Salary: $88,305.00 - $113,730.00 Annually
Location : Beaufort County, SC
Job Type: FTE - Full-Time
Job Number:
Agency: Department of Environmental Services
Division: Bureau of Regional and Laboratory Services
Opening Date: 09/18/2026
Closing Date: 9/27/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Class Code:: AH50
Position Number:: 61009855/192869
Normal Work Schedule:: Monday - Friday (8:30 - 5:00)
Pay Grade: GEN12
Hiring Range - Min.: $88,305.00
Hiring Range - Max.: $113,730.00

Job Responsibilities
About the Role:

The Area Director provides strategic leadership and daily oversight for the SCDES Lowcountry (Beaufort) Office. In this role, you will guide a multidisciplinary team responsible for air, land, and water program activities. You will identify and address complex, multi-media environmental issues and coordinate with partners the local, state, and federal levels to ensure consistent, collaborative, and effective Agency action.

This position serves as a regional operations leader, a technical resource for environmental program development, and a key public-facing representative for SCDES. Strong communication skills, sound judgment, and the ability to manage diverse priorities are essential. The Director ensures staff are supported, trained, and aligned with Agency goals while promoting strong customer service, regulatory consistency, and responsive environmental protection throughout the region. By leading this team, you play a vital role in protecting South Carolina's environment and ensuring healthy, sustainable communities for generations to come.

Job Responsibilities:

Leadership & Regional Operations

• Lead, direct, and coordinate daily activities of Beaufort regional staff across air, land, and water program areas. Oversee workload assignments, shift resources when necessary, and ensure program commitments and goals are consistently met.
• Ensure staff receive appropriate training, guidance, and support to carry out their responsibilities effectively.

Environmental Coordination & Community Engagement

• Provide technical assistance and guidance to city, county, state, and federal officials; industry leaders; community groups; and the public on environmental issues of broad and varied scope.
• Represent SCDES at community meetings, educational events, and civic or professional gatherings. Serve as a key point of contact for environmental inquiries and assist in coordinating agency responses.

Program Support & Strategic Input

• Provide expertise and input to SCDES programs on complex environmental concerns, including processes, strategy development, planning initiatives, policy matters, and special studies.

Complaint Response & Emergency Operations

• Conduct or supervise investigations across all SCDES program areas.
• Support and help maintain regional emergency operations readiness to ensure timely and effective response capabilities.

Administrative & Operational Oversight

• Oversee administrative duties such as activity reporting, leave management, performance evaluations, travel coordination, vehicle utilization, procurement card oversight, requisitions, and supply/equipment needs.
• Maintain compliance with SCDES policies and procedures across regional operations.

Other Responsibilities

• Perform additional duties as required to support Agency operations and regional environmental protection.

Why Join Us?

As a state employee, you'll enjoy:

• Job Stability & Purposeful Work: Make an impact on your community as you contribute to protecting SC'S environment
• Great Benefits: Including paid holidays, 30 total days of leave per year, insurance options for you and your family and retirement benefit choices.
• Career Growth: Enhance your skillset and expand your impact with continuous learning and professional development opportunities.
• Work-Life Balance: A career that lets you enjoy South Carolina, inside and outside of your job.

Minimum and Additional Requirements

• A master's degree in the natural or physical sciences, public health or related technical field and five (5) years of environmental experience; OR
• A bachelor's degree in the natural of physical science, public health or related technical field and six (6) years of environmental experience.

Degrees in a related technical field include but are not limited to earth or environmental sciences, chemistry, biology, physics, environmental engineering, geology, hydrology, natural resources management, and other similar disciplines.

Institutions of Higher Learning must be recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. 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.

Additional Requirements:

• Excellent communication and organization skills.
• Able to work effectively in a team environment and encourage positive working relationships with coworkers, industry partners, and government officials.
• Ability to work independently in a field environment.
• Willing to work in all reasonable weather conditions and able to access nontraditional work environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge and understanding of applicable state and federal environmental health regulations (air, land, and water).
• Supervisory experience and experience leading an environmental health program.
• Data management skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, etc.).
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and manage time effectively.

Additional Comments
Travel throughout the state, including occasional overnight travel, may be required. This position may also oversee and participate in Environmental Response Team activities, which are subject to 24/7 on-call availability.

The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees:

• Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children. Click for additional information.
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available
• Retirement benefit choices *
  • State Retirement Plan
  • State Optional Retirement Program

*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.
Benefits for State Employees
The state of South Carolina offers eligible employees generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid vacation and sick leave. Plus, work-life balance programs such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules are available to employees of some state agencies.

Insurance Benefits
Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, which includes prescription coverage and wellness benefits. Other available insurance benefits include dental, vision, term life insurance, long term disability and flexible spending accounts for health and child care expenses.

Retirement Benefits
State employees are also offered retirement plan options, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Additionally, eligible employees may elect to participate in the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program, which is a voluntary, supplemental retirement savings plan offering 401(k) and 457 plan options.

Workplace Benefits
State employees may also be eligible for other benefits, including tuition assistance; holiday, annual and sick leave; and discounts on purchases, travel and more.

Note: The benefits above are available to most state employees, with the exception of those in temporary positions. Employees in temporary grant and time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some or none of these benefits as benefits are associated with each position type. For these positions, contact the hiring agency to determine what benefits may be available.
01

Supplemental questions are considered part of your official application. Any misrepresentation will result in your disqualification from employment. Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education. A resume will not be accepted or reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position. I have read and acknowledge the above statement.

• Yes
• No

02

Are you a current or previous DHEC or SCDES employee?

• Yes
• No

03

Will you now or in the future require SCDES sponsorship for employment visa status?

• Yes
• No

04

Please select the option that best describes how you meet the minimum education and experience requirements for this position.

• I have a master's degree in the natural or physical sciences, public health, or a related technical field and at least five (5) years of environmental experience.
• I have a bachelor's degree in the natural or physical sciences, public health, or a related technical field and at least six (6) years of environmental experience.
• My qualifications do not match the minimum requirements for this position.
• I have a high school diploma and four (4) years of environmental health or related experience.

05

Please select the option that best describes your experience directing, supervising, or coordinating the work of staff.

• I do not have supervisory or leadership experience.
• I have 0-3 years of supervisory or leadership experience.
• I have 3-5 years of supervisory or leadership experience.
• I have more than 5 years of supervisory or leadership experience.

06

Was your any of supervisory or leadership experience gained while leading an environmental health program?

• Yes
• No

07

Do you have experience working with or applying state and federal environmental health regulations (air, land, and water)?

• Yes
• No

08

Do you have experience representing an agency or organization at community meetings, public forums, or intergovernmental discussions?

• Yes
• No

09

Do you have experience managing administrative processes such as performance reviews, activity reporting, leave oversight, procurement card usage, or supply/equipment requisitions?

• Yes
• No

Required Question