Environmental Unit Specialist - City

City of Oklahoma City•Oklahoma City, OK

3h•$28 - $43

About The Position

This position is located in the Wastewater Quality Division of the Utilities Department within the City of Oklahoma City and reports directly to the Environmental Unit Supervisor. The Environmental Unit Specialist is a specialized classification responsible for technical and functional supervision of activities associated with administering City environmental protection programs. Essential job functions include: exchanging information regarding regulations, procedures, and/or program functions with businesses, agencies and private citizens; identifying potential environmental issues and traveling to conduct site visits to assess conditions and provide effective remedies; conducting environmental screenings and samplings of ambient water and other potential environmental contaminants; responding to emergency reports of hazardous materials spills or conditions; generating technical and routine reports; and monitoring citizen complaints and existing City programs for compliance with environmental policies and procedures. The employee is also responsible for reviewing and evaluating pollution prevention plans; assisting engineers and builders in determining effective storm water management methods; coordinating and assisting with special activities or projects, such as hazardous household waste collections; presenting information, educational programs and guidance to the general public; attending meetings of environmental committees, agencies and boards; recording information on departmental logs and forms and documenting action and results; and enforcing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Water Protection Act. This position is also responsible for oversite of field audits conducted by technicians and field generated paperwork and to ensure quality assurance and quality control objectives are achieved. The work is primarily performed on an independent basis and the employee must exercise tact and diplomacy in communication with citizens, businesses, outside agencies, and various City personnel. The nature of work performed may require the Environmental Unit Specialist to support decisions made in conjunction with the enforcement of established laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, and provide court testimony. The work assignments are received in both verbal and written form and are subject to review through inspection of records maintained, and through complaints registered by private citizens and businesses.

Requirements

Knowledge of and skill in administering federal, state and City environmental codes, water quality regulations, policies and procedures.
Knowledge of standards, factors, and design alternatives in area of specialization.
Skill in assessing ambient biological, chemical, and physical scientific characteristic of water bodies.
Skill in assessing salient technical information.
Skill in conveying technical information both orally and in writing.
Skill in determining most appropriate design to meet field conditions and applicable standards.
Skill in performing mathematical computations following standard formulas.
Skill in enforcing environmental protection programs, codes and standards.
Skill in conducting on-site inspections to determine compliance with local, state, and federal program guidelines, regulations, and requirements.
Skill in recording information accurately.
Skill in communicating effectively in verbal and written form.
Ability to supervise.
Ability to work independently following verbal or written instructions.
Ability and willingness to follow established safety procedures.
Possession of a valid Driver License (Operator).

Nice To Haves

Minimum of a D wastewater operators’ certification OR C wastewater laboratory operator certification OR the ability to obtain certification within 12 months of employment.
Minimum of an associate’s degree with scientific or mathematic focused coursework or at least two years of combined experience in environmental compliance (examples: water or wastewater operations, permitting, regulation application or enforcement, pretreatment, FOG control, lift stations, collection or distribution systems, environmental water testing or sampling, etc.)
Minimum of two (2) years’ of combined experience in performing and documenting inspections.
Strong proficiency in Office Suite applications and other general data management software.

Responsibilities

Exchanging information regarding regulations, procedures, and/or program functions with businesses, agencies and private citizens
Identifying potential environmental issues and traveling to conduct site visits to assess conditions and provide effective remedies
Conducting environmental screenings and samplings of ambient water and other potential environmental contaminants
Responding to emergency reports of hazardous materials spills or conditions
Generating technical and routine reports
Monitoring citizen complaints and existing City programs for compliance with environmental policies and procedures
Reviewing and evaluating pollution prevention plans
Assisting engineers and builders in determining effective storm water management methods
Coordinating and assisting with special activities or projects, such as hazardous household waste collections
Presenting information, educational programs and guidance to the general public
Attending meetings of environmental committees, agencies and boards
Recording information on departmental logs and forms and documenting action and results
Enforcing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Water Protection Act
Responsible for oversite of field audits conducted by technicians and field generated paperwork and to ensure quality assurance and quality control objectives are achieved
Support decisions made in conjunction with the enforcement of established laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, and provide court testimony