Environmental Services Specialist Series – Environmental Services Department

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About the Department

The Environmental Services Department (ESD) is a national leader in pollution prevention, watershed protection, utility service provision, and climate action. Together, ESD employees positively impact every resident and business in San Jose.

Our department is an exceptional place to start or grow your career. We have a supportive leadership team, numerous professional growth opportunities, and an inclusive workplace culture that is welcoming of your talents! We offer an array of meaningful career paths and value flexibility - offering hybrid work and alternative work schedules in select roles. Additionally, the City offers excellent health and pension benefits, as well as 15 paid holidays!

To learn more about ESD, follow @sjenvironment on?X (formally Twitter),?Facebook, Instagram,?and San Jose Environmental Services on LinkedIn.

Position Duties

The Environmental Services Department (ESD) is recruiting for the Environmental Services Specialist (ESS) series which includes three levels/classifications: Assistant ESS, Associate ESS, and ESS. ESD intends to use the candidate pool developed from this recruitment to fill current vacancies, as well as future ESS series vacancies. Depending on your qualifications (see Minimum Qualifications below), the application you submit may be considered for an Assistant ESS, Associate ESS, or ESS position.

General Overview of the Environmental Services Specialist (ESS) Series Job Classification:

ESS employees play a critical role in providing the many vital services that help protect our environment and improve the lives of San Jose residents!

Employees in the ESS series perform highly technical and specialized functions to preserve environmental resources and provide public protection in the area of environmental sciences. ESS employees develop, organize, and coordinate assigned plans, programs, and/or special projects for the City and its environmental services; and act as a primary resource to City officials, the community, and businesses.

Typical duties for ESS positions across the department include:

• Developing and evaluating assigned environmental program goals and policies
• Developing, monitoring, and overseeing contract terms and negotiations, grant proposals, and project budgets
• Analyzing and interpreting data to prepare presentations and written reports
• Assisting the public with environmental compliance issues and City provided environmental services through coordinating environmental outreach events and programs, as well as preparing public education material regarding environmental services information
• Providing project or program-level environmental compliance support, serving as a liaison to outside agencies and regulatory bodies
• Performing duties in the field, such as outreach, inspections, etc.

Current ESS Series Vacancies

Currently, there are multiple exciting ESS series opportunities in the department’s Watershed Protection, Integrated Waste Management, and Regulatory Affairs & Purified Water divisions! To learn more about the great work we do in these divisions, please go to sjenvironment.org. Overviews of these teams and their ESS series positions are below:

Watershed Protection Division’s Trash Load Reduction Team

The Stormwater Management’s Trash Load Reduction Team is responsible for coordinating, supporting, reporting, and implementing the Trash Load Reduction and Discharges Associated with Unsheltered Homelessness provisions of the City’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Stormwater Permit (Permit).

Key projects of the Trash Team include trash capture projects, the Direct Discharge Trash Control Program, creek assessments, cleanup coordination, grant and contract management, and reporting.

Responsibilities include:

• Collaborating with other City departments (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services; Housing; Public Works; and Transportation) and external partners to support Permit-driven activities, planning, and program implementation
• Implementing the Trash Receiving Water Monitoring Plan by collecting and categorizing trash at cleanups and identifying trash pathways
• Conducting assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of implemented trash control measures to demonstrate compliance.
• Assisting with continued implementation of the City’s Long-Term Trash Load Reduction Plan and expansion of trash control measures for unprogrammed areas of the City
• Other related duties, such as assisting with public education and outreach activities and managing grants and associated contracts

Watershed Protection Division’s Emergency Preparedness & Real Estate Group - Municipal Compliance Team

The Municipal Environmental Compliance team provides technical support in the assessment, investigation, and cleanup of environmentally impaired or potentially impaired City properties/projects. The group provides general compliance expertise and support to various Citywide Departments to keep properties in regulatory compliance and/or protect the environment and public health & safety.

Responsibilities include:

• Performing Phase I Environmental Site Assessments and general environmental due diligence for City property transactions
• Developing sampling and analysis plans, conduct environmental field sampling activities (soil, groundwater and landfill gas), and provide guidance based on results
• Providing technical support for the ongoing investigation, monitoring and cleanup of the City's Leaking Underground Storage Tank sites
• Providing technical support for ongoing groundwater and landfill gas monitoring and other environmental compliance obligations for the City's closed landfills
• Preparing various technical reports, organizes data and files and develops standard operating procedures
• Working collaboratively with colleagues, clients, regulatory agencies, and the public.

Integrated Waste Management Division

The Integrated Waste Management Division overseesSan José’s solid waste programs serving approximately 331,000 Residential households, over 8,000 Commercial customers and about 140 municipal facilities. ESS positions within various teams (Residential, Commercial, Regulations, Solid Waste Program Performance) have the following responsibilities:

• Contract management and contractor performance monitoring
• Data management and analysis for reports, presentations, and programmatic improvements
• Regulatory compliance assistance and implementation of City’s solid waste goals
• Public education and outreach
• Budget management
• Project management, including studies and pilot projects
• Acquisition and management of grants
• Provide excellent customer service
• Work with regional groups and stakeholders

Regulatory Affairs & Purified Water Division’s Wastewater Compliance Team

This position supports regulatory compliance and reporting at the Regional Wastewater Facility (RWF). Additionally, this ESS supports special environmental evaluation studies at the RWF and in the San Francisco Bay by conducting technical and specialized analyses of data to evaluate future compliance with new and proposed environmental regulations and to assess environmental conditions with respect to Water Quality. This position will also support the Pollution Prevention (P2) outreach program and serve as a proactive member of technical teams, supporting and advising RWF Capital Improvement projects, regional stakeholder planning, and scientific groups.

Responsibilities include:

• Conducting research on emerging contaminants and participating in development of Pollution Prevention (P2) program priorities, outreach strategies and collaterals
• Statistical analyses of water quality and environmental data and trends to assess future regulatory compliance risk
• Drafting reports, memos, sections of reports and other technical and non-technical correspondence
• Reviewing technical and non-technical reports as assigned and providing comments and recommendations to managers
• Attending assigned regional stakeholder meetings as a City representative and productive contributing member of the stakeholder group
• Performing and supporting field work activities including P2 outreach, water quality and environmental sampling in San Francisco Bay and RWF, wildlife surveys, and biosolids sampling
• Drafting and managing consultant contracts

Salary Information

The actual salary shall be determined by the final candidate’s qualifications and experience. The below salary ranges include an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable pay. The annual salary range for the positions are presently as follows:

Assistant Environmental Services Specialist: $82,970.16 - $100,835.28

Associate Environmental Services Specialist: $96,139.68 - $116,822.16

Environmental Services Specialist: $105,989.52 - $128,812.32

Minimum Qualifications

1. Education: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

2. Experience:

Assistant ESS: One (1) year (2,080 hours) of experience developing, promoting, administering, and/or participating in the implementation of environmental programs (e.g.: programs in air quality, integrated waste management, biology, agriculture, energy, forestry or parks, habitat restoration, wastewater, water resources, stormwater, archaeology, geology, resource conservation, industrial or environmental health and safety, or any program emphasizing environmental sustainability or environmental regulatory compliance).

Relevant experience in environmental services programs typically includes: preparing outreach/educational materials, conducting survey work, tracking and monitoring deliverables, coordinating special events, promoting programs, implementing new programs, policy development, planning and permitting, grants or contracts administration, analyzing data and creating reports, and/or tracking budgets.

Associate ESS: Two (2) years of increasingly responsible experience in developing, promoting, administering, and/or implementing environmental programs in one or more of the areas described under Assistant Environmental Services Specialist experience.

ESS: Three (3) years of increasingly responsible experience in developing, promoting, administering, and/or implementing environmental programs in one or more of the areas described under Assistant Environmental Services Specialist experience, including one (1) year of experience leading people or projects.

Acceptable Substitutions:

• A master’s degree from an accredited college or university may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience developing, promoting, administering, and/or implementing environmental programs.
• Additional years of experience in developing, promoting, administering, and/or implementing environmental programs may be substituted for the bachelor's degree requirement on a year-for year basis.

Other Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history.

Competencies

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history. Desirable competencies for this position include:

Job Expertise -Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.

Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills - Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills

Problem Solving - Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem(s); collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.

Initiative - Exhibits resourceful behaviors toward meeting job objectives; anticipates problems, is proactive, and avoids difficulties by planning ahead; displays willingness to assume extra responsibility and challenges; pursues continuing education opportunities that promotes job performance.

Project Management - Ensures support for projects and implements agency goals and strategic objectives.

Computer Skills - Experienced with common business computer applications including but not limited to: Adobe Acrobat, MS Outlook, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Access, MS SharePoint, and MS Excel.

Communication Skills - Communicates and listens effectively and responds in an timely, effective, positive and respectful manner; written reports and correspondence are accurate, complete, current; well-organized, legible, concise, neat, and in proper grammatical form responds to statements and comments of others in a way that reflects understanding of the content and the accompanying emotion; asks clarifying questions to assure understanding of what the speaker intended, ensures consistent communication takes place within area of responsibility.

Selection Process:

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. You must answer all questions to be considered or your application may be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Phil Dunbar at Phillip.Dunbar@sanjoseca.gov.

Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application.

The City of San Jose offers a wide range of core health benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Disability, and Savings Plans. Please visit the City's benefits pagefor detailed information on coverage, cost, and dependent coverage.

For information on the City’s Retirement Plan(pension for full-time employees), please visit the Office of Retirement Services website. You will be able to view information based on different Sworn/Federated job classification.

In additional to the benefits above, there is an additional perks siteto explore further benefits of working for the City of San Jose like paid leave, educational reimbursements, and holiday pay are specific to the job classification and union membership.

Closing Date/Time: 11/4/2024 11:59 PM Pacific

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• City of San Jose

• 408-535-1285

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