Position Type: Central Office ProfessionalDate Posted: 1/13/2025Location: Central Maintenance and OperationsDate Available: ASAP Closing Date: Open Until FilledThe Frederick County Public School (FCPS) District’s mission is to inspire, innovate & motivate. FCPS serves more than 46,000 students and 280,000 residents in twelve municipalities spread across 667 square miles. FCPS provides a diverse and inclusive learning environment, where excellence in college and career preparedness are paramount. The commitment to our community is to provide exceptional education and equity for "every child, every day".
Work Year Calendar and Hours
- 12-month position (260 days / year), 8 hours per day
- Daily Work Hours: TBD
For more information about employee benefits please go to: www.fcps.org/benefits Salary Under the Fair Labor and Standards Act this position is non-exempt from overtime. Actual salary placement will be in accordance with the salary procedures of the Frederick County Public School System. Please see linked salary scale for the full range. POSITION OVERVIEW The Environmental Compliance Specialist is responsible for ensuring that the school district's facilities and operations comply with all relevant environmental regulations. This includes overseeing programs related to waste disposal, hazardous materials management, air and water quality, and environmental health and safety in the school environment. The role supports the district's efforts to maintain safe and healthy school facilities by managing environmental risks and ensuring regulatory compliance.
The Environmental Compliance Specialist will work closely with school administrators, facilities teams, and regulatory agencies to identify and mitigate potential environmental hazards, ensuring a safe and compliant learning environment for students, staff, and faculty.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS Environmental Compliance:
- Implement and manage environmental compliance programs for district facilities, ensuring adherence to local, state, and federal environmental regulations.
- Monitor and maintain environmental permits related to air and water quality, hazardous materials handling, and waste disposal.
- Conduct regular environmental inspections, audits, and assessments of school facilities to ensure compliance with environmental standards.
- Ensure proper disposal of hazardous materials (e.g., cleaning chemicals, batteries, fluorescent lights) and manage the handling, labeling, and storage of such materials in accordance with regulatory requirements.
- Coordinate with the facilities team to maintain compliance with environmental laws and regulations, ensuring that all required documentation is complete and up-to-date.
- Prepare and submit required environmental reports to regulatory agencies, ensuring timely and accurate compliance with reporting deadlines.
- Stay informed on changes to environmental laws and regulations that impact the school district and ensure policies and practices are updated accordingly.
Waste and Hazardous Materials Management:
- Monitor the district's hazardous materials inventory, ensuring that proper storage, labeling, and disposal procedures are followed.
- Assist in the management and safe handling of chemicals, cleaning agents, and other potentially hazardous materials used in school facilities, including classrooms, labs, and maintenance areas.
- Provide training to school staff on the safe handling and disposal of hazardous materials and chemicals.
- Ensure that all waste, including hazardous waste, is properly classified, stored, and disposed of according to local, state, and federal regulations.
Health and Safety Support:
- Monitor and address environmental factors that may affect the health and safety of students, staff, and visitors (e.g., indoor air quality, water contamination, mold).
- Assist in developing and implementing health and safety programs to mitigate environmental risks that could affect the health of individuals on school premises.
- Assist in the development of emergency response plans for environmental incidents, such as chemical spills or hazardous materials exposure, and ensure staff are properly trained in emergency procedures.
- Collaborate with the school health team to monitor and manage infectious diseases that may be impacted by environmental factors (e.g., air and water quality issues).
Training and Communication:
- Assist in developing and delivering environmental compliance training to district staff, including teachers, custodians, and administrators, on topics such as hazardous materials handling, waste management, and regulatory compliance.
- Communicate with school staff and external contractors to ensure environmental compliance is integrated into day-to-day operations and school activities.
- Prepare and present reports to district leadership, the school board, and other stakeholders on the status of environmental compliance, health and safety concerns, and any identified risks or corrective actions.
- Assist in preparing communications (e.g., newsletters, bulletins) to inform staff, students, and parents of environmental health and safety policies and initiatives.
Recordkeeping and Documentation:
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date records related to environmental compliance activities, including inspections, audits, training, and regulatory filings.
- Track and manage compliance deadlines for environmental reporting and permitting to ensure timely submission.
- Support the preparation of documents required for environmental inspections or audits by regulatory agencies.
The above list is a summary of the essential functions of the job, not an exhaustive comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT - The physical requirements and the work environment of this position include: sitting, walking, standing, climbing stairs, driving cars, repetitive motion of the hands/fingers (e.g., keyboarding, turning pages), fine manipulation with fingers, pinching with fingers, grasping with hand, gripping, seeing close work (e.g., typed print), hearing conversations or sounds, hearing via radio or telephone, communicating through speech, and communicating by writing/reading.
- The following factors may be present in the work environment: exposure to inclement weather, work in confined areas, exposure to dust, chemicals or fumes, hazardous equipment, exposure to electrical currents, work around machinery or moving parts, work on slippery/uneven surfaces, and exposure to high noise levels.
- Capable of performing the essential functions of the position with or without accommodation.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES - The following knowledge, skills and abilities detailed below will make a candidate successful in this position.
- Programmatic - Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information in all manner of settings and respond to questions from all parties within and without FCPS. Ability to interpret, analyze and respond to regulatory agencies and associated regulations. Ability to maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the job
- Analytical - Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Proven ability to gather, manipulate, and analyze data to extract trends and foster strategic planning. Ability to adapt to multiple tasks and changing priorities.
- Interpersonal - Ability to promote program. Ability to communicate, interact and work effectively and cooperatively with all people including those from diverse ethnic and educational backgrounds. Ability to diffuse and manage volatile and stressful situations.
- Trade - Knowledge of principles and practices of risk management activities such as risk identification/reduction, loss control, asset protection, employee safety, and workers’ compensation programs.
- Must have acceptable current driver’s license for vehicle type driven.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS Education/Training/Experience:
- Associates degree in a subject providing insight and expertise in industrial hygiene, occupational health and safety, process control, project management, and loss control. Other combinations of applicable education, training, and experience which provide the knowledge, abilities, and skills necessary to perform effectively in the position may be considered.
- 1-3 years of technical experience.
Certification/License:
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Education/Training/Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in training management, occupational safety, industrial hygiene, project management, environmental engineering, or chemistry.
- Professional experience in industrial hygiene or occupational health and safety in an industrial, commercial, or educational setting.
- Degree, license or certifications related to the trades and skills applicable to this position. Ex: OSHA Safety Certificate, Certified Environmental Systems Manager (CESM), Registered Environmental Manager (REM), Associate Environmental Professional (AEP)
FREDERICK COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER THIS JOB DESCRIPTION HAS BEEN WRITTEN TO INDICATE THE GENERAL NATURE AND LEVEL OF WORK PERFORMED BY AN EMPLOYEE HOLDING THIS POSITION. IT IS NOT WRITTEN TO INCLUDE OR BE INTERPRETED TO INCLUDE A COMPREHENSIVE INVENTORY OF ALL DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED OF THE EMPLOYEE. NOTHING IN THIS DESCRIPTION RESTRICTS MANAGEMENT’S RIGHT TO ASSIGN OR REASSIGN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OR ADD REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AT ANY TIME.