Permit Compliance Specialist - Wastewater

City of Pueblo • Pueblo, CO

9d

About The Position

The Permit Compliance Specialist is a non-exempt position reporting to the Pretreatment Manager. The role supports the wastewater pretreatment program by collecting samples and data, inspecting commercial and industrial facilities, conducting flow monitoring, and drafting permits. The specialist evaluates facility and monitoring data for compliance with permits and applicable regulations, documents findings, tracks required reports, and recommends or drafts enforcement actions. The position also maintains computerized and paper records, supports records management and public information requests, and provides information on pretreatment regulations and compliance issues.

The work includes field assignments at industrial and commercial facilities, sanitary sewer manholes, water bodies, and other monitoring locations. The specialist uses samplers and field-testing equipment, may assist the Water Reclamation Facility and Wastewater Engineering, and may perform sampling outside normal business hours. The role requires physical work such as lifting, climbing, removing manhole covers, operating sampling equipment, and entering confined spaces. The employee may encounter noise, moving parts, heights, dangerous chemicals, damp areas, foul odors, severe weather, and cramped or confined workspaces. Overtime, weekend and holiday work, and emergency call-backs may be required.

A bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Chemistry, Biology, or Environmental Engineering and two years of relevant pretreatment or industrial-waste program experience are required; eight years of that experience may be considered in place of the degree. Within one year of appointment, the employee must complete a Pretreatment Facility Inspection Program and obtain a State of Colorado Wastewater Facility Operator Class “D” Certification. A valid driver’s license is required at application, with a valid Colorado driver’s license required within 30 days of employment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Chemistry, Biology, or Environmental Engineering; eight years of qualifying experience may be considered in place of the degree.
• Two years of experience with pretreatment or industrial-waste programs, including permitting, inspections, enforcement, and identifying, evaluating, interpreting, and explaining applicable environmental laws, rules, and regulations.
• Working knowledge of 40 CFR Part 403 regulatory, inspection, and enforcement requirements.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Experience working with databases.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with people of varying backgrounds, knowledge, and experience.
• Ability to complete forms and maintain accurate records.
• Skill in the safe and lawful operation of a motor vehicle.
• Ability to read and understand building construction drawings.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and to climb, remove manhole covers, and enter confined spaces.
• Ability to provide good customer service and work safely with supervisors, City employees, the public, other agencies, and organizations.
• Ability to perform sampling in accordance with 40 CFR Part 136 and use field-testing equipment.
• Valid driver’s license at the time of application and a valid Colorado driver’s license within 30 days of employment; the license must be maintained throughout employment, and changes in license status must be reported immediately.
• Within one year of appointment, completion of a Pretreatment Facility Inspection Program and attainment of a State of Colorado Wastewater Facility Operator Class “D” Certification; required licenses and certifications must be maintained.
• Willingness to work overtime, weekends, and holidays and to be called back for emergencies.
• May be subject to criminal-history restrictions if the position requires access to criminal justice information.

Responsibilities

• Inspect industrial and commercial facilities to characterize activities and waste streams that may contribute pollutants to the publicly owned treatment works (POTW).
• Inspect permitted facilities to determine compliance with City-issued Wastewater Discharge Permits; document findings, communicate them to facilities, and provide recommendations to the supervisor.
• Install and remove wastewater composite and discrete samplers in sanitary sewer manholes and complete associated sample documentation.
• Conduct field tests for pH, sulfides, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and chlorine; collect samples for high-strength wastewater surcharges and assist with sewer billings.
• Assist in investigating potential sources of substances found in wastewater and review building plans relating to wastewater handling.
• Place flow-monitoring equipment in manholes and other flow-related appurtenances; conduct water-quality monitoring in rivers, lakes, groundwater, and other locations.
• Provide field support to the Water Reclamation Facility and Wastewater Engineering.
• Provide information on federal, state, and local pretreatment regulations and compliance issues.
• Draft comprehensive permits based on facility characterization and applicable federal and local regulations, including SIU, CIU, Zero Discharge, and General Discharge permits.
• Incorporate applicable standards and limits, monitoring locations and frequencies, reporting and certification requirements, and general conditions into permits; draft supporting fact sheets and documents.
• Receive and track required regulatory and permit reports; evaluate them for timeliness and completeness and file them appropriately.
• Evaluate industrial-user and monitoring data for permit compliance; review calculations for combined waste streams, loadings, and alternate limits.
• Assess sample validity, including sample type and location, analytical methods, holding time, preservation, quality assurance and quality control, and chain of custody.
• Identify noncompliance; recommend enforcement actions, draft enforcement documents, track facility responses, and inform the manager of actions.
• Document compliance evaluations and related meetings, calls, inspections, and determinations.
• Maintain computerized databases, computer files, and paper files; comply with records-management and confidential-information requirements and support CORA requests.
• Keep informed of relevant regulations and guidance and participate in training opportunities.
• Perform other assigned scientific and administrative tasks; may assist in the Water Reclamation Facility laboratory, take soil samples from biosolids application sites, or perform similar-classification duties of equal or lower pay grade.

Benefits

• The City of Pueblo states that it offers a rich benefits package and directs applicants to its online benefits information; specific benefits are not listed in the description.

What This Job Offers

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