Water Quality Trainee

City of Chattanooga • Chattanooga, TN

1d • $17 - $18 • Onsite

About The Position

Chattanooga, a vibrant and growing community of over 190,000 residents within a
metropolitan area of nearly 600,000 is known as the "Scenic City" for a reason.
Nestled along the Tennessee River and surrounded by the foothills of the
Appalachian Mountains, we are a hub of outdoor adventure and innovation. Home to
the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and Chattanooga State Community
College, our city blends a rich industrial history with a tech-forward
future—famously powered by the nation’s first community-wide "Gig" fiber-optic
network.   The City of Chattanooga was also recently designated as a "National
Park City,” the first of its kind in the United States.

Our Organization

As a City, we are powered by a dedicated workforce of approximately 2,600
employees committed to excellence in public service and making Chattanooga the
best community in the country. Our team ensures our city thrives through a wide
range of municipal services, including:

Public Safety: Chattanooga Police and Fire Departments.
Infrastructure & Utilities: Public Works, Waste Resources, and specialized
Stormwater management.
Quality of Life: Award-winning Parks and Outdoors and Community Development
systems and the Chattanooga Public Library.
Transportation: The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) and citywide
transit and pedestrian friendly initiatives.
Innovation: Leading-edge  smart-city programs with a commitment to cutting
edge workforce development policies to ensure all our residents can get
ahead.

Why Choose Chattanooga?

The City of Chattanooga’s workforce is the heartbeat of our community. We don't
just offer jobs; we offer careers with purpose: making Chattanooga the best city
in America. We are committed to being the premier employer of choice in
Southeast Tennessee by providing:

Competitive Compensation: Robust pay scales that reflect our commitment to
our staff.
Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off and flexible scheduling where
possible.
Exceptional Wellness: Comprehensive health benefits and wellness programs
designed for you and your family that deliver savings to you beyond your
paycheck, featuring a centralized health clinic and pharmacy for all City
employees. .
Growth: A focus on professional development and upward mobility within the
organization.
The Great Outdoors: Your Backyard Playground:  Chattanooga isn't just near
nature, it's immersed in it.  As one of the most biodiverse cities in North
America, the "Scenic City" offers an ecological richness that few places on
earth can claim.  Whether you are an adrenaline junkie or a weekend wanderer,
world-class adventure is always less than an hour away.
Vertical Adventures: Scale legendary sandstone cliffs in what is widely
considered the premier rock climbing hub of the Southeast.
Water & Rapids: From the high-octane whitewater kayaking of the Ocoee River
to world-class bass fishing and peaceful paddling on the Tennessee River.
Trails for Miles: Explore a massive network of mountain biking and hiking
trails that wind through lush ridges, hidden waterfalls, and deep river
gorges.

In Chattanooga, "work-life balance" means you can finish your shift and be at a
trailhead or on the water before the sun sets.

Our mission is to work together to build a safe, vibrant, and sustainable city
for all Chattanoogans. To do that, it takes a team of skilled and passionate
individuals. So, if you’d like to call Chattanooga home – or maybe you already
do! – and want to further your career through meaningful work that makes a true
impact where you live, we’d love to talk to you.

Requirements

• Must be enrolled in or a recent graduate of an accredited school majoring in Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Science, Engineering or related field.
• Valid Driver's License
• Knowledge of natural resources.
• Skill in Microsoft office.

Responsibilities

• Assists in monitoring watershed operations including stream inspections and monitoring to assess general physical and biological water quality conditions; collecting and documenting related data/findings; conducting ambient, wet weather and benthic macroinvertebrate sampling and hydrologic monitoring.
• Assisting in planning, installing, maintaining and programming automatic samplers and flow meters; implementing stream assessment protocols and identifying and documenting erosion problems.
• Assists with detection and process of elimination for illicit discharges which may include preparing and conducting field screening sampling of watershed grid points to identify and eliminate sources of pollutants; assisting water quality staff in complaint investigations of illicit discharge; assisting in pesticide, herbicide and fertilizer sampling to identify sources of problem areas; performing source tracking of sanitary discharge from sewer infrastructures (private service laterals and public trunk lines).
• Assists in record keeping with proper logging and computerized record upkeep of inspection and monitoring activities.
• Familiarization with data analysis related to watershed characteristics for the development of watershed plans; assists in watershed planning activities, including but not limited to watershed characterizations, watershed simulations and TMDL implementations.
• Reviewing, interpreting and completing a variety of forms, reports, sampling labels, correspondence, applications, plans, drawings, ordinances, regulations and maps.
• Assists in complaint investigation, storm water ordinance and regulation enforcement, corrective action recommendations for identified problems, and enforcement action initiation to effect compliance with established regulations.
• Assists in providing education service to individuals or groups to raise awareness of water quality and storm water issues and constructive actions for watershed management.
• Assists in the launching of investigations and inspections relative to storm water and watershed management, including inspection and documentation of post-development best management practices, storm water fee reduction requests and sanitary sewer overflows.
• Must meet regular attendance requirements.
• Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers and citizens.
• Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive Compensation: Robust pay scales that reflect our commitment to our staff.
• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off and flexible scheduling where possible.
• Exceptional Wellness: Comprehensive health benefits and wellness programs designed for you and your family that deliver savings to you beyond your paycheck, featuring a centralized health clinic and pharmacy for all City employees.
• Growth: A focus on professional development and upward mobility within the organization.

What This Job Offers

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