Temporary - Pretreatment Compliance Specialist (Austin Water)

JOIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TEAM

At the City of Austin, we are more than just an employer-we are a vibrant community dedicated to shaping one of the nation's most dynamic and innovative cities. As we strive to fulfill our commitment as public servants, it is important that we ground our efforts in a set of guiding principles - Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, Engagement, and Equity - anchors in delivering services that significantly impact the lives of Austinites. Joining the City of Austin means embarking on a purposeful career, contributing to the community, and being part of a forward-thinking organization that values every employee.

What Makes the City of Austin Special?

• Make a Difference : Join a team driving meaningful change in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation.
  
• Value and Innovation : Work in an environment where employees are valued and innovation thrives.
  
• Competitive Benefits : Enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits.
  
• Retirement Security : Plan for the future with the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System.
  
• Sustainable Transportation Options : Commute easily with access to public transit and bike-friendly infrastructure.
  
• Focus on Wellness : Stay healthy through wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support.
  
• Career Growth : Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities.
  
• Modern Workspaces : Work in innovative and sustainable environments that foster collaboration and inspiration.
  

By joining us, you become part of a community that values its people and is committed to making Austin the most thriving and resilient city in the country.

JOIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TEAM

At the City of Austin, we are more than just an employer-we are a vibrant community dedicated to shaping one of the nation's most dynamic and innovative cities. Our guiding principles-Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, Engagement, and Equity - anchor our approach in delivering services that significantly impact the lives of Austin residents. Joining the City of Austin means embarking on a purposeful career, contributing to the community, and being part of a forward-thinking organization that values every employee.

What Makes the City of Austin Special?

Make a Difference: Join a team driving meaningful change in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation.

Diverse and Inclusive Workplace: Work in an environment where every voice is valued, and Innovation thrives.

Competitive Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits.

Retirement Security: Plan for the future with the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System.

Sustainable Transportation Options: Commute easily with access to public transit and bike-friendly infrastructure.

Focus on Wellness: Stay healthy through wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support.

Career Growth: Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities.

Modern Workspaces: Work in innovative and sustainable environments designed to foster collaboration and inspiration.

By joining us, you become part of a community that values its people and is committed to making Austin the most thriving and resilient city in the country.

ABOUT AUSTIN WATER:

For over 100 years, Austin Water has been committed to providing safe, reliable, high-quality, and affordable water services to our customers.Today, we serve over 1,000,000 people in the Austin metropolitan area, across more than 548 square miles.The utility draws water from the Colorado River into three regional water treatment plants, Handcox, Davis, and Ullrich, which have a combined capacity of 335 million gallons per day.Austin Water has two wastewater treatment plants, Walnut Creek and South Austin Regional, that can receive up to 150 million gallons per day of sewage to treat. Wastewater is cleaned into high-quality effluent that is safely returned to the Colorado River to augment environmental flows.More than a billion gallons of this high-quality effluent are reclaimed each year for outdoor irrigation, industrial cooling, manufacturing, and other uses.Austin Water consistently ranks among the best in the country when it comes to water quality. We also treat, return, and recycle wastewater in ways that protect environmental resources. Austin Water exceeds federal and state requirements for clean water and environmental compliance at our water and wastewater treatment plants.

Job Description:

Purpose:

Under limited supervision and using comprehensive knowledge of concepts, practices, procedures, and regulations, verifies and ensures compliance of the pretreatment regulated community in accordance with authority delegated by EPA/TCEQ. Responsible for projects and programs that are of diverse scope and complexity.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:

Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Conducts, participates in, and reports on investigations, audits, surveillance, monitoring, inspection, sampling, analyses, research, training, outreach, recognition, permitting, registration, enforcement and other environmental and pretreatment-related activities and programs related to general industrial users and liquid waste haulers.
  
• Initiates negotiation to resolve cases or enforcement proceedings for environmental, pretreatment, and pollution prevention issues of diverse scope and complexity related to residential customers and general industrial users.
  
• Reviews and ensures that all site and building plans and proposals meet or exceed all Federal, State, and Local code, ordinance, and regulation pretreatment guidelines and criteria.
  
• Collects, processes, analyzes, and evaluates information and data submitted within permit applications, contracts, schedules, proposals, self-monitoring reports and laboratory reports to provide approvals and recommendations and assesses compliance with applicable regulations related to general industrial users.
  
• Interprets and explains City policies and procedures, and provides technical information, advice, assistance, and training for internal and external customers.
  
• Conducts and assists with case file preparation, initiates and participates in administrative and criminal enforcement proceedings, and provides testimony in legal proceedings for alleged violations of regulations related to residential customers, general industrial users, and liquid waste haulers.
  
• Researches, recommends, and implements changes to specifications, standards, policies, procedures, codes, regulations, and ordinances.
  
• Participates in public outreach efforts, task forces, and committees. Represents department at board and commission meetings. Conducts and makes presentations for internal and external customers.
  
• Performs field sampling at sample ports for compliance and financial measurements. Reviews analytical data to establish surcharges and violation notifications for extra strength pollutants of concern and sanitary sewer overflows.
  
• Performs rotational on-call duty and responds to spills and emergency events, incidents, complaints, actions, and other related situations.
  

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:

May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of applicable Federal, State and Local regulations.
  
• Knowledge of City practices, policies, and procedures.
  
• Knowledge of architectural and engineering principles and practices.
  
• Skill in oral and in written communication.
  
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
  
• Skill in using computers and related software applications.
  
• Skill in data analysis and problem solving.
  
• Skill in planning and organizing.
  
• Skill in providing leadership, training, guidance, and technical support.
  
• Ability to conduct research and/or investigations.
  
• Ability to provide customer service and problem solving.
  
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with city employees and the public.
  

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major/minor course work in a scientific field related to the job, plus four (4) years of relevant experience;
  OR
  
• Associate's degree in a scientific field related to the job, plus six (6) years of relevant experience;
  OR
  
• Master’s degree with major course work in a scientific field related to the job, plus two (2) years of relevant experience.
  

Licenses and Certifications Required:

Valid Texas Class "C" Driver's License.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional work experience in Natural, Environmental or Physical Science
• Experience with pretreatment or environmental/field investigations, or other regulatory compliance-related activities, and knowledge of local, state, or federal water and wastewater rules and regulations
• Experience providing technical advice and assistance to internal and external customers

Notes to Candidate:

Position Overview
This position is responsible for conducting plan reviews, performing inspections, initiating enforcement, and issuing plan approvals and permits to ensure customer projects comply with applicable pretreatment regulations for general, categorical, and Significant Industrial Users. This position will be responsible for carrying and responding to an emergency pager on a rotating one-week schedule.

Critical employee:

This position has been designated as critical for the City of Austin. Critical positions are necessary and support activities that impact City or department operations. Work can be done at a designated work site or an alternate work location. Critical employees may be reassigned to another area to provide essential services during extraordinary situations or emergencies.

Pay Range:

$26.86 - $32.43

Position (s) will be filled at the following location:

Location:

City of Austin Permitting and Development Center

6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr, Austin, TX 78752

Days and Hours:

Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, with the potential for a hybrid work schedule, pending manager approval. Other hours as business needs require.

Benefits:

Working with Austin Water provides several health and welfare benefits, such as medical coverage after 90 days of employment, paid holiday, and sick leave.

When completing a City of Austin employment application:

• The City of Austin employment application is an official document; incomplete applications will not be considered.
  
• The Employment Record should include job titles, employment dates (month and year), job duties, functions, and responsibilities for each position held.
  
• We will base the starting pay rate on the relevant experience you outlined in your application.
  
• Responses to the Supplemental Questions inquiring about experience should be reflected in the application.
  
• Please include all current and previous employment on the application you would like us to consider.
  
• Statements such as “see résumé” will not be accepted. You may use “N/A” for fields that are not applicable.
  
• A résumé and cover letter are required but will not substitute for a complete employment application. Incomplete applications, resumes, or cover letters will not be considered.
  

Driving Requirement:

• This position requires a Valid Texas Class C Driver’s License or the ability to acquire one by your hire date. External New Hires must meet the City of Austin’s Driver Record Evaluation ( DRE ) r equirements. To be considered for a driving position, applicants cannot have more than three moving violations or a total of six Driver Record Evaluation points within a period of thirty-six (36) months.
  
• This position will be required to travel to and collect samples from regulated entities.
  

If you are selected as a top candidate:

• We will require verification of your education (including high school graduation or a GED, and undergraduate and/or graduate degrees). You must provide proof of education from an accredited organization/institution.
  
• If you are in the military or a veteran, you will need to provide a copy of your DD-214 before confirming a start date.
  
• A criminal background check is required.
  

Secondary Employment:

• All Austin Water employees are prohibited from accepting or engaging in any secondary employment that may conflict with or interfere with their duties and responsibilities to the Department.
  
• Austin Water will review all secondary employment.
  
• Employees are required to submit a Secondary Employment Application for review and approval upon being hired with Austin Water, as well as current Austin Water employees considering secondary employment.
  

90-day Provision:

This posting may be used to fill additional vacancies in the department.

All Austin Water worksite locations are tobacco-free. The use of tobacco products and/or e-cigarettes is not permitted on any AW worksite, including construction sites, parking lots, garages, or in any personal vehicle located on the premises.

This posting may close at any time after 7 days.

Important Note to Applicants:
The Job Posting Close Date reflects the final day to apply; however, the posting will close at 11:59 PM the day before the listed date. All application steps, including attachments and submission, must be fully completed before that time.

We also recommend that you save or print a copy of the job posting for your records. Once a posting has closed, it will no longer be viewable in the system.

EEO Statement for City of Austin:

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual's AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.

City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

Closing Date/Time: 2026-05-26

• 

• City of Austin

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