Industrial Compliance Specialist I, II, or III

Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District • Cuyahoga Heights, OH

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

This role involves ensuring compliance with industrial pretreatment and mercury programs to protect the wastewater treatment system. It includes conducting various business inspections for accurate billing, collecting and analyzing data, installing sampling equipment, and enforcing regulations. The position requires strong communication, organizational, and data management skills, with proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite. The role may also involve participation in the District Drone Program and responding to environmental emergencies. The job description outlines three levels (I, II, and III) with increasing responsibilities and experience requirements.

Requirements

• Basic knowledge of environmental regulations.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Organizational skills.
• Decision-making abilities.
• Detail-oriented.
• Capable of managing large amounts of data.
• Ability to maintain detailed comprehensive records.
• Ability to analyze and organize information.
• Effective project and time management skills.
• Well organized.
• Ability to effectively plan, coordinate, and establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to prioritize workloads based on available resources.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
• Ability to interpret and evaluate information and alternatives.
• Ability to produce written technical documents.
• Ability to make decisions regarding equipment and methods to complete work assignments in accordance with regulations.
• Bachelor’s degree preferably in Chemistry, Biology, Environmental/Chemical Engineering, Environmental Studies or a closely related field.
• Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as outlined in the Education Equivalencies Policy.
• No prior experience required (for Specialist I).
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in industrial pollution control and/or environmental monitoring (for Specialist II).
• Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in industrial pollution control and/or environmental monitoring (for Specialist III).
• Valid driver’s license with a driving record in accordance with the Sewer District’s acceptable guidelines.
• Ability to obtain a certification of completion of the Red Cross Standard Multimedia First Aid Course and CPE certification.
• Ability to analyze, communicate, comprehend, coordinate, make decisions, possess general intelligence, interact, interpret, negotiate, possess numerical intelligence, organize, problem solve, possess resilience and perform tasks.
• Ability to perform physical work including balancing, bending, climbing, crawling, crouching, driving, feeling, kneeling/squatting, reaching, sitting, standing, talking, typing and walking.
• Ability to perform repetitive movements such as simple grasping, power grasping and fine manipulation.
• Ability to push, pull and lift from floor to waist, waist to shoulder or floor to shoulder up to 100 lbs. on an occasional basis.
• Visual demands include accommodation, color vision, depth perception, far acuity and near acuity.
• Ability to withstand extremely loud noise exposure for fifteen minutes or longer on an infrequent basis.
• Exposure to environmental conditions such as respiratory hazards, extreme cold/heat (non-weather related), outdoor work, wet/humid conditions, work around large machinery, work at heights and work inside confined spaces.

Responsibilities

• Perform industrial pretreatment inspections and data collection.
• Protect the wastewater treatment system through implementation of the Industrial Pretreatment Program and Mercury Program.
• Conduct business programs inspections including Sewer Service Charge Based on Usage of the Systems (SSCBOUTS), Surcharge Program, Non-Discharge Status (NDS), and Temporary Discharge Permits.
• Evaluate industrial users’ production, operation and maintenance practices related to waste discharged to the sewer system.
• Collaborate with company contacts to conduct interviews and convey regulatory requirements.
• Review regulations as they apply to industrial users and propose permit requirements.
• Draft and issue Temporary Discharge Permits.
• Review and comment on industrial discharge permits.
• Install various types of sampling and monitoring equipment.
• Collect and preserve samples of discharges for chemical, physical and bacteriological parameters.
• Prepare sampling paperwork, including chain of custody, labels, laboratory analysis sheet, sample request forms, and tracking and monitoring forms.
• Evaluate analytical data, industrial user’s self-monitoring reports and permits to assess compliance with regulations and local limits.
• Perform data analysis as needed.
• Assist in the development of local industrial user discharge limitations.
• Enforce Industrial Pretreatment Program rules and standards, identify violations, and draft letters of compliance and notices of violation.
• Take appropriate enforcement action in accordance with the District’s Enforcement Response Plan.
• Prepare equipment and supplies for assignments and ensure they are in proper working order.
• Troubleshoot and find solutions to equipment problems.
• Conduct inspections for surcharge, SSCBOUTS, direct bill, NDS determinations, water leaks, and issuing/monitoring Temporary Discharge Permits.
• Review special billing reports for accuracy.
• Work with customers and Sewer District staff to resolve billing issues.
• Inspect dental facilities, hospitals and industrial facilities to assess their contribution of mercury to the wastewater treatment system.
• Provide support to implementation of the Sewer District's Mercury Program and NPDES permit compliance.
• Prepare clear and concise facility inspection reports.
• Communicate investigation results verbally and through written reports and presentations.
• Document activities and findings, compile and collate information, and file records and reports.
• Enter data into electronic information management systems.
• Design maps, charts and graphs using appropriate computer software.
• Respond to and investigate environmental emergencies.
• Participate in the District Drone Program conducting cinematography, photography, modeling, asset inspection, environmental monitoring or aiding external agencies.
• Maintain good public relations by dealing with complaints, being polite to customers and answering inquiries.
• Serve as a liaison between other organizations, departments and internal or external personnel.
• Assist with decision making based on available information and circumstances in the field.
• Keep abreast of regulations and new developments in the field.
• Plan and execute inspections, data collection and analysis for business programs.
• Serve as a technical resource to industrial users, customers, external agencies and other Sewer District staff.
• Determine sampling methods and equipment necessary to complete work/project.
• Coordinate with Analytical Services.
• Examine data to identify problems.
• Plan the development of and justification of local industrial user discharge limitations.
• Recommend enforcement actions.
• Organize compliance meetings with facilities in non-compliance.
• May be responsible for testifying at hearings.
• Plan and arrange for equipment, supplies, and resources to be available for assignments.
• Evaluate and test new equipment for use in the field.
• Recommend new equipment for purchase.
• Plan and execute activities for surcharge, SSCBOUTS, direct bill, NDS determinations, water leaks, and issuing/monitoring Temporary Discharge Permits.
• Review and evaluate special billing reports for accuracy and compliance with District programs.
• Proactively work with customers and Sewer District staff to resolve billing issues.
• Make recommendations for customer reimbursement.
• Testify at customer hearings.
• Plan and execute inspections, source identification and tracking, and other activities in support of the District’s Mercury Program.
• Plan and execute NPDES permit required mercury sampling.
• Draft Ohio EPA required reports.
• Train and mentor Industrial Compliance Inspector I roles.
• Monitor pending industrial pretreatment rules and regulations and develop/draft comments on behalf of the Sewer District.
• Lead the implementation of Business Programs for industrial customers.
• Serve as a lead technical resource to industrial users, customers, external agencies and other Sewer District staff.
• Lead the inspection and sampling of industrial and commercial businesses.
• Responsible for the technical evaluation and analysis of industrial users’ production, operation and maintenance practices.
• Advise industrial users on regulatory requirements.
• Lead the review and interpretation of regulations and determine permit requirements.
• Review and approve issuance of Temporary Discharge Permits.
• Provide guidance and support in determining sampling methods and equipment.
• Provide guidance and support in the collection of samples.
• Lead the coordination with Analytical Services.
• Lead the analyses and interpretation of data.
• Critically examine data to identify problems.
• Lead the development of and justification of local industrial user discharge limitations.
• Determine enforcement actions.
• Recommend enforcement actions and escalation in instances of industrial user noncompliance.
• Lead the selection of equipment, materials and supplies necessary to complete inspections and projects.
• Lead business program inspections for surcharge, SSCBOUTS, direct bill, NDS determinations, water leaks, and issuing/monitoring Temporary Discharge Permits.
• Critically examine special billing reports for accuracy and compliance with District programs.
• Provide guidance and support in determining customer reimbursement.
• Lead implementation of the Sewer District’s Mercury Program.
• Oversee NPDES permit required mercury sampling.
• Provide guidance and support in the identification and investigation of potential sources of mercury.
• Train and mentor the Industrial Compliance Specialist I and II roles.
• Verify the accuracy of their work.
• Provide excellent public relations by dealing with complaints, being polite and respectful to customers.
• Provide guidance and support in decision making based on available information and circumstances in the field.
• Responsible for the technical evaluation and analysis of current and emerging industrial pretreatment rules and regulations.
• Lead the development of the Sewer District’s position on such matters.

Benefits

• Health Insurance Coverage
• Various Retirement Planning Options (Ohio Public Employee Retirement System and Deferred Compensation Plans)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Free Parking at our facilities
• Corporate Discounts
• Active Health & Wellness Program that promotes a life/work balance

What This Job Offers

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