Senior Environmental Specialist - Watershed Protection

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ABOUT THE POSITION

The County of Riverside’s Flood Control and Water Conservation District is recruiting for a Senior Environmental Specialist for their Watershed Protection Division in Riverside, CA.

The Senior Environmental Specialist will plan, organize, and review the work of a unit engaged in complex environmental regulatory compliance programs and studies responsible for monitoring, managing, protecting and enhancing the quality of water resources within the District's service area. The incumbent will be responsible for, but not limited to, evaluating regulatory program needs, overseeing budget requests, serving as a program leader for the department in the consultation with County agencies/departments, cities, state and federal agencies, and private industry to monitor stormwater regulatory compliance.

Watershed Protection:
Positions assigned to the Watershed Protection Division ensure the District’s compliance with environmental laws and regulations governing the construction, operation and maintenance of stormwater management infrastructure. Incumbents apply technical expertise related to the Clean Water Act Section 402, the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, and related state and federal water quality regulations. Incumbents in this track directly support three Areawide Phase I Municipal National Pollution Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) Stormwater Programs, develop and implement regional compliance strategies, conduct water quality monitoring and research and support stakeholder engagement efforts.

The most competitive candidates will possess strong knowledge of regulatory requirements for evaluating municipal compliance for surface water quality protection in California with an emphasis for NPDES Stormwater permits and professional level experience in full scope consultancy for contract agreements for the development of programs and projects protective of water resources. Candidates with project management experience within a municipal water resource for water quality and conservation projects are highly encouraged to apply.

Meet the Team!
The Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District provides for the control and conservation of flood and storm waters and for the protection of watercourses, watersheds, public highways, life and property from damage within its boundaries.

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EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

WATERSHED PROTECTION

Direct the analysis and application of technical knowledge of state and federal environmental laws, regulations and stormwater management principles to support the construction, operation and maintenance of municipal storm drain infrastructure.

Oversee the evaluation of regulatory requirements and initiatives to formulate compliance strategies that protect Riverside County’s streams, creeks, lakes, and rivers.

Supervise the preparation and review of NPDES technical studies, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and alignment with watershed protection objectives.

Represent the District at technical advisory committees, stakeholder meetings, water quality task forces, and public forums, offering subject matter expertise and facilitating discussions.

Drive rulemaking processes and negotiations for NPDES permit adoption and Basin Plan updates.

Manage the request for proposals (RFPs) processes, including reviewing consultant scopes of work, budgets and schedules; lead consultant selection.

Oversee field investigations and environmental sample collection (biotic, inorganic and organic) from flood control channels, waterways and storm drains, ensuring high-quality water, soil, sediment, and groundwater analyses.

Direct research and statistical analysis of environmental data, assessing findings against environmental quality objectives and preparing detailed reports.

Lead the maintenance and management of environmental data systems, including hydrologic, water quality, meteorological, and geospatial data, ensuring data integrity and accessibility for ongoing projects.

Assess stormwater quality management programs and projects for feasibility, potential funding opportunities, system impacts, and environmental documentation requirements, ensuring alignment with County objectives.

Utilize Microsoft Office, ESRI GIS and other software tools to manage and analyze environmental data, integrating them into project workflows.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, preferably with a major in environmental sciences, environmental engineering, urban or environmental planning, biological or ecological sciences, geography, archeology, hydrology, geology, chemistry, civil engineering, or a closely related field. (A master’s degree in one of these or a closely related field may substitute for one year of the required experience.)

Experience: Three years of professional-level experience in one or more of the following areas:

Stormwater quality management, watershed protection, environmental engineering, or

Environmental planning, regulatory compliance or natural resources management.

Experience working for or consulting to a public works agency is highly desirable.

WATERSHED PROTECTION
Knowledge of: Local, state and federal environmental laws, regulations and standard practices, including Clean Water Act (402), Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, California Water Code, and other applicable state and federal regulations and guidance pertaining to NPDES Permitting, Waters of the U.S. and Waters of the State and Waste Discharge Requirements; basic principles of stormwater management and social, economic and environmental conditions which affect public works planning and practices.

Ability to: Conduct site assessments and/or water quality investigations; research, compile, analyze, and interpret environmental and water quality data; communicate effectively orally and in writing in a variety of situations; establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted in the course of work; analyze complex problems, technical studies and documents; develop and evaluate alternative solutions, and recommend effective courses of action pursuant to NPDES compliance; lead, train and supervise staff.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

This recruitment is open to ALL applicants.

License: Possession of a valid California Driver's License is necessary at the time of hire and must be maintained throughout employment. County vehicles may be available but are not guaranteed. Employees may be required to use their own vehicles for field travel and are required to provide vehicle insurance information for their personal vehicle. The incumbent is required to drive throughout the County of Riverside to supervise staff at a variety of Flood Control locations.

Questions?

For specific questions regarding this position, contact Christopher Recinos at crecinos@rivco.org.

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APPLICATION INFORMATION

Veteran's Preference
The County has a Veterans Preference Policy applicable to new hires. To qualify, upload a copy of your (or your spouse's) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service, and a copy of your spouse's letter of disability (if applicable) with your application. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans' preference. The Veterans Preference Policy, C-3 is available here: https://rivcocob.org/board-policies

Reasonable Accommodations
The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at: https://rc-hr.com/disability

Proof of Education
If using education to qualify or when requested by the recruiter, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account at the time of application and before the closing date. Official or unofficial transcripts will be accepted.

If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE).

Work Authorization Requirement
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. The County of Riverside does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment-based visas.

Equal Opportunity Employer
The County of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the County of Riverside to provide equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non-job-related factors.

Pre-Employment
All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements including a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment). A pre-employment physical examination and background check may be required.

Probationary Period
As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving "At Will," are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.

General Information
Current County of Riverside and/or current employees of the hiring department may receive priority consideration. Qualified candidates may be considered for future County vacancies.

Job postings may close without notice based on application volume. Submit your complete application by the recruitment close date; no late applications are accepted. Ensure all relevant experience/education is reflected on your application/resume, as a failure to demonstrate position requirements may disqualify applicants. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.

Please read and follow any special application instructions on this posting. Click the 'Apply' link located on this page to submit your application. For additional instructions on the application process, examinations, Veteran's preference, pre-employment accommodation or other employment questions, please refer to our web site, www.rc-hr.com.

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