The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) enriches the environment and protects public health for all New Yorkers by providing 1.1 billion gallons of high quality drinking water, managing wastewater and storm water, and reducing air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution. DEP is the largest combined municipal water and wastewater utility in the country, with nearly 6,000 employees. DEP's water supply system is comprised of 19 reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes throughout the system’s 2,000 square mile watershed that extends 125 miles north and west of the City.
New York City has approximately 140,000 catch basins, 114,000 hydrants, 90,000 valves, 14 gatehouses, 3 reservoirs, 68 groundwater wells, a 100-million-gallon underground storage tank and 7,000 miles each of both sanitary sewers and water mains. The responsibility of maintaining these vast networks falls under the Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Water and Sewer Operations (BWSO).
Working for the Bureau of Water and Sewer Operations within the Division of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), the Environmental, Health & Safety Specialist is responsible for assisting BWSO's EHS in the development, maintenance, and improvement of effective and comprehensive environmental, health and safety initiatives. The EHS division strives to ensure long term environmental health and safety compliance and fully integrate the understanding of effective EHS policies and practices at all levels of the organization. Assignments will include identifying worker and environmental risks by performing EHS inspections, assessments and audits, conducting research, and educating personnel on safe work practices. Activities will include a mix of office and field work at various locations throughout the City of New York.
Some of the daily duties may include:
- Recognizing hazards and determining if they pose a risk to workers and/or the environment.
- Performing EHS assessments and inspections covering the implementation of worker safety and environmental programs in Bureau facilities and field sites.
- Implementing corrective actions associated with safety and environmental assessments, inspections, incidents, and regulatory deficiencies.
- Performing field work at the various locations across the City of New York; interacts with field personnel, intra-agency personnel, and regulatory agencies.
- Researching and interpreting Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Public Employee Safety and Health (PESH), NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), and other regulations and Agency EHS policies.
- Participating in the research and development of EHS policies and training programs.
- Developing and conducting training on Agency, Federal, State, and local government EHS regulations.
- Identifying training needs based on assessments and inspections.
- Managing and updating existing systems to support research, data analysis, and regulatory compliance.
- Assisting with management of regulated wastes (e.g., waste characterization, coordinating hazardous shipments, and emergency environmental release response).
- Implementing programs related to EHS/OSHA regulation.
- Assisting in planning and executing special projects.
- Preparing and submitting accurate reports and figures.
- Maintaining various environmental, health and safety records.
Periodically, responding to emergencies as needed.
1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, including or supplemented by 30 semester credits in the physical and/or biological sciences, i.e., biology, botany, chemistry, geology, physics, physiology, and zoology; of which not more than 12 credit hours may be in the applied sciences, i.e., environmental technology, sanitation technology, medical technology, public health, infection control or food service; and at least two years of satisfactory full-time experience performing inspections to assure compliance with pertinent laws, rules and regulations governing the areas of food, drugs and general environmental conditions; or
2. An associate degree from an accredited college, with 15 semester credits in the physical and/or biological sciences, of which not more than 6 credit hours may be in the applied sciences, and 4 years of satisfactory full-time experience as described in "1" above; or
3. Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least 60 semester credits from an accredited college, including at least 15 semester credits in the physical and and/or biological sciences. Furthermore, to assure compliance with Section 11.112 of the Compilation of the Rules and Regulations of the State of New York (NYCRR) – Title 10 (Health), all candidates must have at least 2 years of experience as a public health sanitarian as described in "1" above.
4. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, including or supplemented by 30 semester credits in the physical and/or biological sciences, i.e., biology, botany, chemistry, geology, physics, physiology, and zoology; of which not more than 12 credit hours may be in the applied sciences, i.e., environmental technology, sanitation technology, medical technology, public health, infection control or food service; and at least two years of satisfactory full-time experience performing inspections to assure compliance with pertinent laws, rules and regulations governing the areas of food, drugs and general environmental conditions; or
5. An associate degree from an accredited college, with 15 semester credits in the physical and/or biological sciences, of which not more than 6 credit hours may be in the applied sciences, and 4 years of satisfactory full-time experience as described in "1" above; or
6. Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least 60 semester credits from an accredited college, including at least 15 semester credits in the physical and and/or biological sciences. Furthermore, to assure compliance with Section 11.112 of the Compilation of the Rules and Regulations of the State of New York (NYCRR) – Title 10 (Health), all candidates must have at least 2 years of experience as a public health sanitarian as described in "1" above.
7. In order to be eligible for promotion to a supervisory level, candidates must have 2 years of experience as a public health sanitarian, pursuant to Section 11.112 of the Compilation of the Rules and Regulations of the State of New York (NYCRR) – Title 10 (Health).
8. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, including or supplemented by 30 semester credits in the physical and/or biological sciences, i.e., biology, botany, chemistry, geology, physics, physiology, and zoology; of which not more than 12 credit hours may be in the applied sciences, i.e., environmental technology, sanitation technology, medical technology, public health, infection control or food service; and at least two years of satisfactory full-time experience performing inspections to assure compliance with pertinent laws, rules and regulations governing the areas of food, drugs and general environmental conditions; or
9. An associate degree from an accredited college, with 15 semester credits in the physical and/or biological sciences, of which not more than 6 credit hours may be in the applied sciences, and 4 years of satisfactory full-time experience as described in "1" above; or
10. Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least 60 semester credits from an accredited college, including at least 15 semester credits in the physical and and/or biological sciences. Furthermore, to assure compliance with Section 11.112 of the Compilation of the Rules and Regulations of the State of New York (NYCRR) – Title 10 (Health), all candidates must have at least 2 years of experience as a public health sanitarian as described in "1" above.
11. In order to be eligible for promotion to a supervisory level, candidates must have 2 years of experience as a public health sanitarian, pursuant to Section 11.112 of the Compilation of the Rules and Regulations of the State of New York (NYCRR) – Title 10 (Health).
The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.
