Environmental Resources Specialist

County of Orange; Santa Ana (CA); On-site; USD 72,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Orange seeks an Environmental Resources Specialist to advance surface water quality programs, support regulatory compliance, and lead monitoring initiatives. The role involves coordinating with OC Environmental Resources and other departments to ensure effective implementation of NPDES/TMDL requirements and stakeholder engagement.

Strong data analysis and reporting skills are essential. The position emphasizes collaboration with regulatory agencies, consultants, and the public to meet

Qualifications

• Knowledge of NPDES stormwater, TMDL, and regulatory permit frameworks.
• Experience analyzing environmental data and preparing reports for regulatory bodies.
• Ability to coordinate with multiple agencies and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to strategies to improve surface water quality in Orange County.
• Review and develop guidance for municipal stormwater compliance programs.
• Engage partner agencies and the environmental community through meetings and outreach.
• Design and implement surface water quality monitoring programs and analyze data.

Skills

Leadership abilities

Communication skills

Regulatory knowledge

Problem solving

Project management

Tools

GIS software

LIMS

R programming

Databases

Job description

ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES SPECIALIST

Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

This recruitment will establish an open eligible list that will be used to fill current and future Environmental Resources Specialist positions. The eligible list established may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications throughout the County of Orange.

DEADLINE TO APPLY

This recruitment will be open for a minimum of five (5) business days and will close on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 11:59 P.M. (PST).

OC ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES

OC Environmental Resources is a service area within OC Public Works (OCPW) that protects and improves water quality in local water bodies and beaches; facilitates countywide compliance with state and federal stormwater runoff regulations; coordinates watershed management efforts and large-scale integrated water resource projects with stakeholders; and collects, manages, and assesses water quality, hydrologic, and meteorological data on the state of the Orange County environment.

THE OPPORTUNITY

OCPW has an exciting opportunity to fill multiple Environmental Resources Specialist (ERS) positions within OC Environmental Resources and other OCPW service areas. OC Environmental Resources protects public health and safety, improves County lands and waterways, and promotes environmental quality through restoration, education, regulation, and collaborative regional programs. The ERS serves within a group of skilled professional staff who monitor, protect, and enhance the water quality of Orange County's streams, channels, bays, and coastal waters.

• Contribute to OCPW's leadership role in designing strategies to improve surface water quality in Orange County
• Review and develop guidance for municipal stormwater compliance program implementation in response to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), as well as other environmental regulatory permit requirements
• Engage partner agencies, regulatory officials, and the environmental community through stakeholder meetings, consensus building, and public outreach
• Design and implement surface water quality monitoring programs and analyze collected data to inform public policy
• Lead and/or contribute to watershed-scale planning of stormwater and dry weather flow capture and reuse projects to meet water quality objectives and achieve multiple benefits (e.g., water supply, flood protection, stream/habitat restoration, community enhancement, and other forms of green infrastructure)
• Assess available data across the watersheds to prepare oral and written reports for the public, partner agencies, executive management, elected officials, and regulatory oversight audiences

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS AND CORE COMPETENCIES

In addition to the minimum qualifications, the ideal candidate will possess extensive knowledge, understanding, and experience (at least three (3) years of technical experience) with one or more of the following:

• Experience with NPDES stormwater permits, comprising of requirements to protect and improve the quality of creeks, streams, and coastal waters at municipal, watershed, and regional scales
• Regulatory permit review and implementation for environmental compliance with state and federal regulations
• Implementation of surface water monitoring and assessment programs

Depending on the assignment, the ideal candidate will also possess a combination of the following core competencies:

Technical knowledge | Skills

• Ability to track, review, and provide guidance on Federal, State, and County laws, regulations, and policies governing NPDES stormwater and TMDL compliance programs
• Demonstrate an understanding of water quality monitoring methods and the ability to collect environmental samples through prescribed techniques in a variety of environmental conditions
• Familiarity with chemical laboratory methods, laboratory safety, quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC), laboratory information management systems (LIMS), and sample handling protocols
• Knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software and applications
• Knowledge of databases, spreadsheets, and other software tools to support data access, management, assessment, and presentation
• Knowledge of statistical analyses and software tools (e.g., R programming) and how to use them to assess environmental data
• Ability to prepare municipal regulatory compliance reports to be submitted to State and Federal agencies
• Ability to assist in preparing budgets and managing vendor/professional service contracts

Analytical | Problem - Solving Skills

• Analyze problems and adopt an effective course of action
• Ability to research and identify information or data gaps, and to seek subject matter experts and/or supplemental resources to make informed decisions
• Ability to balance competing priorities while meeting established deadlines
• Demonstrate ability to apply creative and effective analytical reasoning with a solution-oriented focus
• Demonstrate critical thinking, creative problem solving, and exercise appropriate judgment in answering questions and releasing information

Leadership Skills

• Ability to empower, mentor, and coach/train other staff and peers
• Ability to maintain an effective working relationship with all levels of County staff, contractors, regulatory agencies, and the public
• Independently and/or with minimal guidance, oversee assigned environmental compliance programs and projects
• Independently and/or with minimal guidance, direct and manage outside consultant contracts to regulate and monitor budgetary boundaries and meet deliverable deadlines
• Operate independently and collaboratively
• Plan, organize, and direct the work of others
• Proven experience working in a lead capacity on a project or program

Communication | Oral & Written

• Address difficult issues in a timely manner utilizing tact, diplomacy, and confidentiality in dealing with difficult and sensitive situations
• Coordinate regulatory compliance programs with multiple County departments, State and Federal Agencies, cities and special districts; and lead multi-agency workgroups and meetings
• Communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing to a variety of public and professional audiences
• Understand and follow oral and written technical instructions

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Human Resource Services (HRS) will screen all application materials to identify qualified applicants. After screening, qualified applicants will be referred to the next step and notified of all further procedures applicable to their status in the competition.

Application Screening (Refer/Non-Refer)

Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those applicants that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.

Structured Oral Interview | SOI (Weighted 100%)

The Structured Oral Interview is a timed assessment. Applicants will provide answers to job-related questions, which will be rated by a panel of subject matter experts using standardized evaluation criteria. Only the most qualified candidates will advance to the next step in the recruitment process or will be placed on the eligible list.

Eligible List

Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies. Based on the County's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedures.

Veterans Employment Preference

The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please review the policy.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

The County of Orange is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Individuals who require a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should notify the recruiter listed on the job posting as soon as possible. Documentation supporting the accommodation request may be required.

EMAIL NOTIFICATION

Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account. NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply. Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "oc.gov" If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Click for additional Frequently Asked Questions. For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, contact Rose Nguyen at [e-mail] or [phone].

Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.