Senior Regulatory Specialist (Water/Wastewater and Biosolids)

Description

What do you value in your next job?

At the Orange County Sanitation District our Core Values form the framework of our organization and reinforce our professional work ethic. If the following values ring true with you, we'd love to invite you to explore our career opportunities further.

Integrity, Inclusion, Honesty, and Respect
We aspire to the highest degree of integrity, inclusion, honesty, and respect in our interaction with each other, our suppliers, our customers, and our community. We strive to demonstrate these values in our actions, commitments, and service.

Leadership, Teamwork, and Problem Solving
We lead by example, acknowledging the value of our resources and using them wisely to achieve our mission. We strive to reach OC San goals through cooperative efforts and collaboration with each other and our constituencies. We work to solve problems in a creative, cost-effective, and safe manner, and we acknowledge team and individual efforts.

Customer Service, Transparency, and Accountability
We are committed to acting in a timely, accurate, accessible, and transparent manner through excellent customer service. We are committed to act in the best interest of our internal and external stakeholders.

Resiliency, Innovation, and Learning
We continuously develop ourselves, enhancing our talents, skills, and abilities. We recognize that only through personal growth and development will we progress as an agency and as individuals.

Safety
We are committed to providing a safe work environment. We will demonstrate leadership, promote individual accountability, and participate actively in the advancement of our health and safety practices.

OC San is currently looking to fill the role of a Senior Regulatory Specialist (Water/Wastewater and Biosolids) in the Environmental Compliance Division.

Under general direction, performs advanced-level and highly specialized regulatory review, analysis, and advocacy duties requiring advanced knowledge and subject matter expertise in assigned area(s) of environmental and regulatory compliance and in legislative processes; ensures that OC San is in compliance with federal, state, and local regulatory requirements; serves as an OC San liaison to various regulatory bodies, other sanitation districts, and member associations; provides comment, analysis, and testimony to appropriate agencies and boards on proposed regulations related to the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and other proposed regulations, policies, and other official actions; acts as technical leader in setting the direction for OC San on policy, regulatory, and permitting issues; coordinates with OC San’s Public Affairs Division regarding position on environmental legislation; and performs duties as assigned.
Under general direction, the Senior Regulatory Specialist will be responsible for:

• Overseeing NPDES permit requirements for Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) including wastewater discharge, biosolids, and stormwater programs.
• Performing advanced-level and highly specialized duties in reviewing, analyzing, and advocating on proposed regulations and legislations impacting wastewater, biosolids, and stormwater.
• Developing and managing requests for proposals for professional and/or contracted services; prepares scope of work; evaluates proposals and recommends award; negotiates contracts; administers contracts to ensure compliance with OC San specifications and service quality and regulatory requirements; maintains or verifies staff are maintaining all required records.
• Building relationships with regulators to become a trusted, respected, and recognized resource to their regulatory and legislative developments and processes and rule-making processes.
• Providing comment and testimony to appropriate local, state, or federal agencies and boards, on proposed regulations related to wastewater, biosolids, and stormwater, and other environmental policies and initiatives, and other official actions.
• Providing leadership and guidance to others on programs and/or projects; as a program and/or project leader, may direct, assign, train, monitor, and review the work activities of team members; determines work priorities; oversees quality and quantity of work performed and ensures adherence to established procedures by instructing employees accordingly; is a reference to employees by possessing special skills; and develops and implements work improvements.
• Staying abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of regulatory compliance; research emerging products and enhancements and their applicability to OC San’s needs.
• Using OC San’s Initiative Tracker as a tool to track and communicate regulatory and legislative developments and compliance reporting due dates.
• Ensuring safety and health procedures and precautions are adhered to, corrects unsafe work conditions/practices, and/or reports unsafe work conditions/practices to assigned supervisory or managerial staff.
• Performing duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Requirements

Required:
Bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by the U.S. Department of Education, with major coursework in environmental science, engineering, law, or a related field.Seven (7) years of increasingly responsible experience in environmental compliance and regulatory review involving the analysis of air, soil, biosolids, and/or water regulatory issues.Must possess a valid California Class C Driver’s License.
Desired:

• Public sector experience in NPDES permit compliance in wastewater, biosolids, and stormwater programs and an in-depth knowledge of California and federal laws and regulations focused in these areas.
• Public sector experience in Title V air programs and knowledge of California and federal laws and regulations focused on regulating air emissions.
• Experience advocating before regulatory agencies.
• Experience preparing, presenting and working with a management team and a Board of Directors.

Recruitment & Selection Process

Vacancies: 1

(an eligible list may be established for future vacancies)

Apply online at: www.ocsan.gov/careers

APPLICATION FILING DEADLINE: Tuesday, June 24, 2025; 5:00 P.M.

(or until a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received)

Hiring Salary Range: $143,270.40 - 157,976.00/Year*

*(starting salary will be within this range based upon qualifications)

Supplemental Information

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; standing in work areas and walking between work areas is required; occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle to travel to various OC San sites, projects, and/or meetings.
• Conduct inspections, stand in work areas, and walk between work areas, within treatment plants, and in the field.
• Lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 51 pounds.
• Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen.
• Vision to conduct inspections.
• Hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone.
• Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment.
• Finger dexterity to operate inspection equipment.

ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS

• Office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances.
• Field work with exposure to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road hazards, vibration, chemicals, mechanical and/or electrical hazards, hazardous physical substances and fumes, dust, and air contaminants.
• Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Probationary Period: All OC San employees, except classifications considered “at-will”, are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, policies, and/or resolutions. Employees who have not yet successfully completed their initial probationary period serve “at-will” and may be released from employment without cause or recourse to any appeal or grievance procedures.
• Pre-Employment: All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of OC San’s pre-employment process, which includes a background investigation, a physical examination, and a drug screen.
• Work Location Assignment: Employees will be assigned to a work location based on business needs which may be located at any/all of OC San locations; this work location may be changed at any time.

DISASTER SERVICE WORKERS
All Orange County Sanitation District employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the Orange County Sanitation District requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

OTHER INFORMATION
For the full range of duties, responsibilities, and essential job functions please review the Classification Specification for this position found on our website .

Applicants must clearly demonstrate, through their application materials, that they meet the minimum requirements as outlined in the job announcement and class specification to receive further consideration. However, meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an interview. All properly completed applications will be reviewed, and the most appropriately qualified individuals will be invited to continue in the selection process.

False statements may be cause for disqualification, removal from the eligible list, or discharge from employment. All statements made on applications are subject to investigation and verification.

To ensure your application is accurate and complete, please review the Job Application Guide .

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of OC San’s pre-employment process, which includes a background investigation and a physical examination. For some positions, this may include a drug screen. False statements may be cause for disqualification, removal from the eligible list, or discharge from employment. All statements made on applications are subject to investigation and verification.

Reference Checks will be conducted by OC San to verify employment related information for all potential employees once a contingent job offer is made during the background investigation process. This is done to ensure that individuals who join OC San are well qualified and have a strong potential to be successful in their employment. The extent of the inquiry will depend on the position being applied for, but will at least include:

• Verification/Reference from current and past employers
• Confirmation of necessary licenses, certificates, and degrees.

Please have all necessary documentation ready. Additional inquiries may be necessary depending on the position for which you are applying. Human Resources will also schedule a post-offer physical examination once a job offer has been made.

OC San only accepts applications submitted via our online application system. Applications submitted via mail, fax or email will not be accepted.

The provisions of this announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained in this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice.

Vacation leave; eleven paid holidays and one floating holiday; sick leave; administrative leave; group life insurance; group disability insurance; group health insurance (employee contribution required), dependent coverage available, including medical, dental, and vision; a retirement* plan (Orange County Employees Retirement System) and the option of participating in a deferred compensation plan as well as other optional benefits. A credit union is available. Telecommuting (up to two days) depending on nature of the work, business need, and management approval. Benefits are subject to the Board of Directors' periodic determination (usually annually) and the meet and confer process, and are therefore subject to change. OC San makes a generous contribution toward the cost of these benefits.

* New employees hired on or after January 1, 2013 will be subject to the retirement benefit formula and provisions set forth by the California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA).

For more information on benefits, visit our website at https://www.ocsan.gov/about-us/jobs/employee-benefits

Closing Date/Time: 6/24/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

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• Orange County Sanitation District

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