Environmental Compliance Technician

City of Tracy • Tracy, CA

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The City of Tracy is recruiting three Environmental Compliance Technicians to support environmental programs that protect public health, water systems, and the community. The work is highly interactive and field-focused, involving inspections, public education, regulatory compliance, sampling, recordkeeping, and communication with residents, businesses, contractors, and industry partners. Technicians work in varied weather and site conditions and perform duties with general supervision and little direct oversight.

Assignments are in one of three program areas. Water Distribution and Supply (Cross-Connection Control) supports the public water system’s cross-connection control program by ensuring backflow devices are maintained and functioning. Water Resource (Conservation) supports water conservation and efficiency efforts through outreach, education, inspections, and enforcement. Pretreatment supports wastewater compliance, with emphasis on fats, oils, and grease (FOG), including inspections and sampling, permit preparation and maintenance, investigation of illegal discharges, and assistance with the annual state pretreatment report.

Across assignments, technicians maintain databases and records, respond to public inquiries, prepare inspection reports and technical documentation, conduct follow-up sampling and inspections, help develop and deliver community outreach, represent the City at meetings and events, and interpret and explain regulations. The role may include inspections of construction, residential, commercial, and industrial sites; collection of water, wastewater, stormwater, or industrial-waste samples; and enforcement-related documentation.

The position receives general supervision from assigned supervisory or management staff and does not directly supervise employees. Work takes place in both office and field environments. Field duties can involve changing site conditions, inclement weather, uneven or slippery surfaces, hazardous materials, chemicals, fumes, road hazards, and other operational hazards. City employees are Disaster Service Workers and may be assigned emergency-response duties under significantly different conditions or schedules from their normal assignments.

Requirements

• Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade, supplemented by at least one year of college-level courses or specialized training in environmental studies or a related field.
• Three years of experience related to office and/or field work, inspections, information gathering, report preparation, customer service or public contact, and interpreting and applying policies, procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain upon appointment, a valid Class C California driver’s license.
• For Water Resource assignments, obtain within six months of hire one of the listed certifications: CISEC, CPESC, CESSWI, QSD, or QSP.
• For Water Distribution and Supply assignments, obtain within six months of hire Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester Certification and Cross Connection Specialist Certification from the American Water Works Association.
• Ability to perform in-depth inspections; collect samples; assemble data; prepare reports; maintain records; interpret meters, gauges, and recording charts; and make arithmetic and statistical computations.
• Ability to understand, interpret, and apply relevant laws, codes, regulations, policies, procedures, and standards.
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, meet deadlines, use computer systems and business equipment, and communicate clearly in writing and orally.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships and represent the department and City with the public, businesses, contractors, agencies, and community groups.
• Ability to perform fieldwork involving frequent walking, uneven or slippery surfaces, climbing and descending ladders, and exposure to operational hazards; ability to lift, carry, push, and pull objects averaging 50 pounds or heavier with proper equipment or assistance.
• May be required to complete National Incident Management System (NIMS) Training.
• Successfully complete applicable pre-employment requirements, which may include reference checks, DOJ/FBI fingerprinting, a credit check, physical examination, and drug test.

Nice To Haves

• Experience creating public outreach materials, making presentations, and performing inspections and/or sampling in any field.
• For Water Distribution and Supply work, experience repairing, testing, or maintaining backflow assemblies.
• For Water Resource work, a background in conservation, public education, or code enforcement.
• For water efficiency assignments, Water Use Efficiency Grade I certification from the American Water Works Association is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Inspect residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and construction sites for compliance with applicable water, stormwater, wastewater, pretreatment, backflow, and environmental requirements, depending on assignment.
• Collect and handle water, stormwater, wastewater, industrial-waste, and fats, oils, and grease samples; conduct testing and follow-up sampling as required.
• For Water Resource assignments, inspect and enforce water-restriction and stormwater requirements, review construction and redevelopment compliance, and verify qualifying customers for conservation and efficiency rebates or incentives.
• For Pretreatment assignments, conduct and track inspections at commercial and industrial sites, monitor FOG compliance, evaluate environmental risks, and ensure hazardous chemicals are stored in accordance with regulations.
• Prepare, update, negotiate, and maintain industrial wastewater and holding-tank wastewater discharge permits and related correspondence, as assigned.
• Investigate and trace illegal industrial wastes entering the City’s wastewater collection system.
• For Water Distribution and Supply assignments, test and repair backflow prevention devices at City facilities, contact customers about device requirements and repairs, issue testing notices, and maintain device records.
• Conduct disinfection and bacteriological testing and sampling for new water mains, as assigned.
• Maintain and monitor databases of violations, investigations, findings, backflow devices, inspections, tests, and corrections, as applicable.
• Respond to public inquiries and explain applicable regulations, standards, codes, and City programs to customers and other stakeholders.
• Prepare inspection reports, technical reports, enforcement evidence, correspondence, and other documentation; maintain accurate records under City procedures.
• Assist with community outreach and public education materials, speak to groups and individuals, and represent the City at community, industry, and regulatory meetings or events.
• Assist with water conservation program practices and procedures, enter water-consumption data, and help prepare reports and notices for the City and regulatory agencies.
• Assist with compiling and preparing the City’s annual state pretreatment report, as assigned.
• Perform other related duties as assigned and may perform emergency duties as a Disaster Service Worker.

Benefits

• Competitive pay, including 4% cost-of-living increases in July 2027 and July 2028.
• Employees approved to work a compressed schedule may work a 9/80 schedule, providing a three-day weekend every other week.
• Medical plan options, including an HMO plan, and dental and vision coverage for employees and family; City contributions cover all or nearly all of the premium depending on bargaining unit.
• Generous vacation and sick leave.
• Life insurance.
• Optional 457(b) deferred compensation with a City match.
• Longevity pay.
• CalPERS retirement, with the 2% @ 55 or 2% @ 62 formula depending on eligibility and retirement calculated using a three-year final compensation average.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED