Environmental Specialist

City of Alexandria VA Sanitation Authority • Alexandria, VA

3d • $82,000 - $101,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

AlexRenew is seeking an Environmental Specialist to manage its industrial pretreatment, stormwater, and emerging contaminants programs. This role is crucial for improving water quality and requires expertise in water quality regulations, independent judgment, and strong communication skills. The Environmental Specialist will report to the Water Quality Manager and is expected to uphold AlexRenew's five goals: Operational Excellence, Thriving Workforce, Strategic Partnerships, Environmental Sustainability, and Commitment to the Community.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, Natural Science, Civil, Mechanical, Sanitary, or Environmental Engineering, or a closely related field required; advanced degree preferred. Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in wastewater treatment, industrial pretreatment, environmental compliance, wastewater monitoring, laboratory services, stormwater management, pollution prevention/minimization, sanitary engineering, or related environmental regulatory programs.
• Strong knowledge of wastewater treatment, industrial pretreatment programs, stormwater management, pollution prevention and pollution minimization practices, laboratory procedures, quality assurance/quality control, and applicable federal, state, and local environmental regulations, including the Clean Water Act, NPDES permitting requirements, and EPA Pretreatment Standards.
• Experience with industrial permitting, inspections, compliance monitoring, enforcement, regulatory reporting, wastewater sampling, PFAS monitoring and source identification, pollution minimization initiatives, local limits, Significant Industrial User (SIU) oversight, industrial user surveys, dental amalgam compliance, and emerging contaminant.
• Working knowledge of PFAS regulations, industrial source reduction strategies, local limits, industrial user characterization, stormwater monitoring, and best management practices to support pollution prevention and minimization objectives.
• Ability to interpret environmental regulations, engineering documents, technical reports, laboratory analytical data, and sampling results, prepare clear reports, maintain records, communicate findings, and recommend corrective actions.
• Experience with GIS, Microsoft Office, environmental compliance databases, and data management systems.
• Strong analytical skills for trend, regulatory evaluation, PFAS data assessment, and environmental performance monitoring.
• Strong project management, organizational, communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple projects, collaborate across cross-functional teams, build positive stakeholder relationships, and support compliance, pollution minimization, and continuous environmental improvement initiatives.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage the Industrial Pretreatment Program in compliance with federal, state, and local requirements, including 40 CFR Part 403, the VPDES permit, and local Sewer Use Ordinance.
• Draft and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) for inspections, sampling, permitting, and enforcement of industrial wastewater discharge permits, control mechanisms, special conditions, and compliance schedules.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with industrial users, conduct surveys, and maintain accurate inventories and regulatory determinations.
• Conduct inspections and facility investigations to characterize operations, waste streams, pollutant sources, and pretreatment system performance, and maintain accurate user inventories.
• Review all required submittals for completeness, accuracy, timeliness, and regulatory adequacy.
• Support the development and periodic review of local limits to protect treatment processes, biosolids quality, worker safety, and receiving waters.
• Implement compliance activities related to dental amalgam, slug discharge control, spill prevention, and other best management practice requirements.
• Prepare and submit required regulatory reports, annual pretreatment program documentation, and other compliance deliverables within established deadlines.
• Maintain auditable program records, inspection files, enforcement documentation, and monitoring data in accordance with retention requirements and internal policy.
• Review proposed industrial developments, process changes, and new discharge requests to determine pretreatment applicability, permitting needs, and potential impacts to the WRRF and collection system.
• Monitor regulatory changes, guidance, and enforcement trends and advise management on impacts, implementation strategies, and program updates needed to maintain compliance.
• Maintain effective working relationships with industrial users, operations, laboratory, engineering, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders to support program effectiveness.
• Manage the Industrial Stormwater Program in compliance with applicable federal, state, local requirements and best management practices, internal procedures, and program goals.
• Update and implement Stormwater Program SOPs.
• Conduct quarterly stormwater sampling, inspections, monitoring, and field assessments using approved procedures and safety practices.
• Support pollution prevention, illicit discharge identification, spill response, and corrective action activities to protect the collection system, WRRF, and receiving waters.
• Maintain organized program records, monitoring data, inspection files, equipment documentation, and compliance materials.
• Conduct quarterly monitoring on priority pollutants and PFAS, analyze trends, and make recommendations.
• Manage the PFAS sampling program, coordinating with laboratories and consultants to ensure timely, accurate results.
• Analyze PFAS data for compliance with biosolids requirements and report data to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
• Review quarterly PFAS monitoring data received from the SIU Program to ensure completeness, accuracy, and compliance with applicable monitoring and reporting requirements for submittal to DEQ.
• Evaluate analytical data, sampling methods, preservation, holding times, chain-of-custody, and QA/QC documentation to ensure data defensibility and regulatory usability.
• Ensure proper maintenance, inspection, and calibration of field instruments, sampling equipment, and related documentation used for compliance monitoring activities.
• Coordinate with laboratories, contractors, and consultants to ensure proper analytical services, defensible documentation, and conformance with contract and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor science and regulations on emerging contaminants, recommend research and program changes needed to inform internal strategies for compliance.
• Participate in state and national workgroups on emerging contaminants and provide advice.
• Track regulatory changes, scientific guidance, analytical methods, and enforcement trends related to emerging contaminants and advise management on program impacts.
• Support AlexRenew’s research and sampling program by overseeing consultant performance of any environmental sample collection and analysis activities.
• Conduct PFAS and other emerging contaminant monitoring, source identification, industrial user surveys, and regulatory readiness activities consistent with applicable state requirements.
• Use databases, spreadsheets, GIS, survey results, and sampling data to track potential sources, evaluate trends, support investigations, and prepare reports.
• Participate in AlexRenew’s safety program by attending safety committee meetings, serving as liaison on the safety committee, and completing additional safety training when available.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

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