Utilities Regulatory Specialist

City of Englewood Colorado•Englewood, CO

8d•$75,671 - $113,507

About The Position

The Utilities Regulatory Specialist oversees federal planning, permitting, and regulatory compliance activities for Englewood Utilities’ water production, engineering design, treatment, Clean Water Act, and distribution activities. Under the supervision of the Environmental Compliance Manager, the specialist ensures that compliance reporting and tracking requirements are met and serves as a point of contact for internal staff and a liaison to regulatory agencies and other stakeholders. The position manages the City’s Backflow Prevention and Cross-connection Control Program, including team workflow and third-party data providers, and serves as the City’s administrative contact to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for drinking water regulatory communications. The specialist prepares regulatory submissions and technical documents, conducts research and staff training, participates in engineering planning, maintains compliance tracking, and supports water rights accounting and planning. Field inspections of backflow devices, cross-connections, and facilities are also part of the role. The position reports to the Utilities Environmental Compliance Manager and has no direct reports. A bachelor’s degree in a related field is required, although equivalent professional experience in regulatory compliance and/or environmental programs may be considered in place of education. Candidates must have 3–5 years of relevant municipal water regulatory compliance experience and a valid Colorado driver’s license with a clear or acceptable motor vehicle record. Certifications or licensures are not required. New hires must complete the stated interview, reference, and background-check processes, which may include local police, DMV, drug-screen, and fingerprint checks.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, environmental engineering, watershed science, biology, environmental chemistry, civil engineering, natural resources, or a related field; equivalent professional experience in regulatory compliance and/or environmental programs may be considered in place of education.
3–5 years of experience in municipal water regulatory compliance and associated activities, including backflow prevention and cross-connection control, data management, regulatory research, reporting, and monitoring.
Valid Colorado driver’s license and a clear or acceptable motor vehicle record.
Knowledge of water treatment, water distribution, and wastewater collection processes.
Knowledge of water quality monitoring and reporting practices, and water storage and distribution practices and compliance requirements.
Knowledge of regulations associated with the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act.
Knowledge of regulatory data management applications and business support systems.
Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Excel, environmental databases, sampling-equipment data, GIS, and other compliance support systems; ability to query and process large datasets to identify important information, trends, and patterns.
Strong verbal and written communication skills and ability to maintain effective working relationships with regulatory agencies, consultants, utility staff, partners, and stakeholders.
Advanced project and time management skills, including accurate and timely preparation of compliance reports, applications, and requests; ability to coordinate and lead consultants and team members, complete projects on time, prioritize assignments, and lead activities.
Advanced understanding of state and federal water regulatory and compliance requirements.
Continuous-improvement mindset and ability to lead improvements in data collection, storage, and reporting, and support planning and prioritization of capital improvement projects for current and future regulatory requirements.
Experience with data collection, storage, and reporting supporting regulatory compliance activities.
Ability to pass the stated pre-offer and post-offer/hire processes, including interviews, reference checks, and applicable background checks.

Responsibilities

Manage the City’s Backflow Prevention and Cross-connection Control Program, direct the backflow team’s workflow, and manage third-party data providers.
Serve as the City’s administrative contact to CDPHE for drinking water regulatory communications.
Prepare monitoring plans, extension applications, and regulatory reports for submission to CDPHE.
Prepare scientific reports, maps, memoranda, meeting summaries, permit applications and authorizations, and compliance documents for utility staff and outside stakeholders.
Conduct regulatory research for engineering and operations staff to support compliance in design plans, contracts, and methods of procedure.
Provide regulatory training to engineering and operations and maintenance staff on current requirements and future regulatory developments.
Participate in engineering planning meetings to support regulatory compliance, design planning, and operations and maintenance direction.
Maintain a regulatory calendar, ensure utility staff are aware of and comply with state drinking water regulations, and conduct proactive outreach to identify department needs.
Prepare standard operating procedures for regulatory monitoring, backflow prevention, and cross-connection control.
Recommend development and revisions of regulations, policy, and guidance through stakeholder groups and collaboration with CDPHE, utility staff, consultants, and attorneys.
Monitor and participate in EPA and state drinking water rulemaking to help plan future capital projects.
Work with the communications department on website messages and provide customer service answering technical questions about lead and copper and backflow prevention and cross-connection control programs.
Conduct field inspections of public and private backflow devices, cross-connections, and facilities; assess compliance and recommend resolutions to violations.
Support Water Rights Accounting and Planning.
Ensure data collection and reporting comply with state and federal requirements and track the status of regulatory compliance requirements, including water quality monitoring and reporting.
Perform other associated duties as assigned and required.