Associate Environmental Specialist

San Diego County Regional Airport Authority • San Diego, CA

12d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Planning, Noise, & Environment Department is seeking an Associate Environmental Specialist who is passionate about environmental protection and has a knack for building strong, positive relationships across diverse teams. In this role, you'll play a crucial part in ensuring storm water compliance throughout the entire lifecycle of construction projects at the airport, from design to post-construction. You’ll be responsible for reviewing project plans, attending meetings, performing inspections, and ensuring that environmental standards are met in real-time, making this role a blend of fieldwork and public administration. A minimum of three days in the office is required for this position. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of environmental regulations [California Construction General Permit, Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit, California Industrial General Permit, dewatering discharge permits] and a proactive approach to risk mitigation. The ideal candidate is able to connect with a wide range of stakeholders—from construction crews, regulatory agencies, tenants, and contractors. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the airport’s sustainability goals while building lasting relationships and ensuring that complex environmental challenges are addressed effectively and collaboratively.

Requirements

• Four years of increasingly responsible experience involving analysis, planning, and/or implementation of professional environmental-related program assignments, or any equivalent combination of education, training, or experience.
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a major in environmental science, public or business administration, or a closely related field.
• Maintain a valid driver’s license and the ability to maintain insurability under the Authority’s vehicle insurance policy.
• Business Process Knowledge - Identifies, documents, and monitors processes and develops framework for processes and improvement.
• Communication - Proficiently exchanges information through various avenues including verbal, digital, written, facilitation, and persuasion.
• Critical Thinking - Critically reviews and translates requirements, data, and information to specify solutions or alternative practice in support of organizational objectives and strategies.
• Problem-Solving/Agility - Analyzes situations or factors and collaboratively generates alternatives or solutions, readily adapts behavior or new work methods to evolving and unexpected situations.
• Relationship Building- Builds and maintains relations with stakeholders, identifies and relates information, ideas and problems, champions initiatives and ideas based on mutually acceptable solutions.
• Leveraging Technology - Uses electronic information and systems effectively.
• Planning & Execution - Ability to plan, organize, and execute projects from start to finish. Creates momentum within projects for the benefit of the team; can turn ideas into actions.
• Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this class with reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis and depends, in part, on the specific requirements for the job, the limitations related to disability and the ability of the hiring department to accommodate the limitation. If you need any form of accommodation during the recruitment process, please inform the Talent Acquisition Partner (Recruiter).
• Under California Government Code Sections 3100 - 3109, public employees are designated disaster service workers. The term "public employees" includes all persons employed by the state or any county, city, state agency, or public district. Disaster service workers are required to participate in such disaster service activities as they may be assigned to them by their employer or law.

Nice To Haves

• Current Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD), Qualified SWPPP Practitioner (QSP), and/or Qualified Industrial Stormwater Practitioner (QISP) certification, LEED Green Associate and/or LEED AP credential.
• Experience supporting construction projects and/or experience working within or in partnership with a public agency.

Responsibilities

• Ensure Environmental Compliance for Construction Projects: Review project plans for capital, tenant improvement, and major maintenance projects, attend pre-design and pre-construction meetings, review field design changes, and monitor construction to ensure adherence to environmental regulations and organizational initiatives.
• Mitigate Environmental Risks: Participate in technical processes, compliance audits, reporting, and permitting activities to minimize environmental impact before and during construction projects.
• Support the Authority’s Stormwater Program: Conduct field inspections, coordinate with contractors to meet compliance requirements, and review stormwater data and lab reports.
• Collaborate with Stakeholders: Partner with internal teams, regulatory agencies, contractors, and tenants on environmental program issues, inspections, trainings, and incident management.
• Track projects: monitor construction projects throughout their lifecycle, identify environmental considerations, and facilitate coordination and communication between departments.
• Support Sustainability Programs: Contributeto the development, implementation, and tracking of sustainability initiatives, working with various stakeholders to drive progress.
• Develop Environmental Reports and Documentation: Write and maintain documents, reports, records, and operating procedures related to environmental regulations, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Participate in Environmental Training and Outreach: Lead or assist in educational activities, promotional events, and outreach efforts related to environmental programs and sustainability initiatives.
• Work-Related Driving: Regular driving of Authority vehicles to access construction sites and other locations throughout Airport Authority property for inspections, monitoring, meetings, and other environmental program activities.

Benefits

• 14 paid holidays
• 18 – 33 days of vacation (PTO)
• Parental and child care benefits
• Salary continuance for family & parental leave
• Tuition reimbursement
• Retirement plan options including our comprehensive pension plan and 457 defined contribution plan
• Annual employer-funded Lifestyle Spending Account

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level