Stormwater Inspector and Compliance/Enforcement Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4)
The Department of Ecology is looking for a Stormwater Inspector and Compliance/Enforcement specialist in our Water Quality Program. This position is located at our Northwest Regional Office in Bellevue, WA.
We are looking for applicants who can communicate effectively with a wide audience, conduct complex investigations, and prepare enforcement documents in a clear and succinct manner.
As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism and accountability.
To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and check us out on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.
Agency Mission: Ecology's mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment and to promote the wise management of our air, land and water for the benefit of current and future generations.
Program Mission: The Water Quality Program mission is to protect and restore Washington's waters to sustain healthy watersheds and communities. Our work ensures that state waters support beneficial uses including recreational and business activities, supplies for clean drinking water, and the protection of fish, shellfish, wildlife, and public health.
What does this position do?
As the senior Northwest section specialist for the Construction Stormwater General Permit (CSGP), this position ensures that construction sites are complying with their permit, reducing their impact to surrounding waters, which improves water quality. This position gets to work in the rapidly growing field of water quality stormwater regulation by:
- Independently planning, coordinating, and conducting inspections of CSGP facilities and water quality complaints.
- Developing the information necessary to support formal and informal compliance and enforcement actions.
- Responding to highly complex inquiries for technical assistance requiring advanced scientific knowledge regarding compliance with permits, water quality laws and regulations.
- Reviewing draft NPDES permits prior to issuance.
- Preparing and providing guidance material for permitted entities.
- Gaining consensus from multiple stakeholders and interest groups, including federal agencies, local government and the general public, and representing the program and agency in presentations and outreach to professional organizations and presenting on relevant subjects.
- Initiating and reviewing recommendations for enforcement to achieve compliance.
Required Qualifications:
A Bachelor's degree involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field AND five years of professional level experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning, which includes one year equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above or two years equal to an Environmental Specialist 2 or above.
Additional experience will substitute year for year for education.
OR
A Master's degree in one of the above fields AND three years of professional- level experience as required above which includes one year equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above or two years equal to an Environmental Specialist 2 or above.
OR
A Ph.D. in one of the above fields AND two years of professional-level experience as required above which includes one year equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above or two years equal to an Environmental Specialist 2 or above
Experience as an Environmental Specialist 2 can include assisting in any of the following areas: 1) performing field surveys or studies, 2) responding to complaints involving scientific or technical content, 3) preparing public meetings and hearings, 4) assistance with routine inspections or investigations requiring specialized knowledge of industry processes, pollutant sources or natural processes, 5) responding to routine inquires or requests for technical assistance involving scientific content, 6) special projects that are scientific in nature, 7) conducting routine sampling and testing analyses, interprets data, writing reports 8) performing basic sampling data review, 9) maintaining an environmental data base to support technical projects, 10) providing routine environmental technical and administrative assistance to grant/ contract/ loan recipients of environmental protection projects.
Experience as an Environmental Specialist 3 can include a combination of the following: 1) investigating and / or resolving complaints involving science or technology content, 2) performing inspections, 3) drafting technical evaluations and reports, 4) develops plans for researching information used for technical projects, regulatory or policy development, 5) plan and facilitate public meetings and hearings, 6) project work requiring specialized knowledge of industry processes, pollutant sources or natural processes, 7) providing technical assistance for complex scientific content and/ or support for implementing scientific content programs, 8) conducting tests, analyzing and evaluating data, 9) using environmental databases to support technical projects, 10) developing scientific studies and resource management plans, 11) providing environmental technical and administrative assistance to grant/ contract/ loan recipients of environmental protection projects.
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience in conducting NPDES storm water compliance inspections and preparing and issuing enforcement actions such as warning letters, notice of violations, administrative orders, and notice of penalties.
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment
Must have a valid driver's license