Natural Resources Specialist (Environmental Field Inspector-Haz-Mat/Storage Tanks)

Broward County • Plantation, FL

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Performs professional environmental work enforcing the provisions of environmental ordinances as well as participates in natural resource enhancement and protection efforts. Works under general supervision, independently developing work methods and sequences. The Broward County Board of County Commissioners is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Natural Resources Specialist - inspection concentration with the Pollution Prevention Section of the Environmental Permitting Division. The Pollution Prevention Section regulates, licenses, and inspects hazardous material, storage tank, and wellfield facilities in Broward County to protect the environment, ground and groundwater through applicable environmental regulations within the Broward County Code of Ordinances (the Code) and State and Federal Rules and Regulations. Natural Resources Specialists with inspection concentration conduct various routine compliance assistance and follow-up hazardous material and/or storage tank facility inspections; cite non-compliance items and issue non-compliance letters; prepare warnings and/or notices of violation and associated correspondence dealing with enforcement of environmental ordinances, rules and regulations; respond to haz-mat and/or storage tank associated Service Requests, citizen complaints, reported spills and discharges; and conduct field sweeps of industrial areas in search of regulated businesses operating without the required haz-mat/storage tank facility licenses. Storage tank facility type inspections also include install, closure, discharge investigation and complaint investigation inspections at State and County regulated facilities in Broward County. Field Inspectors generally input their findings into the inspection databases, and maintain electronic files of documented observations, records reviewed, digital photos taken, test results received, site sketches, etc. and electronically issue associated notices and/or inspection reports to the regulated businesses in Broward County. This hands-off position is mainly responsible for conducting field inspections at State and/or County regulated haz-mat and storage tank facilities in Broward County, and ensuring compliance with all applicable environmental regulatory requirements. Tasks performed include educating the regulated community regarding the compliance program's purposes, requirements, processes and procedures; communicating with business representatives on-site in person, and/or by phone, email, or other written correspondence on compliance issues; scheduling inspections and follow-up activities; conducting electronic inspections by photo-documenting observations, inputting compliance and non-compliance findings, information into the databases; processing, maintaining and forwarding associated inspection reports electronically; citing non-compliance issues and processing and tracking associated enforcement activities to ultimately ensure compliance with licensing and/or regulatory requirements. Field Inspectors regularly coordinate internally with each other, Licensing Coordinator Natural Resources Specialists, Senior staff, Technical Support staff, Supervisors and/or Managers, and externally with Contractors, Permittees and/or the Regulated Community representatives regarding the Code and applicable inspections' rules, requirements, processes, procedures and regulations. Natural Resources Specialists in their capacity as Field Inspectors must possess strong customer service skills to coordinate, schedule and conduct field inspection activities, and the ability to communicate effectively and professionally in person, on the phone and in writing. Field Inspectors must also possess knowledge of hazardous material facility and storage tank system operations, strong organizational and computer skills, including the use of workflow databases, the Internet (for research and on-line business info, registration, etc.), MS Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, etc.) and Adobe Acrobat. Natural Resources Specialists are required to stay abreast of current applicable environmental technology and EPA, State and local rules and regulations and perform related work as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in chemistry, geology, biology or environmental science or closely related field
• Six (6) months experience in natural resource protection based on area of assignment or closely related experience
• Must possess and maintain a valid Florida Class E drivers license for duration of appointment
• Strong customer service skills
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally in person, on the phone and in writing
• Knowledge of hazardous material facility and storage tank system operations
• Strong organizational and computer skills, including the use of workflow databases, the Internet (for research and on-line business info, registration, etc.), MS Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, etc.) and Adobe Acrobat

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in environmental science or related field
• PhD degree in environmental science or related field
• OSHA Hazwoper Certification
• Florida-Certified Pollutant Storage System Contractor (PSSC)
• Board-Certified Environmental Scientist
• Engineer-in-Training (EIT) Certification
• Florida Professional Engineer (PE) License
• 1 year experience in POSSE/Winchester
• 1 year experience in design or construction or closure or operation of hazardous materials and/or storage tanks facilities
• 1 year experience with local or State rules and regulations regarding hazardous materials and/or storage tanks facilities' licensing and/or inspection
• Florida Class A, B or C and/or STI/API Tank Training
• FDEP Storage Tank Inspector Training
• NAHMMA Small Quantity Generator Inspector Training
• RCRA Hazardous Waste Training (HAZWOPER)
• 1 year experience in GIS
• 1 year experience in Field Sampling and Collection
• 1 year experience in State or Federal databases (STCM, FIRST, CHAZ, OCULUS, SWIFT, PA, WACS, PMTS, RegDB)
• 1 year experience with Power BI data analysis and reporting

Responsibilities

• Performs professional environmental work enforcing the provisions of environmental ordinances
• Participates in natural resource enhancement and protection efforts
• Conducts various routine compliance assistance and follow-up hazardous material and/or storage tank facility inspections
• Cites non-compliance items and issues non-compliance letters
• Prepares warnings and/or notices of violation and associated correspondence dealing with enforcement of environmental ordinances, rules and regulations
• Responds to haz-mat and/or storage tank associated Service Requests, citizen complaints, reported spills and discharges
• Conducts field sweeps of industrial areas in search of regulated businesses operating without the required haz-mat/storage tank facility licenses
• Conducts install, closure, discharge investigation and complaint investigation inspections at State and County regulated facilities
• Inputs findings into inspection databases
• Maintains electronic files of documented observations, records reviewed, digital photos taken, test results received, site sketches, etc.
• Electronically issues associated notices and/or inspection reports to regulated businesses
• Educates the regulated community regarding the compliance program's purposes, requirements, processes and procedures
• Communicates with business representatives on-site in person, and/or by phone, email, or other written correspondence on compliance issues
• Schedules inspections and follow-up activities
• Conducts electronic inspections by photo-documenting observations
• Inputs compliance and non-compliance findings and information into databases
• Processes, maintains and forwards associated inspection reports electronically
• Processes and tracks associated enforcement activities to ultimately ensure compliance with licensing and/or regulatory requirements
• Coordinates internally with other staff and externally with Contractors, Permittees and/or the Regulated Community representatives
• Stays abreast of current applicable environmental technology and EPA, State and local rules and regulations

Benefits

• High Deductible Health Plan – bi-weekly premiums: Single $10.90 / Family $80.79 Includes a County Funded Health Savings Account of up to $2000 Annually
• Consumer Driven Health Plan – bi-weekly premiums: Single $82.58 / Family $286.79
• Florida Retirement System (FRS) – Pension or Investment Plan
• 457 Deferred Compensation Employee Match
• Eleven (11) paid holidays each year
• Vacation (Paid Time Off) = 2 weeks per year
• Up to 40 hours of Job Basis Leave for eligible positions
• Tuition Reimbursement (Up to 2K annually)

What This Job Offers

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