Watershed Protection Specialist I

City of Oceanside, CA; Oceanside (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Oceanside, CA seeks a Watershed Protection Specialist I within Green Oceanside to support watershed protection initiatives, water quality improvements and community outreach. You will help promote best practices in development, prepare memos and staff reports, and serve developers and property owners with regulatory guidance.

The position emphasizes public interaction, data analysis, and field work to monitor water quality and enforce environmental requirements, contributing to a safer

Qualifications

• Six months of experience in environmental science, environmental policy, environmental or civil engineering, hydrology, natural resource management or a related field.
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree or higher, preferably in biology, engineering, environmental science or policy.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a California driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Provide public-facing customer service to garner support for watershed protection goals and regulations.
• Develop and implement environmental education and outreach content for websites, social media, brochures and flyers.
• Plan and conduct community events such as litter cleanups and public workshops.
• Assist with ordinance development and with grant applications for environmental improvement projects.
• Perform field work to collect water quality data and participate in pollutant source investigations.

Skills

Data analysis

Environmental policy

Public relations

Communication (oral)

Communication (written)

Education

Bachelor's degree in biology/environmental science/engineering

Job description

THE CITY OF OCEANSIDE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

About Oceanside’s Water Utilities Department & Green Oceanside

The City of Oceanside is accepting applications for the position of Watershed Protection Specialist I. This program is a part of the City’s innovative Green Oceanside environmental division which oversees all aspects of the Watershed Protection, Water Use Efficiency, and Solid Waste & Recycling programs.

The Oceanside Water Utilities Department is a forward‑looking organization whose goal it is to ensure ongoing access to safe, affordable drinking water and to reliable wastewater management services by maintaining top talent, resource resiliency, dependability, and system efficiency.

About the position

Green Oceanside is seeking an environmentally-focused problem solver who is capable of assisting programs within this dynamic group in the watershed protection initiative. The ideal candidate is someone who can proactively exercise creative initiative, develop and implement solutions to complex problems, and communicate with the public in an outreach-centric role.

You should be excited about this opportunity because you will…

• Leverage your expertise to help meet the city’s long-term watershed protection and waterway objectives
• Promote and oversee best management practices in Oceanside’s development and land improvements
• Affect change in official city policy by assisting the preparation of memos, staff reports, agreements and documentation for a variety of watershed, pollution, runoff and environmental issues
• Be a part of a team who is passionate about protecting our ocean and waterways from urban, residential, commercial and agricultural runoff
• Provide public-facing customer service to garner support for watershed protection goals, regulations & objectives
• Provide service information, regulatory guidance and enforcement for Oceanside’s many developers and property owners

We will also rely on you for…

Providing your unique expertise in solving complex problems environmental problems; remaining current on new developments in the field of watershed protection, utilities, and public works; and partaking in contract administration and enforcement actions.

Educates citizens and businesses on storm water pollution prevention practices and applicable regulations and permit requirements, coordinating enforcement actions when necessary. Develops and implements community environmental education and outreach content for various platforms including websites, social media, brochures and flyers. Plans and conducts environmentally-focused community events including litter cleanups and public workshops. Remains informed on federal and state water quality legislation and regulations; works with customers, stakeholders and City staff to resolve questions, problems and complaints related to stormwater compliance. Performs stormwater compliance inspections at industrial, municipal and commercial facilities with increasingly independent authority, with an emphasis on guidance for pollution prevention best management practices. Provides information on environmental ordinances to customers, businesses and the development community. Assists with ordinance development as needed to comply with State and Federal regulations and implement the Jurisdictional Runoff Management Program. Participates in permitting and implementation processes as they relate to watershed protection and habitat restoration projects. Conducts field work to collect water quality and other environmental data as required by stormwater permits and/or pollutant source investigations. Assists with administering grant applications for environmental improvement projects. Prepares State-mandated reports involving interpretation of technical data, creating charts and databases and report writing. Conducts public speaking when necessary; deals with the public tactfully to maintain cooperative relations with those contacted in the course of duties. Effectively utilizes software applications to fulfill duties of the position, e.g., word processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation applications. Communicates clearly, concisely and effectively, both orally and in writing; may be called upon to speak at various City and intergovernmental committees, commissions and City Council meetings.

Knowledge of

• Data analysis methods.
• Modern principles and practices of chemistry, biology, microbiology, environmental science, environmental policy, or environmental protection applicable to resource management, urban runoff, wastewater, water use, water efficiency, hazardous materials, industrial waste, or solid waste, recycling, and organics management.
• Principles and practices of municipal storm water, solid waste, and/or water conservation laws and legal terminology.
• Public relations principles.
• Applicable state and federal laws.
• Principles and practices of customer service.

Ability to

• Learn and perform technical analyses to detect, characterize and quantify pollutants and their fate and transport in the environment.
• Learn proper use of monitoring, sampling, and basic testing equipment commonly used to collect environmental data related to water quality, solid waste characterization and/or environmental monitoring projects.
• Conduct research and prepare complete and accurate analyses, reports and recommendations on a variety of environmental issues;
• Utilize computer systems to enter, analyze, and retrieve data;
• Interpret and apply applicable codes and ordinances;
• Exercise sound judgment and common sense;
• Learn to apply procedures, techniques, and interpret and make decisions related to job duties.
• Deal tactfully with the public.
• Establish and maintain cooperative relations with those contacted in the course of work.
• Communicate clearly, concisely and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• Read, understand, interpret and apply laws, policies, rules, contracts, guidelines and professional practices;
• Speak clearly and effectively before diverse audiences and groups

Experience and Training

Experience

Six months of experience in environmental science, environmental policy, environmental or civil engineering, hydrology, natural resource management or a related field.

Experience with water quality testing, storm water permit compliance, habitat restoration and management projects, or any other combination of environmental regulatory compliance experience is highly desirable.

Training

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree or higher, with major coursework preferably in the area of biology, engineering, civil and/or environmental engineering, environmental science, environmental policy, resource management, or a related field.

License

Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid California driver's license.

Environmental Conditions

Office and field environment; travel from site to site; extensive public contact; exposure to noise, dust, grease, smoke, fumes, gases, electrical energy, radiant energy, toxic materials, and inclement weather conditions; work in or with water and wastewater.

Physical Conditions

Essential functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for walking, standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time; exposure to computer screens, speaking and hearing to exchange information; visual acuity to read and interpret specifications and regulations.

Selection Process

All properly completed applications and supplemental questionnaires will be reviewed and the most appropriately qualified individuals will be invited to continue in the selection process. Failure to provide all required application materials will result in disqualification from the selection process. The process may include any combination of a written exam, oral interview, application appraisal and/or skills assessment to further evaluate job related qualifications. Candidates who successfully complete the selection process will be placed on an eligibility list and will remain eligible for employment consideration for a minimum of six months.

Note: Prospective employees will undergo, and must successfully pass, a background reference check (including fingerprinting) and a medical examination. Drug screening may be required.

CANDIDATES WHO REQUIRE A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION IN THE SELECTION PROCESS SHOULD STATE THEIR NEEDS IN WRITING WHEN SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION PACKAGE.

THE PROVISIONS OF THIS BULLETIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED CONTRACT. ANY PROVISION CONTAINED IN THIS BULLETIN MAY BE MODIFIED OR REVOKED WITHOUT NOTICE.