Environmental Services Specialist
City of Garden Grove
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Job summary
The City of Garden Grove is seeking an Environmental Services Specialist to ensure compliance with federal, state and local environmental laws. The role emphasizes monitoring environmental conditions, data collection, and generating clear reports for internal teams.
Ideal candidates will demonstrate attention to detail, conflict resolution, and strong customer service while performing inspections, enforcement actions, and documentation across city facilities and permits.
Qualifications
- Graduation from an accredited high school, GED or equivalent and two years of enforcement or inspections experience in storm water, water quality, environmental reporting, or hazardous materials.
Responsibilities
- Inspect properties and facilities for environmental program compliance.
- Respond to complaints and investigate prohibited discharges.
- Enforce storm water quality, recycling and sanitary district codes.
- Prepare notices of non-compliance and related enforcement actions.
- Assist investigations and document case summaries.
- Maintain records and reports of inspections and surveillance activities.
- Respond to public inquiries and gather inventory data.
- Assist in emergency abatement evaluations and response.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
The City of Garden Grove is now accepting applications for:
Deadline to apply for this recruitment is Monday, October 5, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. PST
The Public Works Department is responsible for the maintenance and construction of all municipal facilities and equipment and associated infrastructure. This includes streets, sidewalks, parks, public buildings, street trees, flood control channels, traffic signals and City-owned vehicles and equipment. Additionally, the department is responsible for the City's water system and managing trash and recycling services.
Under general supervision, the Environmental Services Specialist performs a variety of activities to ensure substantial compliance with federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations. In addition to the minimum qualifications, the ideal candidate will have experience in implementation of programs designed to monitor, assess, and/or investigate environmental conditions; demonstrate exceptional attention to detail; be able to resolve conflict; gather and analyze data; and provide excellent customer service to all levels of the organization.
We currently have one full-time opening and we anticipate creating an eligibility list from this recruitment that may be used to fill current and future vacancies for this classification.
- Inspect properties, facilities and businesses for federal, state, and local environmental control program compliance, including the review of hazardous material management documents;
- Respond, investigate and report complaints of prohibited discharges into the City's storm water drain and sewer system;
- Enforce storm water quality, recycling and sanitary district codes;
- Prepare and issue notices of non-compliance, administrative compliance orders, cease and desist orders and citations, as necessary;
- Assist in civil and criminal investigations, including the collecting, preserving and documenting of evidence and the preparation of case summary reports;
- Inspect properties, facilities, and businesses subject to the grease control ordinance for compliance;
- Prepare and submit federal, state, and local environmental compliance reports;
- Identify properties, facilities, and businesses where a local permit may be appropriate and enforce the provisions of such a permit;
- Maintain records and reports of inspections and surveillance activities;
- Respond to public inquiries; collect and maintain data, including inventories associated with properties, facilities, and businesses with regards to the environmental control program;
- Assist emergency responders in evaluating and determining the need for emergency abatement of conditions posing an imminent danger to public safety and/or the environment;
- Respond to sanitary sewer overflows and hazardous material and chemical spills and mobilize work crews for non-hazardous clean up related to violations of the Orange County National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit and/or City Grease Control Program;
- Report prohibited discharges to include sewage spill incidents to the appropriate federal, state, and local administering agency; and
- Perform other related duties as required.
Graduation from an accredited high school, successful completion of the G.E.D. (General Educational Development) exam, or equivalent and two (2) years of experience conducting industrial, commercial, or residential enforcement or inspections in the areas of storm water, water quality, environmental reporting, or hazardous materials is required.
Federal, state, and local air, water and hazardous waste/materials laws, rules, codes and regulations; methods and techniques of conflict resolution; customer service techniques and principles; the Standard Emergency Management System and Incident Command System; principles and techniques of inspection for above ground or underground tanks, pressure vessels, grease interceptors, oil/water separators, clarifiers, and related hazardous materials systems; the Stormwater National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program.
Enforce applicable local, state, and federal codes, ordinances, and regulations related to storm water quality, air quality, sanitation, and sewage discharge; gather and evaluate data and evidence; prepare clear and concise reports; operate modern office equipment including computers; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; work cooperatively and effectively with others; work independently; interact well with the general public; and commit to providing quality customer service.
Must possess a Class C California driver's license and an acceptable driving record in order to operate a City vehicle. An acceptable driving record is one that has three (3) or fewer DMV points issued within the past five (5) years, and no more than one (1) DUI within the past ten (10) years.
Completion of a 40 hour Hazardous Materials First Responder training (Hazwoper 40).
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Incumbents in this classification stand; walk; lift and carry objects weighing up to 24 lbs, and may occasionally may lift up to 50 lbs; stoop, bend and lean; turn and twist; use fingers, both hands and both legs repetitively; use rapid mental/muscular coordination; repetitive twisting or pressure involving wrists or hands; hear normal voice conversation; distinguish shades and colors; see long distances; see small details; operate mobile or motorized equipment.
The work environment described here is representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Incumbents in this classification work inside, outside, in direct contact with the public, around chemicals, toxic materials, explosive substances, dangerous machinery, and machinery with moving parts.
The Selection Process May Include
- Oral panel interview – tentatively scheduled for October 20, 2026
Candidates who may need accommodations during the selection process must contact the Human Resources Department at ggjobs@ggcity.org at least one week prior to any test dates.
Applicants should check their email and spam mail for all notices.
The City has adopted a Nepotism Policy that may affect the status of a candidate’s application. Please refer to the Garden Grove Municipal Code 2.44.440 Nepotism Policy for more information.
The City of Garden Grove is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, marital status, religion, ancestry, national origin, medical condition, non-disqualifying disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, military/veteran status, or other protected class covered by appropriate law.
Per Government Code 3100, in the event of a disaster, employees of the City of Garden Grove are considered disaster service workers and may be asked to respond accordingly.
Accrues At The Following Rates
- 80 hours upon completion of one (1) year
- 120 hours after one (1) year - 10 hours per month
- 132 hours after four (4) years - 11 hours per month
- 144 hours after nine (9) years - 12 hours per month
- 156 hours after eleven (11) years - 13 hours per month
- 168 hours after fourteen (14) years - 14 hours per month
- 186 hours after sixteen (16) years - 15.5 hours per month
- 207 hours after nineteen (19) years - 17.25 hours per month
- 246 hours after twenty-four (24) years - 20.6 hours per month
14 paid holidays a year (up to 125 hours)
Accrues at 8 hours for each full calendar month of service.
The City provides each eligible employee a fringe benefit allocation to purchase benefits for themselves and their dependents. Any unused portion of the allowance may be put into a deferred compensation plan, or taken as cash at the end of the year, or invested into a Flexible Reimbursement Account in which employees may tax-defer funds to use to pay for childcare or to cover those health and dental care expenses (deductibles, etc.) that are not reimbursed by an insurance carrier.
Employees may contribute to a 457(b) account up to the maximum as determined by the IRS annually. There is no City contribution.
Employees hired prior to January 1, 2013, are covered by the "2.5% at 55" single highest year option of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) plan. Employees contribute eight percent (8%) of salary to PERS on a tax-deferred basis. Employees hired after January 1, 2013 that have already been enrolled in CalPERS or another reciprocal retirement system and do not have a break in service of more than six (6) months may be hired into Tier I. The plan also includes the 1959 Survivor Benefit (Indexed Level), and $5,000 death benefit.
Employees hired after January 1, 2013, are covered by the "2% at 62" three highest year average option of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) plan. Employees contribute half of the normal cost to PERS on a tax-deferred basis. The plan also includes the 1959 Survivor Benefit (Indexed Level), and $5,000 death benefit.
Employees may receive $85 per pay period if designated by the department head and certified by Human Resources to use bilingual verbal and translation abilities for languages such as Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, or other designated languages. A designated and certified bilingual employee required to utilize his/her verbal-only bilingual abilities (Vietnamese, Korean, Spanish and/or any other language designated by the City Manager) on City business will be paid $65 each pay period.
Employees who successfully pass probation may receive up to $3,000 per year for pre-approved completed coursework toward a college degree.
Incentives in the form of various gift certificates and transportation subsidies are provided to encourage ride sharing and other types of alternate commuting modes.
Please visit the City's website for more information: https://ggcity.org/hr/salary-and-benefits
Your responses to the supplemental questions below will be used to determine your qualifications for the position. You are required to answer ALL of the supplemental questions as truthfully and accurately as possible. Your responses to these questions are subject to verification and may be assessed in subsequent examination parts. Any sign of deliberate misinformation or intentional exaggeration may result in disqualification from this examination process.
Yes – I have read, understood, and agree to these terms.
No – I have read, understood, and do not agree to these terms. I wish to withdraw my application from this process.
What is the highest level of education you have completed?
- Some high school
- High school diploma or G.E.D
- Some college (at least 30 semester units or equivalent)
- Associate's Degree (or at least 60 semester units or equivalent)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Master's Degree
- Doctorate or Ph.D.
- None of the above
How many years of experience do you possess in conducting industrial, commercial, or residential enforcement and inspections in the areas of storm water, water quality, environmental reporting, or hazardous materials?
- I do not have experience in this area.
- Less than 1 year.
- 1 year but less than 2 years.
- 2 years but less than 3 years.
- 3 years but less than 4 years.
- 4 years but less than 5 years.
- 5 years but less than 6 years.
- 6 years but less than 7 years.
- 7 years or more.
Please describe your experience in conducting industrial, commercial, or residential enforcement and inspections in the areas of storm water, water quality, environmental reporting, or hazardous materials. If this is not applicable, please type "N/A" in the box below.
How many years of experience do you possess enforcing federal, state, or local ordinances by issuing citations and/or written notices?
- I do not have experience in this area
- Less than 1 year
- 1 year but less than 2 years
- 2 years but less than 3 years
- 3 years but less than 4 years
- 4 years but less than 5 years
- 5 years or more
Please describe your experience enforcing federal, state, or local ordinances by issuing citations and/or written notices. If this is not applicable, please type "N/A" in the box below.
Do you currently possess a valid California Class "C" driver's license?
- Yes
- No
Do you possess a Penal Code 832 (PC 832) certificate? If yes, please attach a copy of your certificate to your application.
- Yes
- No
Do you possess a 40 hour Hazardous Materials First Responder training certificate? If yes, please attach a copy of your certificate to your application.
- Yes
- No
Are you willing to attend an 8 hour Hazardous Materials First Responder safety training annually?
- Yes
- No
- Required Question
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