text-align: center"><img src="https://secure.neogov.com/images/AgencyImages/jobposting/1257/jobpostings/image/20250610141317_DES_Logo__Primary_Horizontal_Color.png" style="width: 300px" class="fr-fic fr-dii" alt="Careers at SCDES: Where Passion Meets Preservation"></p><p style="margin: 0.25in 0 4pt; text-align: center"><strong><span style="color: rgba(0, 113, 70, 1)">Careers at SCDES: Where Passion Meets Preservation</span></strong></p><p style="margin: 0; text-align: center"><span style="color: rgba(0, 113, 70, 1)"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0; text-align: center"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 1)"><em>Do you love South Carolina and protecting the environment? Come join our team at SCDES, put your passion to work with us! We are dedicated to protecting the state of South Carolina and we would love to have you as a member of our team!</em></span></p><p style="margin: 0.25in 0 4pt; text-align: center"><span style="color: rgba(0, 113, 70, 1)"><strong>Science&nbsp;</strong><strong>|</strong><strong>&nbsp;Service&nbsp;</strong><strong>|</strong></span><strong><span style="color: rgba(0, 113, 70, 1)"> Sustainability</span></strong></p><br><p style="margin: 0 0 8pt">Under direct supervision, the <strong>Geologist/Hydrologist I</strong> provides technical review and regulatory oversight for site rehabilitation activities associated with releases from underground storage tanks for the Underground Storage Tank Management Division. This role is ideal for professionals who want to apply their expertise in <strong>geology, hydrogeology, hydrology, or groundwater science</strong> to meaningful, real-world environmental protection work across the state of South Carolina.</p><div style="font-style: normal">You will be part of a collaborative, science-driven team focused on timely, accurate environmental assessments and remediation decisions. This position offers opportunities to grow technically, develop field and modeling experience, and build professional credentials in hydrogeology and environmental management.</div><br><strong>Job Responsibilities:</strong><ul><li><div style="font-style: normal">Using Risk-Based Corrective Action criteria and Standard Operating Procedures, review and approve technical plans in accordance with established program goals.</div></li><li><div style="font-style: normal">Evaluate technical reports to ensure they are accurate, complete, and defensible.</div></li><li><div style="font-style: normal">Assess regulated Petroleum Releases in a timely manner for corrective action, remediation needs, or No Further Action decisions.</div></li><li><div style="font-style: normal">Conduct records management for assigned releases, including updating the E-Permitting database and maintaining project files per agency retention policies.</div></li><li><div style="font-style: normal">Review and approve cost estimates and invoices for hydrogeologic/groundwater work funded by State resources; verify accuracy before authorizing payment.</div></li><li><div style="font-style: normal">Provide technical assistance and information to coworkers, consultants, industries, public officials, and members of the public.</div></li><li><div style="font-style: normal">Participate in peer reviews to ensure program consistency.</div></li><li><div style="font-style: normal">Support program management with special projects and emerging needs.</div></li><li><div style="font-style: normal">Perform other duties as assigned.</div></li></ul><p style="margin: 0 0 6pt; color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0"><br></p><p style="margin: 0 0 6pt; color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0"><strong style="font-weight: 700"><span style="color: inherit">Why Join Us?</span></strong></p><p style="margin: 0 0 6pt; color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0"><span style="color: inherit">As a South Carolina state employee, you’ll enjoy:</span></p><ul style="padding-left: 2rem; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 3pt; color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0"><li style="margin: 0 0 2pt; color: inherit"><strong style="font-weight: 700">Job Stability &amp; Purposeful Work</strong>: Make an impact on your community as you contribute to protecting SC's environment</li><li style="margin: 0 0 2pt; color: inherit"><strong style="font-weight: 700">Great Benefits:&nbsp;</strong>Including paid holidays, 30 total days of leave per year, insurance options for you and your family and retirement benefit choices.</li><li style="margin: 0 0 2pt; color: inherit"><strong style="font-weight: 700">Career Growth</strong>: Ongoing training, professional development, and opportunities to pursue credentials such as GIT or PG. Fieldwork, groundwater modeling tools and hands on projects will grow your expertise.</li><li style="margin: 0 0 2pt; color: inherit"><strong style="font-weight: 700">Work-Life Balance</strong>: A career that lets you enjoy South Carolina, inside and <strong style="font-weight: 700"><em>outside&nbsp;</em></strong>of your job<strong style="font-weight: 700"><em>.</em></strong></li></ul><br>A bachelor's degree in geology, hydrology, hydrogeology or geological engineering.<br><br><strong>Additional Requirements:</strong><ul><li>Ability to operate a motor vehicle and have a valid Driver's License.</li><li>Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.&nbsp;</li><li><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)">A good working knowledge of basic geochemistry and groundwater modeling programs.&nbsp;</span></li><li>Must have good working knowledge of the groundwater resources.</li><li>Experience with computer tasks (data management, word processing).</li><li>May require:&nbsp;<ul><li>Daily travel throughout the state with a provided state fleet vehicle.&nbsp;</li><li>Occasional out-of-state and overnight travel.&nbsp;</li></ul></li></ul><br><p style="margin: 0 0 8pt"><strong>Institutions of Higher Learning must be recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.</strong></p><div style="font-style: normal"><strong>Transcript Guidance:</strong></div><p style="margin: 0 0 8pt"><em>Applicants indicating college credit or degree(s) on the application are encouraged to upload an unofficial copy of the transcript as an attachment to the application. Please note that the agency may require an official, certified copy of the transcript or diploma prior to hiring.</em></p><br><ul><li>Geologist in Training Certification (GIT) or Professional Geologist License (PG).&nbsp;</li><li>Experience in conducting geologic or hydrologic investigations.</li><li>Experience in groundwater protection regulations and policies.&nbsp;</li><li>Experience with petroleum remediation, environmental consulting, or subsurface characterization</li><li>Familiarity with GIS or groundwater modeling software</li></ul><p style="margin: 0"><br></p><p style="margin: 0 0 8pt">SCDES is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;The Department will not sponsor H1B visas for this position.</p><br><p style="margin: 0 0 8pt"><strong><em>The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees:&nbsp;</em></strong></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 3pt; margin-top: 0" type="disc"><li style="margin: 0 0 8pt">Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children. Click <a href="https://www.peba.sc.gov/employees">here</a> for additional information.</li><li style="margin: 0 0 8pt">15 days annual (vacation) leave per year</li><li style="margin: 0 0 8pt">15 days sick leave per year</li><li style="margin: 0 0 8pt">13 paid holidays</li><li style="margin: 0 0 8pt">Paid parental leave</li><li style="margin: 0 0 8pt">S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available <a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F365sc-my.sharepoint.com%2Fpersonal%2Fcliff_ballew_admin_sc_gov%2FDocuments%2FDesktop%2F(SC%2520Deferred%2520Comp)&amp;data=05%7C02%7CAlexis.Jackson%40admin.sc.gov%7Cb1f025c1c0324acf64b108dc29a5d4a0%7Ce9f8d01480d84f27b0d6c3d6c085fcdd%7C0%7C0%7C638431039404658774%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=egcOdzaC4GcowTr43xDzFY2WaDjHr%2F7Df6FCR5nrGPg%3D&amp;reserved=0">(</a><a href="https://www.peba.sc.gov/deferred-comp">S.C. Deferred Compensation</a><a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F365sc-my.sharepoint.com%2Fpersonal%2Fcliff_ballew_admin_sc_gov%2FDocuments%2FDesktop%2F(SC%2520Deferred%2520Comp)&amp;data=05%7C02%7CAlexis.Jackson%40admin.sc.gov%7Cb1f025c1c0324acf64b108dc29a5d4a0%7Ce9f8d01480d84f27b0d6c3d6c085fcdd%7C0%7C0%7C638431039404676692%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Ggs7nsX8oJAygG4lIIJUFXdm6EiNlynkObMBoiWMtuQ%3D&amp;reserved=0">)</a></li><li style="margin: 0 0 8pt">Retirement benefit choices <em>*</em> &nbsp;</li></ul><ul style="margin-left: 60px"><li><div>State Retirement Plan <a href="https://www.peba.sc.gov/scrs">(</a><a href="https://www.peba.sc.gov/scrs">SCRS</a><a href="https://www.peba.sc.gov/scrs">)</a></div></li><li><div>State Optional Retirement Program <a href="https://www.peba.sc.gov/state-orp">(</a><a href="https://www.peba.sc.gov/state-orp">State ORP</a><a href="https://www.peba.sc.gov/state-orp">)</a></div></li></ul><ul style="margin-bottom: 3pt; margin-top: 0" type="disc"><li style="margin: 0 0 8pt">Remote Work:&nbsp;<span style="color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0">The option to work remotely 2 days per week is available after successful completion of 1 year of employment with SCDES, based on job functions.</span></li></ul><p style="margin: 0 0 8pt"><strong><em>*Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.</em></strong></p>
About this role

Summary

Perform environmental site review, assessment, and regulatory oversight for groundwater and storage tank projects

Job title

Geologist/Hydrologist I

Experience level

entry level

Minimum experience

0+ years exp

Industry

environmental services

Location requirements

Richland County, SC; remote work after 1 year permitted

Salary

Not specified

Management role

No

Skills & keywords

Required skills

geologyhydrologygroundwater modelinggeochemistrydata management

Preferred skills

GISpetroleum remediationenvironmental consulting

Specializations

geologyhydrogeologygroundwater scienceenvironmental assessment
Locations

Structured locations inferred from the posting.

Richland County, SC, USA

Work arrangement unknown Place