Hazardous Materials Inspector III

City of San Diego; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

City of San Diego seeks a Hazardous Materials Inspector III to lead inspections, review environmental site assessments, and provide technical guidance on complex projects. You will train staff, interpret regulations, and coordinate responses to pending legislation while assisting with budget development.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or related fields and relevant inspection experience, with opportunities for advancement and ongoing professional development within a

Qualifications

• Investigative/inspection experience with hazardous materials and waste management compliance.
• One year of full-time experience equates to 30 semester/45 quarter units for substitution of education.
• Experience conducting hazardous materials training and site inspections; familiarity with related regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead inspections or manage complex hazardous materials projects.
• Review environmental site assessment reports and draft regulatory language.
• Provide tailored hazardous materials training and coordinate advanced training activities.

Skills

Investigation

Inspection

Hazardous materials

Training

Education

Bachelor's degree (Chemistry, Industrial Hygiene, Chemical/Environmental/ Sanitary Engineering, Environmental Health or closely related)

Job description

See NOTE(S) below for future wage increases and/or additional compensation opportunities.

Hazardous Materials Inspector III positions train and review the work of, and provide technical guidance to, subordinate staff performing hazardous materials inspections and training activities; lead inspection of, or manage complex hazardous materials projects; review environmental site assessment reports associated with construction projects and provide contractual language related to hazardous waste; conduct tailored hazardous materials training; coordinate and prepare correspondence on complex pending legislation and draft state or federal regulations; interpret and determine the impact of new regulations and legislation; annually review, coordinate and redesign the hazardous materials training information; assist with investigation and enforcement actions; assist with developing program budget; and perform other duties as assigned.

NOTES:

• Employees in job classifications represented by Municipal Employees Association (MEA) are scheduled to receive the following general wage increases:
  • 3.5% effective 7/1/27
  • 2% effective 7/1/28
  • 2% effective 1/1/29
• Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).

You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.

EDUCATION

A Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry, Industrial Hygiene, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Sanitary Engineering, Environmental Health, Biology or a closely related degree. Individuals applying with a closely related degree MUST have completed at least 18 semester/27 quarter units of college-level chemistry coursework, which MUST include lecture and laboratory classes in both organic and inorganic chemistry.

NOTE: Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for education lacked on a year-for-year basis. One year of full-time experience = 30 semester/45 quarter college-level units.

EXPERIENCE

1. Investigative/inspection experience, including inspecting and investigating hazardous materials and waste management practices for conformance with laws and regulations. Job experience should include hazardous waste sampling, storage, testing, packaging, and manifesting of hazardous waste; knowledge of regulations contained in CCR Title 22, 40 CFR, 49 CFR, and Health and Safety Code Division 20, Chapter 6.5; site inspections and report preparation; and/or conducting hazardous material training activities.
2. Household hazardous waste experience, including coordinating and assisting with community collection events or permanent centers; testing materials collected through a household hazardous waste or load check program; identifying, confirming, and categorizing chemical waste, and packaging and manifesting waste received; and knowledge of regulations contained in CCR Title 22, 40 CFR, 49 CFR, and Health and Safety Code Division 20, Chapter 6.5.
3. Environmental control experience, including storm water, pesticide site assessment, and/or air pollution control management, with job duties including inspection and sampling, reporting, process design, knowledge of regulations, training, and program implementation.

NOTE: A Master's Degree in Chemical, Environmental or Sanitary Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Health or Industrial Hygiene may be substituted for a MAXIMUM of six months of the required experience.

LICENSE

A valid California Class C Driver's License is required at the time of hire.

NOTE: Candidates will generally be required to show proof of the driver license within about two weeks of receiving a conditional job offer.

HIGHLY DESIRABLE

• Possession of a current DUSTO or HazWOPER Certification.
• Knowledge of local, State, and Federal hazardous material and hazardous waste regulations.
• Experience with CUPA regulatory compliance inspections, especially those conducted by County of San Diego DEHQ.
• Experience preparing, maintaining, and submitting Hazardous Materials Business Plan (HMBP) elements through the California Environmental Reporting System (CERS).

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (MUST SUBMIT WITH APPLICATION)

• Proof of degree/transcripts, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
• Proof of transcripts showing completion of the required coursework, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
• For City of San Diego employees, proof of Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA), if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.

Required documents should be attached electronically to your application. If you are unable to attach at the time of application submittal, you must submit them as soon as possible via fax: [phone]; or to the Employment Information Center: City of San Diego Personnel Department, 1200 Third Avenue - Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101. Include your name and the title of the position for which you are applying.

Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met. Successful candidates will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next six months (180 days). For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes, including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may constitute cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change in their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number, otherwise they may miss employment opportunities.

Rev. 1 - October 2, 2026 (New Recruitment Date)