Job Description

Posting number: DCE-OPC-2026-227284-MFR

Department: DCE-Conservation and Energy

Division: Office of Permitting and Compliance

Job classification: PETROLEUM SCIENTIST 1

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Engineering, Natural Resources

Summary

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Office of Permitting & Compliance – Permitting

The Office of Permitting and Compliance (OPC) oversees all permitting and regulatory functions within the Department, ensuring clarity, consistency, and regulatory integrity. By streamlining processes, accelerating permitting timelines and enhancing data-driven decision-making, the Office ensures compliance with environmental standards while supporting responsible economic development.

OPC centralizes all permitting and compliance functions, aligning engineering, geology, ecology, design, and compliance divisions into a single workflow. Its structure includes integrity and production audits, UIC and storage regulation, groundwater protection, coastal permits and mitigation, and reservoir and legacy site management.

Examples of duties

A bachelor’s degree in a geoscience field or engineering.

Qualifications

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Supplemental information

Job Duties:

This Petroleum Scientist 1, 2, or 3 position is located within the Permitting Division of the Office Permitting & Compliance and is domiciled in Baton Rouge, LA. The incumbent in this position reports to the Petroleum Scientist Manager 1. All work is performed in accordance with departmental policies, procedures, rules, and regulations.

Duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Process Financial Security pertaining to Bond, CD, and Letter of Credit posted by operators to cover and insure funds for well plugging and abandonment.
• Process Applications for Permit to Drill for Minerals (original and amended) for the State of Louisiana.
• Responsible for assisting in the direction of permitting activities for drilling operations throughout the state.
• Responsible for the issuance of permits to drill, amendments, and for the determination of the requirements placed on such permits.
• Responds to inquiries from industry and citizens via telephone, fax, electronic mail and regular mail.
• Process applications under the Severance Tax Relief Program (S.T.R.P.).
• Ensure the proposed well or existing well for any application is in compliance with existing field orders and will result in the most efficient and economic drainage of hydrocarbons under consideration.
• Ensure the legal notice for substitute unit well and alternate unit well designation is legally advertised in the correct manner and proper notification is given to ensure the fair and equitable rights of all parties are protected.
• Conducts studies, evaluations, economic feasibility determinations, and analysis of various complex proposed projects to improve the recovery of producing oil and gas reservoirs submitted at public hearings for approval.
• Ensure the commingling of gas and/or liquid hydrocarbons and the use of methods will provide reasonable accurate measurement, will not create inequities, etc.
• Responsible for the review and approval of applications for the measurement and transfer of custody of liquid hydrocarbons required by Statewide Order 29-G-1 (LACT).
• May perform other duties as assigned.

POSITION-SPECIFIC DETAILS:

Appointment Type: Probational

Career Progression: This position does participate in a Career Progression Group Petroleum Scientist 1, 2, or 3.

Work Schedule: Work hours are flexible.

Compensation: The salary offered will be determined based on qualifications and experience. This position is eligible for premium pay of up to $2.00 per hour for licensed employees. A Special Entrance Rate (SER) is offered to qualified applicants.

ENGINEERING DEGREE (NON-PETROLEUM)/GEOLOGY or GEOSCIENCE DEGREE

Title/Level

Petroleum Scientist 1

Petroleum Scientist 2

Petroleum Scientist 3

Pay Level

TS-312

TS-314

TS-316

SER Hourly Range

$27.65 - $43.28

$30.55 - $49.55

$33.76 - $56.73

SER Monthly Range

$4,792.67 - $7,502

$5,295.33 - $8,589

$5,851.73 - $9,833

SER Annual Range

$57,512 - $90,022

$63,544 - $103,064

$70,220.80 - $117,988

PETROLEUM ENGINEERING DEGREE

SER Hourly Range

$28.85 - $43.28

$33.03 - $49.55

$37.82 - $56.73

SER Monthly Range

$5,000.67 - $7,502

$5,725.20 - $8,589

$6,555.47 - $9,833

SER Annual Range

$60,008 - $90,022

$68,702.40 - $103,064

$78,665.60 - $117,998

Louisiana is a State As a Model Employer (SAME) that supports the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities.

How To Apply:

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

To apply for this vacancy, click on the “Apply” link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

• Information to support your eligibility for the position must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education). Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.

For further information about this vacancy contact:

Human Resources

Department of Conservation and Energy

PO Box 94396

Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9396

Email: DNR-Recruiting@la.gov