StormWater Inspector

City & Borough of Sitka Alaska; Converse (TX); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Stormwater Inspector position within a city Public Works department is responsible for field inspections, documentation, and enforcement actions under MS4 and stormwater programs. The role requires coordinating with project managers, contractors, and city staff to ensure regulatory compliance and timely corrective actions.

Responsibilities include reviewing plans, inspecting BMPs, and maintaining records; you may collect samples and support reporting efforts while operating field equipment and

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Three years of experience in field construction, infrastructure maintenance, environmental compliance, or related area.
• Valid Texas Class C driver’s license and ability to drive extensively within city and service area.
• Ability to obtain stormwater inspector training within 12 months.

Responsibilities

• Conduct inspections of active construction sites and regulated activities for compliance with stormwater requirements.
• Review SWPPPs, erosion and sediment control plans, and permit documents.
• Inspect BMPs and sediment controls, and communicate corrective actions with stakeholders.
• Track corrective actions and verify compliance within delegated authority.
• Assist with MS4 records, reports, and public education related to stormwater management.

Skills

Stormwater inspection

Public works coordination

Microsoft 365

ArcGIS

GPS

Education

Associate degree (preferred) in environmental science or related field

Tools

SAP

ArcGIS

GPS

Microsoft 365

Job description

JOB TITLE: Stormwater Inspector

DEPARTMENT: Public Works

FLSA CLASSIFICATION: Non - Exempt

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Performs technical field inspections, infrastructure assessments, investigations, documentation, and public-contact work in support of the City’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program, Stormwater Management Program, and Stormwater Management Ordinance. Inspects active construction sites, public drainage infrastructure, and other regulated activities; identifies potential illicit discharges and pollution sources; communicates required corrective actions to project managers and other responsible parties to maintain regulatory compliance; investigates maintenance and repair needs; and supports enforcement and regulatory reporting under the direction of the Assistant Public Works Director.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Reports to: Public Works Director/Assistant Director

Directs: Supervises and leads Stormwater personnel

Other: Must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with various persons in other City Departments and the general public.

Requirements

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

1. Conducts routine, scheduled, follow-up, and complaint-driven inspections of active construction sites and other regulated activities for compliance with approved plans, permits, the City’s Storm-water Management Ordinance, and applicable stormwater requirements.
2. Reviews Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs), erosion and sediment control plans, grading plans, site maps, inspection records, property plats, and permit documents relevant to as-signed inspections.
3. Inspects erosion and sediment controls and other best management practices (BMPs), including stabilized entrances, perimeter controls, inlet protection, sediment basins, vegetative stabilization, and material or waste controls.
4. Communicates inspection results and required corrective actions to project managers, contractors, developers, property owners, businesses, and City staff to maintain regulatory compliance; establishes deadlines and conducts follow-up inspections within delegated authority.
5. Issues or prepares warnings, correction notices, notices of violation, citations, or other enforcement documentation only within delegated authority and City procedures; tracks corrective actions and verifies compliance.
6. Conducts site visits to assess maintenance and repair requests for public drainage infrastructure, including inlets, outfalls, culverts, channels, ditches, detention or retention facilities, underground drainage systems, and related appurtenances.
7. Investigates and responds to reported maintenance and repair needs for public drainage infrastructure; documents observed conditions and coordinates or routes follow-up work to maintenance personnel, supervisors, contractors, utilities, or other City departments.
8. Supports the Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination program by investigating illegal dumping, non-stormwater discharges, odors, discoloration, and dry-weather flow and assisting with source tracing and follow-up actions.
9. Collects field observations and, when trained and assigned, water or soil samples under established procedures; maintains appropriate records and delivers samples for analysis.
10. Documents inspections, investigations, maintenance requests, corrective actions, and work scheduled or performed through reports, field notes, measurements, digital photographs, GPS coordinates, ArcGIS records, SAP or other City systems.
11. Responds to citizen inquiries and drainage, flooding, pollution, or stormwater complaints; creates or routes work orders and maintains complete records of response and disposition.
12. Assists with MS4 records, inventories, mapping, annual-report support, public education, community presentations, City Council presentations, and implementation of the City’s Stormwater Management Program.
13. Plans, coordinates, and controls work-zone traffic within assigned training and authority and in accordance with City procedures.
14. Ensures assigned work complies with City safety standards, standard operating procedures, and applicable service-level expectations or agreements.
15. Operates a City vehicle and uses assigned field equipment, computers, mobile devices, GPS, GIS, camera, sampling equipment, and personal protective equipment.
16. Performs other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

1. Knowledge of stormwater pollution prevention, erosion and sediment control, construction practices, public drainage systems, infrastructure maintenance, and BMP inspection principles.
2. Ability to learn and apply City ordinances, MS4 program requirements, assigned permit conditions, standard operating procedures, service-level requirements, and applicable local, state, and federal requirements.
3. Ability to read and interpret site plans, grading plans, drainage maps, construction drawings, SWPPPs, property plats, permits, and technical guidance.
4. Skill in conducting objective inspections, recognizing observable compliance and infrastructure concerns, and maintaining accurate, organized, and legally defensible records.
5. Skill in professional oral and written communication, customer service, conflict de-escalation, and explaining required corrective actions to project managers and varied audiences.
6. Ability to use Microsoft 365, SAP or similar work-order applications, ArcGIS, GPS, electronic inspection systems, mobile devices, and databases.
7. Ability to work independently in the field, prioritize assignments, meet deadlines, exercise sound judgment within delegated authority, and remain safety-conscious.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. High school diploma or GED equivalent.
2. Three years of experience in field construction, infrastructure maintenance, environmental compliance, code enforcement, public works, utility operations, drainage maintenance, inspection, or a related field.
3. Valid Texas Class C driver’s license and an acceptable driving record under City policy. Must be comfortable driving extensively throughout the City and surrounding service area.
4. Ability to obtain City-designated stormwater inspector training or certification within 12 months of employment and maintain it thereafter.
5. Ability to successfully complete City-required pre-employment screening and maintain the qualifications required for the position.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

1. Associate degree in environmental science, natural resources, civil engineering technology, construction management, geography, public administration, or a related field.
2. Training through an accredited or City-approved municipal stormwater inspector certification pro-gram, such as an Official Municipal Stormwater Inspector Level 1 course, stormwater inspector certification for public works employees, construction stormwater inspector certification for municipal employees, or an equivalent or higher-level program approved by the City.
3. Experience with SAP or a comparable enterprise work-order system, ArcGIS, GPS, customer ser-vice, property plats, plan review, technical report writing, sampling procedures, or municipal code enforcement.
4. Experience preparing or giving presentations at community meetings, public meetings, or City Council meetings.

LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, AND TRAINING

Required at hire: Valid Texas Class C driver’s license, unless a City-approved exception applies.

Required after hire: Complete and maintain the stormwater inspection training or certification selected by the City for assigned duties. The City may accept an accredited or City-approved Official Municipal Storm-water Inspector Level 1 course, stormwater inspector certification for public works employees, construction stormwater inspector certification for municipal employees, or an equivalent or higher-level municipal, construction, SWPPP, erosion and sediment control, or related credential after review by the Assistant Public Works Director and Human Resources.

Safety training: Complete all City-required, task-specific safety training before performing affected duties. Training may include hazard communication, heat safety, defensive driving, work-zone traffic control, personal protective equipment, field sampling, trench and excavation awareness, confined-space awareness or entry, and other instruction determined by the City. OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 may be accepted or assigned as safety training if the City determines it is appropriate, but it is not described here as a Texas stormwater inspector license.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

• Work is performed in offices, vehicles, active construction sites, roadways, public drainage facilities, underground drainage systems, and outdoor environments in heat, cold, rain, wind, dust, noise, insects, vegetation, mud, and other variable conditions.
• Must be comfortable driving extensively and walking active construction sites. Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods; climb ordinary stairs; bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, and maintain balance; and traverse uneven, sloped, wet, or unpaved terrain.
• Must be able to safely use assigned inspection and sampling equipment and occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
• May work near traffic, construction equipment, excavations, waterways, animals, chemicals, wastewater, underground systems, or other field hazards. Required personal protective equipment and safe work practices must be used.
• The work may involve exposure to or work near confined spaces and underground drainage sys-tems. Confined-space entry may be performed only when it is an assigned duty and the employee is specifically authorized, medically qualified when required, trained, equipped, and supported un-der the City’s written confined-space procedures. No employee may enter an unsafe or unauthorized confined space.
• May occasionally work outside normal business hours for urgent complaints, spills, significant weather events, or time-sensitive inspections.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

The Assistant Public Works Director assigns work, establishes priorities, and provides guidance concerning objectives, procedures, and enforcement authority. The employee independently completes recurring assignments, seeks direction on unusual or sensitive matters, and submits records and recommendations for review. Work is evaluated for accuracy, timeliness, safety, judgment, customer service, compliance with procedures, and results achieved.

GUIDELINES

Guidelines include adopted City policies, department procedures, safety standards, service-level expectations, the Stormwater Management Ordinance, Stormwater Management Program, applicable permits and plans, approved inspection and enforcement procedures, and relevant local, state, and federal environmental requirements.

SCOPE AND EFFECT

The work supports the City’s efforts to reduce pollutants entering the municipal storm sewer system and local waterways, assess and maintain public drainage infrastructure, respond to complaints, document compliance activities, communicate corrective actions, and meet applicable MS4 program commitments.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Regular and reliable attendance is an essential function.
• This description is not intended to list every duty. Duties, responsibilities, and requirements may be revised to meet City needs, subject to applicable law and City policy.
• Nothing in this description creates a contract of employment or alters the employment relationship established by City policy and applicable law.