Environmental Specialist - Maintenance East

Socket.dev; Aurora (CO); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Cherry Creek School District is seeking an Environmental Specialist to ensure regulatory compliance for environmental and science safety programs district-wide. The role mitigates hazards in labs, classrooms, and facilities while maintaining safe environments for occupants and visitors.

The position requires a bachelor’s degree, three years of experience, and AHERA/OSHA certifications, with responsibilities spanning asbestos management, chemical hygiene, IAQ oversight, and MS4 permit compliance.

Qualifications

• Criminal background check and fingerprinting required.
• Bachelor's degree and three years of professional experience.
• AHERA Building Inspector/Management Planner certification and OSHA 40 Hour Training.
• Confined Space Training within 6 months of hire; Stormwater certification and related knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Research, interpret regulations and develop programs to ensure compliance.
• Coordinate environmental hazards and responses for a healthy district environment.
• Manage AHERA asbestos program including training and inspections.
• Develop and maintain science safety and chemical hygiene programs.
• Investigate indoor air quality concerns and coordinate corrective actions.

Skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Microsoft Office

Google Drive/Docs

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Three years of professional work experience

Tools

AHERA Certification

OSHA 40 Hour Training

Stormwater Certification

Confined Space Training

Radon Measurement Technician

Job description

• Job Title: Environmental Specialist
• FLSA Exemption Status: Non-Exempt
• Classification Group: Staff Support
• Supervising Position: Manager or designee
• Pay Plan: Educational Support Personnel
• Pay Range: Range 15
• Last Updated: 2/11/2025
• Pay Information
• Benefits Information

Job Summary

Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations as they relate to District-wide environmental and science safety programs. Eliminate or mitigate hazards identified through assessments, audits, grievances, or testing. Implement procedures to prevent hazards in science labs, classrooms, and other high-risk areas. Provide safe and healthy environments for all occupants and visitors at Cherry Creek School District’s facilities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The subsequent duties outline the fundamental operations of the position and exemplify the nature of the tasks carried out. They do not encompass a comprehensive inventory of the obligations and responsibilities fulfilled in this role. The approximation of frequencies and time allocation percentages are flexible and subject to the requirements of the organization.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. 1. Research, understand, and interpret new and existing regulations. Develop programs and procedures to ensure the district is in compliance. Foster relationships with appropriate agencies for input and guidance information on potential laws and regulations that may impact the district. Frequency: Daily. Percentage of Time: 10%
2. 2. Evaluate, access, and coordinate the environmental hazards and concerns from district stakeholders. Coordinate appropriate responses to provide a healthy environment for district occupants. Frequency: Daily. Percentage of Time: 10%
3. 3. Manage district asbestos program in compliance with Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA). Responsibilities include managing abatement projects, keeping asbestos management plans up to date, maintain detailed records of asbestos related activities, provide two-hour asbestos awareness training for all new maintenance employees, perform six-month and three-year building inspections, collect samples, and provide consistent surveillance of asbestos-containing materials throughout the district including quantity and location. Frequency: Weekly. Percentage of Time: 10%
4. 4. Manage science safety and chemical hygiene programs for middle and high school science departments. Develop site specific chemical hygiene plans, safe storage procedures, chemical inventories, proper labeling and documentation of all hazardous chemicals, and functional emergency equipment and procedures. Conduct annual fume hood inspections and coordinate necessary repairs or adjustments. Facilitate safety meetings with necessary district staff. Frequency: Weekly. Percentage of Time: 10%
5. 5. Investigate indoor air quality (IAQ) concerns as they arise. Provide analytical details, monitoring, and/or sampling results as necessary and coordinate corrective actions as necessary. Evaluate all district buildings for radon, manage mitigation projects, and ensure radon concentrations in district buildings remain below recommended levels. Frequency: Weekly. Percentage of Time: 10%
6. 6. Maintain compliance with the district’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit which includes inspection and maintenance of permanent water quality control structures throughout the district, active & post construction site inspections, and all regulatory and recordkeeping compliance measures required by the permit. Frequency: Monthly. Percentage of Time: 10%
7. 7. District snow removal. Frequency: Monthly. Percentage of Time: 5%
8. 8. Develop site specific health and safety protocols to ensure a safe learning environment for students and staff. Conduct school safety audits to include evaluation of chemical storage areas, chemical inventories, proper documentation, safety equipment, laboratory equipment, emergency procedures, and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) management. Produce Investigative reports and facilitate corrective actions in accordance with health and safety protocols. Frequency: Biannually. Percentage of Time: 10%
9. 9. Manage individual school and district level chemical waste programs which include waste paint, universal waste, science chemical, hazardous, and non-hazardous wastes. Ensure compliance with any applicable State or Federal regulations as they pertain to generator status, documentation, storage requirements, waste hauling, waste manifests, and disposal. Investigate alternative disposal, recycling, or reuse options that are more sustainable for all waste streams. Frequency: Biannually. Percentage of Time: 5%
10. 10. Manage district confined space program to include training of maintenance staff to ensure safe entry into confined spaces, keeping accurate inventory, and ensuring equipment is calibrated and ready for emergency deployment. Provide accurate documentation of all atmospheric conditions, training, and activities. Frequency: Annually. Percentage of Time: 5%
11. 11. Collaborate with county health department to facilitate high and low risk safety inspections. Evaluate findings and direct corrective actions to the appropriate person or department. Serve as liaison between science safety cadre, curriculum and instruction, risk management, maintenance, environmental, and local health departments. Frequency: Annually. Percentage of Time: 5%
12. 12. Ensure compliance with lead in drinking water and lead paint regulations. Frequency: Annually. Percentage of Time: 5%
13. 13. Other duties as assigned or requested. Frequency: Daily. Percentage of Time: 5%

Reporting Relationships

This job has no direct supervisory responsibilities.

• N/A

Minimum Qualifications

• Criminal background check and fingerprinting required
• Bachelor's degree
• Three (3) years of professional work experience
• AHERA Building Inspector/Management Planner certification
• OSHA 40 Hour Hazardous Materials Training certification
• Confined Space Training within 6 months of hire
• Stormwater inspection and maintenance certification
• Knowledge of science safety protocols and regulations
• Knowledge of environmental regulations
• Strong understanding of building systems and construction drawings
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Analytical thinking capabilities
• Proficient use of Microsoft Access, Excel, Outlook, and Word
• Proficient use of Google Drive & Google Docs

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

The physical demands, mental functions, cognitive capacities, and work environment factors required to perform a position’s essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Medium work strength level (lifting or carrying 50 pounds)
• Works both indoors and outdoors
• Typically a moderate noise level
• Work location is subject to change to meet the requirements of the organization
• Will occasionally be required to work overtime and flexible hours

Desired Qualifications

• Experience working in the public sector
• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Racially conscious and culturally competent with the skill, will, capacity, and knowledge to commit to a culture of continuous improvement
• Colorado Class C UST Training
• Certified Radon Measurement Technician
• General understanding of computer aided design software
• Lead RRP Training
• Certified Mold Inspector