Senior Environmental Resources Specialist - County of Orange

Orange County, CA

About the Job

SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES SPECIALIST

This position is scheduled to a receive salary range increase on the following date:

Effective June 27, 2025 – 4.00% increase

Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
This recruitment is being held to establish an open eligible list to fill current and future Senior Environmental Resources Specialist vacancies within the County of Orange. The eligible list established may also be used to fill similar and lower level classifications throughout the County of Orange.

DEADLINE TO APPLY
Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately, as the recruitment will close on Friday, September 6, 2024, at 11:59 PM (PT).

OC COMMUNITY RESOURCES (OCCR)
OC Community Resources is a multi-faceted department comprised of OC Animal Care, OC Community Services, OC Housing & Community Development, OC Parks, and OC Public Libraries. Click here for more information on the County of Orange.

OC PARKS
OC Parks encompasses regional, wilderness, and historical facilities, as well as coastal areas throughout the County of Orange in California. Featuring nearly 60,000 acres of parkland, open space and shoreline, Orange County's award-winning parks and programs are enjoyed by millions of residents and visitors each year, in ways as diverse as the parks themselves.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Senior Environmental Resources Specialist will assist in achieving environmental compliance with state and federal laws as they relate to the maintenance and operation of OC Parks’ facilities. The duties and responsibilities of this position include filing permit applications, coordinating mitigation and monitoring efforts during and after construction, coordinating technical studies to ensure compliance with permit conditions, and preparing necessary environmental documentation for permit compliance. This position will review, analyze, and develop recommendations, and help implement actions to successfully support OC Parks' water quality and inspection program.

The Senior Environmental Resources Specialist will function as a member of the Coastal Development and Regulatory Compliance group within the Planning and Design Division, inspiring constructive relationships with Parks employees, other County departments, and individuals outside the County government. The incumbent may assist in managing a small program, or a department-wide function or project; may supervise/manage other staff and direct the efforts of staff who are not direct reports, including outside contractors.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS AND CORE COMPETENCIES

One of the following license/certifications is desirable but is not required:

Nationally recognized certification in stormwater or erosion control category (e.g. CISEC, CPESC, CESSWI, QSI, etc.)
State of California Qualified Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan Practitioner (QSP) certification
State of California Qualified Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan Developer (QSD) certification

In addition to the minimum qualifications, the ideal candidate will have experience, knowledge, and ability in the following core competencies:

Technical Knowledge

Prepares environmental-related permit applications to various entities for County-related projects.
Aids in the implementation of area-wide natural resource pollution control programs; evaluates and monitors program outcomes.
Participates and provides input to technical committees and meetings related to the duties above; leads discussions or presents to groups as a technical expert.
Devises, implements, and effectively administers multi-agency projects supporting environmental monitoring and protection programs.
Utilizes complex data software and programming tools to enhance monitoring and assessment of programs.

Leadership | Management Skills

Acts as a liaison, or technical expert to County agencies/departments, cities, state and federal agencies, private industry, and other stakeholder groups to coordinate, explain, and confer on natural resource improvement programs, public outreach, and other related environmental matters at meetings and other public forums.
Serves as a department representative on various committees, regulatory, and advisory boards, and responds to public inquiries about environmental programs, projects and studies.
Trains less experienced personnel in required job duties.
Works with subject matter experts on various projects, providing input on design regarding the impact on water quality compliance and assists with potential corrective actions.
Meets and confers with representatives of the County, other governmental agencies, and the public on environmental program implementation; organizes related agendas, develops technical content, and completes associated administrative tasks.

Analysis | Problem Solving

Maintains computer-based data systems for environmental/geospatial data sets; may analyze data using related software and databases; determines scope of data required to develop recommendations on environmental problems; researches and analyzes technical information; assesses the significance of test results, monitoring, and other facts; prepares detailed reports/correspondences for internal County and external review; prepares findings and recommendations for further investigation.
Responds to industrial or hazardous waste spills, assesses risks to the environment, and advises and coordinates clean up procedures.
Demonstrates familiarity with laboratory practices and interprets laboratory test results.

Planning | Organization

Oversees environmental consultant/contractor contracts including reviewing work products generated; prepares budgets and purchasing requisitions.
Tracks and prepares project budgets/expenditures.
Maintains accurate records of permit conditions, compliance activities, and files timely reports.
Assesses policies and practices related to the protection, preservation, and enhancement of natural resources; formulates findings, drafts written enforcement actions, and provides recommendations to ensure compliance.

Oral Communication | Writing Skills

Prepares environmental due diligence reports for County purposes, which may require historical document reviews, interviews with relevant parties, development of scopes of work for projects, report writing, consultant/contractor management, and field studies to assess contaminated natural resources. Presents findings to County agencies/departments and leads complex technical discussions on environmental contamination and investigation issues.
Assists in negotiating and reviewing permit conditions with federal and state resource agencies to ensure compliance.
Reads and interprets plans, permits, technical reports, maps, and blueprints; prepares comments and recommendations for these documents for review.
Prepares clear and concise technical reports.
Speaks before large groups in workshops, regulatory hearings, meetings of elected bodies, and conferences.
Maintains accurate logs and records of data collected, including the use of mobile data collection systems on smartphones, tablets, or laptops as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Please click here to view the minimum qualifications for Senior Environmental Resources Specialist.

LICENSE/CERTIFICATION
The Senior Environmental Resources Specialist must possess a valid California Driver's license, Class C or higher. One of the following license/certifications is desirable, but not required:

Nationally recognized certification in stormwater or erosion control category (e.g. CISEC, CPESC, CESSWI, QSI, etc.)
State of California Qualified Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan Practitioner (QSP) certification
State of California Qualified Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan Developer (QSD) certification

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Application Screening | (Refer/Non-Refer)

Human Resource Services (HRS) screens all application materials for minimum and/or desirable qualifications. After screening, applicants who meet the minimum and/or desirable qualifications will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process. All applicants will be notified via email of their status in the process.

Structured Oral Interview | SOI (Weighted 100%)
Candidates will be interviewed and rated by an oral interview panel of job knowledge experts. Each candidate's rating will be based on responses to a series of questions designed to elicit the candidate's qualifications for the job. Only the most successful candidates will be placed on to the eligible list.

Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures above may be modified. Candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedures.

Eligible List
Once the assessment has been completed, Human Resource Services will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

Veterans Employment Preference
The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here (Download PDF reader) to review the policy.

Source : County of Orange