Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree with major course work in environmental science, environmental engineering, chemistry, natural science, or a related field, and three years of professional level environmental related experience; or any equivalent combination of related training and experience. Applicants within six months of meeting the education/experience requirement may be considered for trainee status.

A Valid Florida Driver License is required and a Motor Vehicle Record that meets the requirements of Alachua County policy #6-7; Motor Vehicle Records will be reviewed prior to employment. If, in the past 24-month period, the applicants Motor Vehicle Record has more than three (3) moving traffic infractions or three (3) or more at fault motor vehicle accidents (or combination of both and /or a conviction/pending charge for driving under the influence) or is in violation of any standard mandated by Federal or State Law or Regulation, the minimum qualifications are not met for the position.

Successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen, Hazmat physical examination and successful completion of all applicable background checks pre-hire and ongoing are required.

Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) 40 hour Certification is required within 6 months of hire into this classification and the 8 hour refresher course is required every year to maintain the certification.

Position Summary

This is a professional role providing oversight and coordinating inspections, testing, and enforcement of air, soil, and water pollution control ordinances, hazardous waste management or collection, as well as emergency response for hazardous material incidents and spills in Alachua County.

The employee assigned to this classification is responsible for coordinating field and laboratory activities related to water quality, air, or soil quality or other environmental monitoring, assessment and remediation, technical review and oversight of contaminated site remediation, regulatory activities regarding hazardous materials, and hazardous waste collection.

Work is performed under the direction of a higher-level supervisor and is reviewed through conferences, reports, and observation of results obtained.

Examples of Duties

This is an emergency essential classification. Upon declaration of a disaster and/or emergency, all employees in this classification are required to work.

Exudes a positive customer service focus.

Advocates building organizational culture through aligning decisions with County’s core values.

Conducts and supervises field collection of samples and/or data and/or observations for environmental analysis, evaluates data, prepares reports and recommendations.

Coordinates with other regulatory agencies and municipalities on inquiries and code requirements.

Provides guidance and oversight and enforcement of federal, state and local environmental regulations.

Evaluates inspection and monitoring data from multiple sources. Examples may include solid waste management sites and hazardous materials management facilities and evaluating data from other agencies as appropriate.

Prepare reports and recommendations.

Prepares case evidence and testifies, as needed, at administrative hearings and/or court as a technical witness or enforcement officer and/or to support enforcement actions.

Performs rotational 24/7 on call and emergency response as required for hazardous materials incidents/releases within the County and coordinates remediation of spills. Interacts and coordinates with inter-agencies, state and federal agencies as needed/required.

Performs periodic compliance and enforcement inspections of regulated facilities, contaminated sites, remediation sites, and other environmental sites to ensure compliance with and enforcement of local codes, ordinances, state and federal regulatory programs; reviews permits and compliance status.

Manages remediation activities at environmental sites, including technical and/or cost oversight of engineering contractors for compliance monitoring, contamination assessments and remedial actions arising from groundwater, surface water, soil or ambient air contamination with hazardous or toxic materials and petroleum products to ensure compliance with program regulations and local ordinances.

Prepares and reviews purchase orders or work orders and reviews invoices for work performed or services or goods provided by contractors and vendors in support of county or state contracted regulatory programs or hazardous materials and waste management programs.

Performs emergency spill response as required for hazardous materials or petroleum product spills in support of county, state and federal regulations and in support of first responders and coordinates remediation of spills.

Assists in developing pollution control, air pollution and hazardous and solid waste elements of land development regulations, County Comprehensive Plan, and ordinances and regulations.

Oversees and enforces compliance with federal, state and local regulations, including the proper storage, handling, transportation and disposal of hazardous materials.

Responds to citizen and multi-agency inquiries and complaints related to hazardous materials and hazardous waste issues.

Receives complaints regarding violations of environmental regulations, codes, and ordinances and/or site-specific rules, plans, and guidelines; investigates potential civil and/or criminal enforcement situations for corrective action and resolution.

Coordinates and conducts hazardous materials outreach and education.

Prepares and revises procedures and implements staff training on various hazardous materials safety policies and procedures including proper documentation and training records.

Operates, as required, motor vehicles (including departmental motor vehicles), in order to conduct job duties that may include field tests, inspections, evaluations, emergency response and investigations to obtain data for use in determining code compliance, sources of, and methods for controlling County-wide environmental pollutants, performing on-site evaluations, emergency response operations for hazardous materials and other ecological monitoring as appropriate.

Performs the duties listed, as well as those assigned, with professionalism and a sense of urgency.

NOTE: These examples are intended only as illustrations of the various kinds of work performed in positions allocated to this class. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Thorough knowledge of the technical methods and procedures involved in the administration of environmental regulations, programs and policies. This may include technical methods and procedures and general environmental programs such as solid waste management, hazardous waste disposal, and air and water quality monitoring.

Considerable knowledge of environmental sampling procedures and equipment.

Knowledge of local, state, and federal rules, regulations, and ordinances related to environmental protection.

Knowledge of applicable codes, ordinances, statutes, rules, regulations, program policies, technical guidance, and memoranda.

Knowledge of hazardous materials and hazardous waste regulations and emergency response operations.

Working knowledge of MS Office Suite, ArcMap, GIS, data management and data validation.

Knowledge of word processing and data management programs and Geographic Information Systems.

Knowledge of Incident Command, National Incident Management System and Unified Command.

Skill in the operation of motor vehicles, small equipment and machinery.

Ability to apply engineering and scientific principles and methods.

Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Ability to create concise, clear and succinct technical reports.

Ability to research technical problems, formulate recommendations, and compile related reports.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, the general public and other County agencies.

Ability to clearly communicate with 911 dispatchers and emergency personnel for emergency responses.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee frequently is required to talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; and smell.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include color vision, close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in outside weather conditions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in various facilities, near moving mechanical parts, potential elevation with climbing and occasionally works in precarious places.

The employee may perform field work in inclement weather and harsh conditions such as wet areas and dense brush with biting insects, venomous animals or irritating plants and allergens.

The employee is occasionally exposed to vapors, fumes or airborne particles and toxic or caustic chemicals.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to low.

Supplemental Information

Experience with Aloha, Cameo and ERDSS is beneficial, but not required.

Alachua County

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Senior Environmental Specialist (Hazardous Materials)