Pretreatment Compliance Specialist Senior - Austin Water

City of Austin • Austin, TX

4d • Onsite

About The Position

Austin Water is hiring a senior specialist to perform environmental compliance work for the City’s approved pretreatment program. Under minimal supervision, the position applies advanced knowledge of relevant concepts, practices, procedures, and regulations to verify and ensure compliance by the pretreatment-regulated community and to manage projects of advanced scope and complexity.

The role supports the protection of Austin’s wastewater treatment and collection systems from harmful industrial and commercial wastewater discharges. It contributes to industrial user permitting, inspections, and pretreatment plan reviews, while also developing experience and expertise across other program activities. The work helps ensure wastewater treatment operations remain effective, discharge and pollutant-sludge standards are met, and biosolids can continue to be beneficially reused. The specialist is expected to understand complex regulations and explain compliance requirements to commercial and industrial stakeholders and community members.

The position is based at the Permitting and Development Center in Austin, Texas. The stated schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with flexibility and rotating on-call duty. It is designated as an Essential Employee position and may require schedule changes, emergency call-backs, or work at a City-designated site during emergencies. The role may involve travel to multiple locations as part of regular duties, subject to the City’s driving safety standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major or minor coursework in a scientific field related to the job, plus six years of relevant experience; or an associate degree in a related scientific field plus eight years of relevant experience; or a master’s degree with major coursework in a related scientific field plus four years of relevant experience.
• One additional year of experience may substitute for one year of required education, up to a maximum substitution of four years.
• Valid Texas Class C Driver License, or ability to acquire one by hire date as stated in the driving requirement.
• US Fats, Oils, and Grease Coordinator Certification from the US FOG Alliance, or ability to obtain it within six months of hire.
• Pretreatment Facility Inspection Certification from an accredited college, or ability to obtain it within six months of hire.
• Industrial Waste Treatment Certification from an accredited college, or ability to obtain it within six months of hire.
• Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local regulations and of City practices, policies, and procedures.
• Knowledge of architectural and engineering principles and practices.
• Oral and written communication skills; ability to handle multiple tasks and prioritize; and proficiency with computers and related software applications.
• Skills in data analysis, problem solving, planning, organizing, and providing leadership, training, guidance, and technical support.
• Ability to conduct research and investigations, provide customer service and problem solving, and establish and maintain effective working relationships with City employees and the public.
• Meet the City of Austin Driver Record Evaluation requirements for a driving position if required to drive: no more than three moving violations or six total evaluation points within 36 months.
• Complete a criminal background investigation if selected.

Nice To Haves

• Professional work experience in natural, environmental, or physical science.
• Experience with pretreatment or environmental/field investigations, regulatory compliance activities, and knowledge of local, state, or federal water and wastewater rules and regulations.
• Experience reviewing building and construction plans and specifications for regulatory compliance.
• Experience providing technical advice and assistance to internal and external customers.

Responsibilities

• Lead teams conducting and reporting on investigations, audits, surveillance, monitoring, inspections, sampling, analyses, research, training, outreach, recognition, permitting, registration, enforcement, and other environmental and pretreatment activities.
• Initiate negotiations to resolve cases or enforcement proceedings involving environmental, pretreatment, and pollution-prevention issues of diverse scope and complexity.
• Review plans and proposals and ensure they meet or exceed applicable federal, state, and local codes, ordinances, regulations, pretreatment guidelines, and criteria.
• Collect, process, analyze, and evaluate information and data in permit applications, contracts, schedules, proposals, self-monitoring reports, and laboratory reports to make recommendations, provide approvals, and assess regulatory compliance.
• Interpret and explain City policies and procedures, and provide technical information, advice, assistance, and training to internal and external customers.
• Prepare case files, initiate and participate in administrative and criminal enforcement proceedings, and provide testimony in legal proceedings concerning alleged regulatory violations.
• Research, develop, review, interpret, recommend, and implement changes to specifications, standards, policies, procedures, codes, regulations, and ordinances.
• Lead public outreach efforts, initiatives, task forces, and committees; represent the department at board and commission meetings; and make presentations to internal and external customers.
• Perform inventory procurement and control functions, and consult with and monitor contractor performance.
• Perform rotational on-call duty and respond to spills, emergencies, incidents, complaints, actions, and related situations.
• May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others.
• Contribute to industrial user permitting, inspections, and pretreatment plan reviews, while developing expertise in other pretreatment program areas.

Benefits

• Medical benefits and paid leave time.
• Retirement plan through the City of Austin Employees’ Retirement System.
• Training opportunities and professional development.
• Potential retention incentive bonus of up to $3,000, with stated payments after 90 days, 180 days, one year, and two years.
• Competitive compensation package, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits.
• Wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support.
• Access to public transit and bike-friendly transportation infrastructure.

What This Job Offers

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