Senior Environmental Compliance Inspector

Gfoat; Waco, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Waco is seeking a Senior Environmental Compliance Inspector (Sormwater) to serve as the lead inspector within the environmental compliance program. The role requires an Associate’s Degree and 5 years of relevant experience, with a Texas driver’s license; extensive inspections, investigations and enforcement are part of the job.

The Senior Inspector coordinates with managers to ensure defensible application of ordinances and regulations, while mentoring staff and contributing to

Qualifications

• Associate’s Degree in an environmental field with 5 years of experience in environmental inspection or regulatory program work.

Responsibilities

• Lead inspections at industrial sites, food service establishments, commercial facilities, construction sites, and municipal facilities to verify compliance with city ordinances, permits, and regulations.
• Conduct complex investigations of complaints, spills, illicit discharges, bypasses, CSOs, and high-risk violations; gather evidence and recommend enforcement actions.
• Coordinate inspection schedules and balance workload with other inspectors to meet regulatory deadlines.
• Perform advanced sampling and data review; assist in design of sampling plans and inspection strategies for higher risk facilities.
• Review inspection reports and provide coaching to improve documentation quality.
• Assist with enforcement actions, including notices of violation and compliance schedules; present case info as needed.
• Provide field leadership through training, ride-alongs, onboarding, and SOP development.
• Serve as primary contact for assigned programs with industries and partners; participate in meetings and outreach.
• Coordinate with lab, collection and treatment operations, engineering, legal, and other departments to resolve complex issues.
• Respond to after-hours or emergency calls and lead field response when needed.
• Perform duties across various programs as needed to support compliance and environmental protection.

Education

Associate’s Degree in Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering or a related field

Job description

Minimum Starting Salary: $30.5900 per hour - Depending on Qualifications

The City of Waco Seeks: The City of Waco is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Senior Environmental Compliance Inspector (Sormwater) to join our team. This role will serve as the lead inspector within the City’s environmental compliance program.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Required:
  • Associate’s Degree in Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering or a related field and 5 years of increasingly responsible experience in environmental inspection, compliance, or regulatory program work directly related to the assigned focus area (Industrial Pretreatment, Fats Oils and Grease, or Stormwater/MS4); an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in place of the degree, provided the experience is in the assigned program area.
  • Valid Texas Driver’s License
  • Additional technical training or certifications may be required.
• Preferred:
  • Additional certifications in pretreatment, stormwater, or environmental compliance.

Position Overview:

Under general direction, the Senior Environmental Compliance Inspector serves as a lead inspector within the City's environmental compliance programs, including pretreatment, fats oils and grease, stormwater, and related assignments. This position performs complex inspections, investigations, and enforcement activities, provides field and technical guidance to other inspectors, and supports the development of procedures, training, and program improvements. The Senior Inspector coordinates closely with the Environmental Compliance Manager and supervisory staff, acts as a primary contact for assigned program areas, and helps ensure consistent, defensible application of City ordinances, permits, and state and federal regulations. Employees in this classification are assigned to one primary environmental compliance program, Pretreatment, FOG, or Stormwater, but may provide limited support to other programs as needed based on departmental priorities.

Essential Functions:

• Operates a city vehicle to lead and perform inspections and site visits at industrial users, food service establishments, commercial facilities, construction sites, and municipal facilities to verify compliance with City ordinances, permits, and regulations for the assigned program area.
• Leads or conducts complex investigations of complaints, spills, illicit discharges, bypasses, sanitary sewer overflows, and repeat or high-risk violations; gathers and organizes evidence, documents findings, and recommends enforcement actions.
• Plans and coordinates inspection, sampling, and follow up schedules for assigned program areas, working with other inspectors to balance workload, cover priorities, and maintain regulatory time frames.
• Performs advanced sampling and data review, including: Assisting with design of sampling plans and inspection strategies for higher risk facilities, Reviewing field data and laboratory results prepared by other staff for accuracy and trends, Identifying potential violations and recommending appropriate escalation or corrective actions.
• Reviews inspection reports, notices, and other work products prepared by inspectors for completeness, accuracy, and consistency; provides coaching and feedback to improve documentation quality.
• Assists with drafting and implementation of enforcement actions, including notices of violation, compliance schedules, and supporting documentation for compliance orders or penalties; may present case information to management or other City staff.
• Provides informal field leadership by training and mentoring inspectors, conducting ride alongs, supporting new hire onboarding, and helping develop and update standard operating procedures, checklists, and forms.
• Serves as a primary contact for assigned program areas with industries, food service establishments, contractors, consultants, and partner agencies; participates in meetings, presentations, and outreach events.
• Coordinates with the laboratory, collection and treatment operations, engineering, legal staff, and other City departments to resolve complex compliance issues and support shared initiatives.
• Responds to after hours or emergency calls with a higher level of responsibility, which may include leading field response to spills, illicit discharges, and other incidents until relieved by supervisory staff.
• Performs the full range of Environmental Compliance Inspector duties as needed, including coverage for vacancies, absences, and seasonal workload.
• Performs other duties as assigned to support regulatory compliance, environmental protection, and nuisance abatement.

Required for All Jobs:

• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Complies with all policies and standards.
• Supports the relationship between the City of Waco and the general public by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with residents, visitors, and City staff; maintains confidentiality of work-related issues and City information.
• Lives the City of Waco Values.