Hazardous Materials Specialist I

County of Orange • Santa Ana, CA

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Hazardous Materials Specialist I (HMS I) is a trainee class in the Hazardous Materials Specialist series. Incumbents are expected to show increasing initiative and independence in performing related duties. This classification receives on-the-job training in various disciplines including hazardous materials, hazardous waste management, waste tires enforcement, complaint investigation, and environmental sampling. Incumbents in this class may be assigned to HMSS and/or LWQ programs. At the EH Division’s request, HMS I may be required to conduct assignments during after-hours including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays. Responsibilities and duties for this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

* Performing inspections and complaint investigations (of hazardous materials, hazardous waste, solid waste, and related environmental concerns) at regulated facilities
* Using specialized protective clothing and equipment when collecting or evaluating hazardous waste
* Compliance review and enforcement of laws, regulations, permits, business plans, and environmental standards
* Preparing documentation including comprehensive reports, memos, field notes, data analysis, and oral briefings resulting from investigations and inspections
* Providing responsive, high-quality customer service to county employees, representatives from outside agencies, and members of the public by providing accurate, complete, and up-to-date information in a courteous, efficient, and timely manner
* Coordinating and communicating with internal staff, external agencies, industry representatives, responsible parties, and the public, including providing technical support for environmental health programs, including plan reviews, remediation oversight, grant implementation, and monitoring oversight

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a certified foreign studies equivalency with at least 30 semester units of basic biological, physical, or environmental science courses including at least one laboratory course in one of the following fields: chemistry, physics, microbiology, biology, and a mathematics course of college algebra or higher.
• For Body Art programs, a valid certificate of registration as an Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) issued by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
• Extensive experience in Technical Knowledge: Ability to learn State and Federal laws and regulations regarding environmental compliance, hazardous materials, business emergency plans, hazardous waste, underground storage tanks, aboveground petroleum storage tank programs, solid waste, and management of various cleanup projects
• Knowledge of and physical capability to wear personal protective equipment including specialized chemical suits and air-purifying respirator
• Proficiency with computer hardware and software to enter and retrieve data, review state forms, complete reports, and maintain compliance with uploading requirements within the following databases: EH data management system, Geotracker, California Environmental Reporting System (CERS), and/or Solid Waste Information System (SWIS), and a variety of productivity software, such as, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, Outlook, etc.
• Extensive experience in Relationship Building: Establishing and maintaining professional working relationships and continuously work to improve relationships, contacts, and networks with peers, supervisors, managers, clients, and the public
• Understanding of the interrelationships, roles, and responsibilities of internal and external stakeholders, such as, Federal and California Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), CalRecycle, fire authorities, County departments (e.g. OC Public Works, OC Waste & Recycle, District Attorney, County Counsel)
• Interacting with diverse customers, fostering positive relationships grounded in sensitivity, respect, fairness, and consistency
• Extensive experience in Planning and Organization: Organizing priorities and assignments to accomplish tasks efficiently and independently
• Maintain adequate preparation time for scheduled meetings/deadlines
• Applying critical thinking to identify and analyze problems, gather relevant data and information, draw valid conclusions, and provide solutions or recommended course of action
• Identifying when issues need to be escalated to higher authorities and effectively alert appropriate stakeholders.
• Extensive experience in Oral and Written Communication: Communicating effectively, both verbally and in writing, explaining regulations varying in difficulty and complexity and using active listening to fully understand questions, concerns, and stakeholder needs
• Reviewing, evaluating, and summarizing data in writing and presenting information clearly and in an organized manner through written inspection reports, technical and enforcement letters, public meetings, and similar methods
• Providing education to promote understanding, compliance, and informed decision-making within the community and regulated businesses

Nice To Haves

• 40-hour HAZWOPER course
• APSA (Aboveground Petroleum Storage Act) Tank Inspector Certification, if assigned to the Hazardous Materials Surveillance Section
• International Code Council “California UST Inspector” Certification, if assigned to the Hazardous Surveillance Section

Responsibilities

• Performing inspections and complaint investigations (of hazardous materials, hazardous waste, solid waste, and related environmental concerns) at regulated facilities
• Using specialized protective clothing and equipment when collecting or evaluating hazardous waste
• Compliance review and enforcement of laws, regulations, permits, business plans, and environmental standards
• Preparing documentation including comprehensive reports, memos, field notes, data analysis, and oral briefings resulting from investigations and inspections
• Providing responsive, high-quality customer service to county employees, representatives from outside agencies, and members of the public by providing accurate, complete, and up-to-date information in a courteous, efficient, and timely manner
• Coordinating and communicating with internal staff, external agencies, industry representatives, responsible parties, and the public, including providing technical support for environmental health programs, including plan reviews, remediation oversight, grant implementation, and monitoring oversight

What This Job Offers

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