Senior Environmental Specialist

Introduction

The Water Utilities Department is currently conducting a salary and compensation study to maintain standing as a regionally competitive water and wastewater employer. The results of this study may impact compensation rates in fiscal year 2024/25. 

About Oceanside’s Water Utilities Department & Green Oceanside

The City of Oceanside is accepting applications for the position of Senior Environmental Specialist in the Watershed Protection Program. This program is a part of the City’s innovative Green Oceanside environmental division which oversees all aspects of the Watershed Protection, Water Use Efficiency, and Solid Waste & Recycling programs.

The Oceanside Water Utilities Department is a sustainable and forward-looking organization whose goal it is to ensure ongoing access to safe, affordable drinking water and reliable wastewater management services by maintaining top talent, resource resiliency, dependability, and system efficiency.

About the position

Green Oceanside is seeking an environmentally-focused problem solver who is capable of managing programs within this dynamic group in the watershed protection initiative. The Watershed Protection Program ensures public agency compliance with Federal and State natural resource protection laws, habitat restoration, and environmental education. The ideal candidate is someone who can proactively exercise creative initiative, develop and implement solutions to complex problems, and communicate with the public in an outreach-centric role.

You should be excited about this opportunity because you will…

• Leverage your expertise to help meet the city’s long-term watershed protection and waterway compliance objectives
• Review and inspect stormwater best management practices in Oceanside’s development and land improvements
• Affect change in official city policy by assisting the preparation of memos, staff reports, contracts, budgets, grants, agreements, and documentation for a variety of watershed, pollution, runoff and environmental issues
• Collaborate with a team that is passionate about protecting our ocean and waterways from urban, residential, commercial and agricultural runoff
• Provide public-facing customer service to garner support for watershed protection goals, regulations & objectives from a variety of stakeholders
• Provide service information, regulatory guidance and enforcement for Oceanside’s many developers and property owners

Examples of Duties

The Senior Environmental Specialist will be administering large scale and complex environmental projects; coordinating and overseeing major functions of projects and related activities; coordinating work with various agencies and groups for planning and development of programs as they relate to assigned environmental projects; coordinating communication and projects with various City departments and personnel, governmental and private agencies, consultants, contractors, vendors and the general public; conducting field studies to collect data; interpreting departmental policies and applicable federal, state, and local laws, and establishing procedures; forecasting and establishing budgets; creating schedules for completing assigned tasks or projects; monitoring approved budget, expenditures and recommending adjustments as necessary; participating in the writing and administration of grants; participating in the selection and supervision of staff; providing work direction, guidance and technical assistance to others; coordinating, assigning and reviewing work as required; supervising and participating in the writing and evaluation of technical bid specifications for environmental service contracts; representing the City, function or special management department at various meetings and conferences and on committees; attending and chairing meetings; preparing and presenting formal and informal presentations to internal staff, external organizations, city council, commissions and boards, and community members; keeping department management apprised of the status of department programs and the department’s ability to meet regulatory requirements; monitoring and ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations; planning, developing and conducting program outreach and promotional activities for assigned programs; developing or directing development of information, outreach and educational materials; making presentations to community, neighborhood, business and school groups on assigned programs; planning and carrying out initiatives to encourage public participation in program activities; developing, writing, reviewing, presenting and maintaining a variety of reports, documents, correspondence and records related to assigned programs; drafting correspondence to other departments and state and federal regulatory agencies; maintaining and overseeing maintenance of accurate, complete and current records; keeping informed of new regulations, pending legislation and trends in environmental issues that impact department programs and processes; preparing annual compliance reports; communicating with regulatory agencies; preparing complex reports, memos, and correspondence; and performing related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Principles, theories, methods and techniques of natural resources management, environmental protection, storm water, watershed management, sustainability and site assessment and remediation.
• Principles and practices of municipal storm water and/or solid waste laws and legal terminology.
• Principles, practices and methods of program administration and organizational analysis.
• Principles and techniques of workload management and coordination.
• Federal, state and local laws, regulations and court decisions applicable to assigned areas of responsibility.
• Principles and practices of public outreach and involvement, including conducting presentations and public engagement.
• Water conservation issues.
• Public relations principles.
• Principles and practices of customer service. 
• Preparing clear and concise reports. 
• Local, state, and federal regulations pertaining to environmental regulations.

Ability to:

• Manage large, complex and politically sensitive projects and contracts including budgets, schedules and quality of work product.
• Perform difficult and complex technical research and analysis of environmental issues or problems, evaluating alternatives and recommending or adopting effective courses of action.
• Understand and apply laws, regulations, ordinances and policies applicable to assigned program responsibilities.
• Understand, interpret and respond to internal and external customer needs and expectations.
• Supervise and evaluate the work of professional consultants, contractors and designated staff, as assigned.
• Communicate clearly, concisely and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Speak clearly and effectively before diverse audiences and groups.
• Analyze data and draw logical conclusions. 
• Administer enforcement actions in legal framework of notices, hearings, citations, adjudications and criminal proceedings. 
• Deliver oral presentations. 
• Gather, organize, interpret and record information accurately. 
• Interpret and explain City environmental control policies and procedures. 
• Prepare clear and concise reports. 

Experience and Training

Experience: A minimum of five years of increasingly responsible experience in environmental science, environmental policy, resource management, physical science, engineering, or related field.

Training: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in environmental, biological, physical, chemical or earth science or a closely related field.

License/Certificates: Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid California driver’s license. 

Depending on assignment, possession of or the ability to obtain, within one year of date of hire, one of the following certifications:

• Professional in Storm Water Quality (CPSWQ); OR 
• Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC); OR 
• California Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS), OR 
• Erosion, Sediment and Storm Water Inspector CESSWI) Certificate, OR 
• Solid Waste Association of North America Certification, OR 
• National Registry of Environmental Professionals in Environmental Profession, Environmental Science or Natural Resources
• Water Efficiency Practitioner Certification

Working Conditions and Selection Process

Environmental Conditions: Office and field environment; travel from site to site; extensive public contact; exposure to noise, dust, grease, smoke, fumes, gases, electrical energy, radiant energy, toxic materials, and inclement weather conditions; work in or with water and wastewater.

Physical Conditions: Essential functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for walking, standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time; exposure to computer screens, speaking and hearing to exchange information; visual acuity to read and interpret specifications and regulations.

Selection Process: All applications will be reviewed and the most appropriately qualified individuals will be invited to continue in the selection process. The process may include any combination of written examination, oral board examination, and/or skills assessment to further evaluate job-related qualifications. Candidates who successfully complete the examination process will be placed on the eligibility list and will remain eligible for employment consideration for a minimum of six months.

Note: Prospective employees will undergo, and must successfully pass, a background reference check (including fingerprinting) and a medical examination. Drug screening may be required.

RESUMES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED IN LIEU OF COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS BUT MAY BE ATTACHED.

CANDIDATES WHO REQUIRE A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION IN THE SELECTION PROCESS SHOULD STATE THEIR NEEDS IN WRITING WHEN SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION.

THE PROVISIONS OF THIS BULLETIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED CONTRACT. ANY PROVISION CONTAINED IN THIS BULLETIN MAY BE MODIFIED OR REVOKED WITHOUT NOTICE.