City of Springfield, Oregon

City of Springfield, Oregon: Senior Environmental Services Technician

This is a class specification and not an individualized job description. A class specification defines the general character and scope of responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but it is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list every duty for a given position in a classification.

Representation: OPEU

FSLA: Non-exempt

Job Code: 168267

Grade/Range: 124

General Summary of Duties

Under the general supervision of a unit supervisor or mid-manager, coordinates the City’s industrial monitoring and inventory program to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal environmental quality regulations; and pollution prevention, recycling, and other environmental management programs. Performs related duties as required.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The Senior Environmental Services Technician position functions as the Industrial Pretreatment Program lead staff and is responsible for a variety of activities which include highly skilled, technically complex tasks in a leadership role for the City of Springfield’s Pretreatment Program. This position provides support to the Environmental Services Pretreatment Supervisor to ensure compliance with the Federal and State regulations with which the program must comply. The position represents the City’s pre-treatment program in the field with businesses and provides technical and leadership resources to the public and other City staff.

Senior Environmental Services Technician is distinguished from the Environmental Services Technician 2 by the greater independence with which an incumbent is expected to operate. Incumbents are expected to complete technically complex assignments requiring the use of judgment and initiative and to provide direction and guidance to other Technicians.

Supervision Received and Exercised: Receives supervision from the Environmental Services Pretreatment & Pollution Supervisor. Acts as a lead worker for other Environmental Service Technicians.

Essential Job Functions: Any one position may not include all of the duties listed nor do the listed examples include all tasks, which may be found in positions of this class.

· Coordinates the City’s industrial monitoring program; conducts industrial sampling activities which include installation, operation, recovery, maintenance of automatic sampling equipment, field analysis and preparation of samples for laboratory analysis;

· Inspects and evaluates businesses for identification of pollution sources, waste generating processes, spill prevention measures, and accurate drafting of site plans related to water supply, waste generating processes, and hazardous waste disposal and storage; categorizes businesses and informs them of their requirements under the Pretreatment Program; performs inspections of Significant Industrial Users in accordance with state and federal regulations; maintains and updates comprehensive electronic and paper industry filing systems;

· Provides lead direction to Environmental Service Technicians and support staff; serves as a technical resource, may assign and review work, and provide input for employee evaluations; participates in the training and orientation of new employees;

· Evaluates laboratory results from City industrial wastewater sampling or industry self-monitoring for compliance with local and federal regulations; communicates results of laboratory test results with industrial wastewater dischargers;

· Tracks industrial compliance and determines appropriate enforcement action when violations occur; prepares enforcement documents for supervisor or division manager’s signature; maintains accurate documentation and clear communication with supervisory staff and industries regarding enforcement activities;

· Investigates reports of water pollution, and participates in identifying sources of water pollution in sanitary and storm sewer systems; conducts sewer system sampling and strategic manhole monitoring to evaluate water quality and identify potential problems;

· Coordinates the industry permit application process, to include: assisting industries with the completion of the applications; determining the appropriate self-monitoring frequencies and parameters; preparing, updating and maintaining industry fact sheets to be used as supporting documentation; drafting permits and related documents for supervisor review and Manager’s signature; and preparing and issuing General Requirements for businesses;

· Evaluates non-domestic waste disposal requests, to include inspection of waste source, collection of samples, receipt and review of paperwork, and coordination of approval and disposal schedule with plant operations supervisory staff;

· Conducts pollution prevention inspections of City operations; assists with ambient water quality sampling and evaluation of laboratory results; interacts with other agencies regarding the City’s pollution prevention activities;

· Prepares pollution prevention training materials and conducts pollution prevention training as needed;

· Prepares technical reports for the City’s Pretreatment Program and the DEQ; participates in division budget and work plan development; maintains records in various formats; maintains active involvement in local and regional pretreatment and related committees, organizations and task groups;

· May be assigned to work on special projects of a technical and complex nature to include updating the City’s Industrial Pretreatment Standard Operating Procedures Manual, developing interagency sampling protocols, developing pollution management practice and best management practices programs for industry groups, implementing and serving as lead for various internal and external special project groups, such as the City’s Green Team; reviewing and updating processes, data and documentation contained in official industry files;

· Acts as additional resource for the City’s storm water program as required;

· Travels as required;

· Establishes and maintains effective work relationships with co-workers, contractors, vendors, other agencies and the public;

· Maintains regular job attendance and adherence to working hours;

· Performs other related duties consistent with the role and function of the classification.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

· Techniques that are used in sampling industrial wastewater, groundwater, storm water, surface water, and soils, to include the operation and maintenance of automatic sampling equipment and sample preservation and handling;

· Chemistry and biology as they apply to water, wastewater treatment, and wastewater environments;

· Local, state and federal water pollution, pretreatment, and storm water regulations;

· The impact of physical and chemical pollutants on the environment and the Publicly Owned Treatment Works;

· Commercial and industrial wastewater generators and their basic activities, to include their raw materials, waste products; and pollutants;

· The sample points, sampling techniques, and flow meter locations for regulated industrial users;

· Basic sanitary and storm system design hydraulics;

· Safety practices and procedures related to confined space entry, traffic control, personal protective equipment, laboratory safety, and general industrial hazards;

Ability to:

· Perform a thorough inspection of industrial facilities, and provide recommendations that will ensure compliance with regulations that pertain to wastewater and storm water discharges;

· Use, and perform minor maintenance on, automated samplers, pH meters, ambient monitoring equipment, flow monitoring equipment, and other laboratory and field instruments for conducting water analyses;

· Provide technical assistance to industrial users for preventing the introduction of pollutants to the wastewater and storm water systems;

· Utilize computer programs that include spreadsheets, database management, and word processing in order to perform the essential functions of the position;

· Read sewer maps, property service connection records, and engineering blueprints;

· Install, operate, and retrieve data from portable flow meters, and generate reports;

· Work independently with minimum supervision;

· Maintain accurate records, and prepare reports from a pretreatment database management system;

· Provide technical and functional leadership and training for Environmental Services Technicians;

· Communicate effectively with varying groups of people and representatives, and in both written and oral formats;

· Maintain a respectful, professional work environment.

Experience and Training: Any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the job. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills and abilities would be:

Training: Completion, or the equivalent, of four year college degree program, with major coursework in Physics, Chemistry, or Biology plus;

Experience: Related work experience, typically a minimum of three years of technical experience in industrial pre-treatment, or related fields. An advanced related degree may be substituted for one year of the experience.