Environmental Compliance Inspector

City of Richmond (CA); Richmond (CA); On-site; USD 71,000 - 118,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Paid vacation

Holidays

Sick time

CalPERS retirement contribution

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Annual professional development reimbu

Four weeks of paid parental leave

Job summary

The City of Richmond (CA) is seeking an organized Environmental Compliance Inspector to join the Public Works Department's Water Resource Recovery Division. The role focuses on inspections, sampling, and enforcing wastewater and stormwater regulations to protect the community and environment.

The ideal candidate will have a science background, 1–3 years of related experience, and the ability to work independently as well as with city staff, regulated businesses, and agencies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is required or equivalent.
• 1–3 years of related experience.
• Equivalency acceptable to meet required skills.

Responsibilities

• Inspect sanitary and stormwater discharges at varied sources.
• Perform physical, chemical, biological and bacteriological tests on samples.
• Investigate and trace sources of illegal discharges.
• Communicate violations and plan enforcement actions.
• Maintain inspection records and prepare reports.
• Enforce applicable regulations and assist with permits.

Skills

Environmental compliance knowledge

Regulatory inspections

Sampling and monitoring

Data interpretation

Effective communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Sciences, or related field

Job description

The City of Richmond is seeking an organized and motivated professional who values and embraces the diversity of our community and brings a strong background in science, environmental compliance, and safety. Successful candidates will be able to work effectively both independently and as part of a team in the role of Environmental Compliance Inspector.

The City's Public Works Department is seeking to fill a vacancy in the Water Resource Recovery Division.

The Environmental Compliance Inspector performs inspections, investigates, plans, and organizes regulatory compliance work associated with the City’s Wastewater Pretreatment and Municipal Stormwater Programs. Assures the City’s environmental compliance with applicable federal, state, and local codes and regulations.

Annual salary for this classification is as high as $118,915.44 at the top of the range, with a cost-of-living increase of 5% on July 01, 2027.

Additionally, City-paid benefits include medical, dental, vision, paid vacation, holidays, sick time, CalPERS retirement contribution, life insurance, disability insurance, tuition reimbursement, annual professional development reimbursement, four weeks of paid parental leave, and more!

All benefit information can be found in our Benefits Summary.

The most successful candidate will be a motivated, detail-oriented environmental professional with knowledge of wastewater pretreatment and municipal stormwater programs and the ability to apply environmental regulations in a practical field setting.

The ideal candidate will be comfortable conducting inspections and sampling, evaluating data, identifying and documenting potential violations, and communicating compliance requirements clearly and professionally while working independently and collaboratively with City staff, regulated businesses, regulatory agencies, and the public.

Desirable characteristics:

• Strong technical writing, communication, organizational, and recordkeeping skills
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Professional, collaborative, and service - oriented approach to compliance activities
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain effective working relationships.

This is the entry level in the Environmental Compliance Inspector class series. Incumbent performs the full range of inspection, sampling, monitoring and enforcement activities, and is expected to interpret regulations and initiate appropriate enforcement actions after identifying non-compliance with local, state, and federal requirements. This position is distinguished from that of the Senior Environmental Compliance Inspector, which is a lead position and provides technical guidance and coordination to Environmental Compliance Inspectors and performs the more complex technical regulatory work.

The City of Richmond is the City of Pride and Purpose, and we value those traits in our employees!

The intent of this job specification is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by employees in this job. Employees perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

• Inspects sanitary and storm sewer discharges at industrial, commercial, construction and municipal activity sources, including, but not limited to, fats, oils, and grease (FOG), significant industrial users (SIUs), pump stations, corporation yards, illicit discharge screening sites, low-impact development treatment and hydrograph modification systems, City and storm sewers, interceptor systems, and from receiving waters.
• Performs routine physical, chemical, biological, and bacteriological tests on samples collected, including field and site tests.
• Investigates and traces the sources of illegal waste discharges entering the City’s wastewater and/or stormwater collection systems.
• Communicates with facility representatives about violations, enforcement, discharge problems, and waste minimization. Plans and directs the issuance of violation notices, and makes court appearances, if necessary.
• Handles and preserves samples by following standard methods and Environmental Protection Agency regulations, and State Ambient Water Monitoring Program protocols to prevent sample degradation.
• Establishes chemical and biological sampling schedules for the purpose of identifying the sources of code violations.
• Establishes minimum standards for industrial, commercial, and construction sampling, monitoring, and pretreatment equipment.
• Maintains inspection records and associated documents current in database for tracking and reporting purposes.
• Enforces the Richmond Municipal Code, source control sections of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System for wastewater and stormwater permits, and other applicable regulations.
• Obtains data for the purpose of calculating sanitary and storm water sewer fees for industrial and commercial businesses within Richmond’s city limit. Coordinates and attends public meetings and outreach events consistent with pollution prevention requirements of wastewater and stormwater permits. Receives and interprets laboratory data from wastewater, stormwater, and environmental samples. Applies results to regulatory requirements.
• Performs related work as required.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Sciences, or a related field
• One (1) to three (3) years of related experience
• Any equivalent combination of training, education, and experience that provides the required skills, knowledge, and abilities

Required Licenses or Certifications

• Possession of a valid California driver’s license and satisfactory driving record is an ongoing requirement
• Possession of a California Water Environment Association - Environmental Compliance Inspector Grade I certificate is required within twelve (12) months of the date of hire
• Ability to acquire a Grade II Environmental Compliance Inspector certificate within the first twenty-four (24) months of the date of hire
• Maintaining a valid Environmental Compliance Inspector Grade II certificate is an ongoing requirement.

Desirable Experience

• Experience in wastewater pretreatment and/or municipal stormwater compliance, including inspections, investigations, sampling, monitoring, and enforcement.
• Knowledge of NPDES requirements and applicable wastewater, stormwater, and environmental regulations.
• Experience with environmental sampling and proper sample collection, preservation, and documentation procedures.

Desirable Certifications

• Possession of a California Water Environment Association - Environmental Compliance Inspector Grade I or Grade II certificate is highly desirable.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

The City’s policy is that all persons hired on or after October 18, 2021, must be fully vaccinated, including the booster, for COVID-19. New employees will be required to provide proof of complete vaccination or have an approved medical or religious accommodation before employment may commence. If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact Human Resources.

REQUIRED KSA FOR SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE OF JOB DUTIES

Knowledge of:

• Modern office practices and equipment, including applicable software
• Principles, practices, and techniques related to regulatory inspections, wastewater pretreatment, treatment, and analysis
• Wastewater and stormwater regulations
• Sampling and inspection techniques
• Basic principles of chemistry and bacteriology
• Safety practices involved in sampling wastewater and stormwater

Skill in:

• Organization and time management
• Mathematics
• Chemistry

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Read and interpret a variety of maps, blueprints, schematics, flow diagrams, meters, dials, and gauges
• Present undesirable information to others under difficult circumstances where relations may be strained
• Diagnose and make minor repairs on a variety of equipment and instruments using common hand and power tools
• Determine volume, content, temperature, and conductivity of industrial waste, stormwater, and illicit discharges

About the City of Richmond

The City of Richmond lies on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay, five miles north of Berkeley and seven miles northeast across the Bay from downtown San Francisco. A hub of multimodal transportation, many of our residents and businesses are located in Richmond because of its central location and easy access to the Amtrak/Capitol Corridor, BART, AC Transit, the ferry, and two freeways (I-80 & I-580). Residents, visitors, and employees enjoy Richmond’s numerous recreational opportunities, which include 32 miles of shoreline and over 3,000 acres of shoreline parks, more segments of the Bay Trail completed than any other city, several recreational boat harbors and yacht clubs, and thousands of acres of contiguous inland regional parks and open space. The City has substantial economic resources but is still affordable compared to other Bay Area cities. Our community is welcoming, diverse, and actively engaged. Richmond is truly the City of Pride and Purpose!

Immigration Reform Control Act

In compliance with the Immigration Reform Control Act of 1986, individuals offered employment by the City of Richmond will be required to show documentation of eligibility to work in the United State as a condition of employment.

Non-Discrimination Policy

The City of Richmond is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer, and prohibits discrimination against any applicant on the basis of race, religion, citizenship, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability or medical condition, genetic information, marital status, reproductive health decision-making, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 and over), sexual orientation, or military or veteran status or any other basis protected by law.

Disaster Service Workers

California Government Code Title I, Sections 3100 - 3109, declare all public employees to be Disaster Service Workers subject to such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law. More information can be found here.

EOE/ADA/DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE

WEBSITE: www.ci.richmond.ca.us

Analyst: R. Paiz 09/2026