Environmental Scientist - Tellus Civic Science

Background

Tellus Civic Science Corporation (Tellus) provides world-class science, engineering, research, planning, and consulting solutions focused on resource conservation and restoration, carbon reduction, and sustainability to mitigate the impacts of climate change, strengthen community resilience, preserve our environment, and create a more equitable society for all. We are a team of environmental scientists, planners, engineers, policy experts, geospatial analysts, and data scientists with a passion to improve our local, national, and global environment. We seek highly motivated professionals to join our team who share this passion!

Tellus seeks an Environmental Scientist who will interface with managers, consultants, and responsible parties to facilitate UST program improvements at the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. They will use analytical methods and techniques in researching and examining a wide range of regulatory, environmental protection, and related administrative support issues and functions. Based on these analyses, the Environmental Specialist will make recommendations to regulatory case managers on how to resolve problems, propose approaches, or take some other course of action that promotes the accomplishment of the Los Angeles Water Board UST program's objectives. The position will be remote within the State of California, but the candidate must be able to travel to the Los Angeles Water Board office in downtown Los Angeles.

Responsibilities for the Environmental Scientist include:

• Act as liaison between the Los Angeles Regional Water Board, the State Water Board, and USEPA in resolving challenging issues with Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) cases.
• Develop effective case management techniques in coordination with LA Regional Board managers and other oversight agency managers.
• Organize, facilitate, and attend meetings with UST Program stakeholders to address program issues and concerns.
• Assist with training case managers on the skills needed to identify and locate responsible parties, conduct investigative research, and provide step-by-step technical and funding program guidance, via phone and in-person meetings.
• Coordinate with the Office of Enforcement on tracking and leading case managers through the formal enforcement process.
• Review LUST cases to determine if they are eligible for the Low Threat Closure Policy and assist case managers with developing comprehensive Path to Closure Plans.
• Draft LUST case closure summaries in accordance with the Low Threat Closure Policy.
• Draft directive letters and notices to Responsible Parties (RP) of LUST Cases.
• Track delivery status of letters and notices issued, as well as deadlines for RP submittals.
• Conduct outreach to responsible parties to explain their obligations and work collaboratively to identify sources of funding and a path forward.
• Conduct online research to locate RP contact information and obtain information about site status.
• Review LA Regional Board files, ParcelQuest, and local regulatory agency files, to determine who can be considered a potentially responsible party (PRP).
• Ensure relevant physical copy reports are uploaded to the State Water Board's GeoTracker Database.
• Request file reviews and scan relevant documents at local regulatory agencies.
• Compile information on properties as needed from County Treasurer & Tax Collector and County Assessor offices, City Building Departments, and other relevant agencies.
• Compile tracking spreadsheets and draft documents for outreach materials.
• Develop progress reports and provide regular updates on program accomplishments.
• Prepare case summaries, compile attachments, and assemble memo for nominating leaking underground storage tank (LUST) cases to the State Water Board's Emergency, Abandoned, and Recalcitrant (EAR) Account.

Minimum Basic Requirements for Skills, Experience, Education and Credentials for the Environmental Specialist include:

• Bachelor's degree in environmental/civil engineering, chemistry, geology, biology, environmental science, or related field is required; a Master's degree is preferred.
• Ability to develop strategies to correct problems, coordinate with appropriate personnel and (where appropriate) determine the need for an environmental study of the problem.
• A minimum of 5 years prior work experience
• Ability to develop productive working relationships with State and local agencies.
• Ability to effectively communicate policy, regulations, and technical issues with a variety of audiences both verbally and in writing.
• Self-starter that takes initiative.
• Strong MS Office skills.

Additional Preferred Skills, Experience, Education and Credentials for the Environmental Specialist include:

• Prior work experience dealing with UST cleanup in California is preferred.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, balancing multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Detail-oriented and well organized.
• Strong verbal communication skills and a high level of professionalism.
• Excellent writing, computer, and internet skills, including use of spreadsheets. Advanced use of MS Excel preferred.

Physical demands:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this assignment.
• While performing the duties of the job, the employee is occasionally required to: walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• The work is primarily sedentary in nature with about 10-15% of the time being spent in the field and the remaining time will be spent in the office.
• During the course of conducting field work employee may be required to wear personal protection equipment, including head, eyes and ear protection, work clothes, safety footwear, and gloves.
• The noise level in the work environment may vary from typical office background to noise found in working out in the field which can require hearing protection.