Watershed Protection Specialist I

About Oceanside’s Water Utilities Department & Green Oceanside

The City of Oceanside is accepting applications for the position of Watershed Protection Specialist I. 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 forward-looking organization whose goal it is to ensure ongoing access to safe, affordable drinking water and to 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 assisting programs within this dynamic group in the watershed protection initiative. 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 objectives
• Promote and oversee best management practices in Oceanside’s development and land improvements
• Affect change in official city policy by assisting the preparation of memos, staff reports, agreements and documentation for a variety of watershed, pollution, runoff and environmental issues
• Be a part of a team who 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
• Provide service information, regulatory guidance and enforcement for Oceanside’s many developers and property owners

We will also rely on you for…

Providing your unique expertise in solving complex problems environmental problems; remaining current on new developments in the field of watershed protection, utilities, and public works; and partaking in contract administration and enforcement actions.

Examples of Duties

Educates citizens and businesses on storm water pollution prevention practices and applicable regulations and permit requirements, coordinating enforcement actions when necessary. Develops and implements community environmental education and outreach content for various platforms including websites, social media, brochures and flyers. Plans and conducts environmentally-focused community events including litter cleanups and public workshops. Remains informed on federal and state water quality legislation and regulations; works with customers, stakeholders and City staff to resolve questions, problems and complaints related to stormwater compliance. Performs stormwater compliance inspections at industrial, municipal and commercial facilities with increasingly independent authority, with an emphasis on guidance for pollution prevention best management practices. Provides information on environmental ordinances to customers, businesses and the development community. Assists with ordinance development as needed to comply with State and Federal regulations and implement the Jurisdictional Runoff Management Program. Participates in permitting and implementation processes as they relate to watershed protection and habitat restoration projects. Conducts field work to collect water quality and other environmental data as required by stormwater permits and/or pollutant source investigations. Assists with administering grant applications for environmental improvement projects. Prepares State-mandated reports involving interpretation of technical data, creating charts and databases and report writing. Conducts public speaking when necessary; deals with the public tactfully to maintain cooperative relations with those contacted in the course of duties. Effectively utilizes software applications to fulfill duties of the position, e.g., word processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation applications. Communicates clearly, concisely and effectively, both orally and in writing; may be called upon to speak at various City and intergovernmental committees, commissions and City Council meetings.

Experience and Training

Experience: Six months of experience in environmental science, environmental policy, environmental or civil engineering, hydrology, natural resource management or a related field. 

Experience with water quality testing, storm water permit compliance, habitat restoration and management projects, or any other combination of environmental regulatory compliance experience is highly desirable. 

Training: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree or higher, with major coursework preferably in the area of biology, engineering, civil and/or environmental engineering, environmental science, environmental policy, resource management, or a related field.

Closing Date: 1/30/25

Apply for the position here