The City of Johnson City, Tennessee is accepting online applications for an Environmental Specialist in the Public Works department. Under general supervision, the employee performs professional and technical work developing and administering projects, ensuring achievement of objectives, and maintaining compliance with applicable state and federal environmental permits and laws for the City of Johnson City's Stormwater MS4 programs, Stormwater Utility program, or Solid Waste programs. Responsible for inspecting various construction sites, Public Works and public utility projects for compliance with all municipal codes and ordinances. Does related work as required. The work involves examination and the application of standard trade practices to inspection work, i.e., inspection of erosion controls measures, inspection of existing stormwater facilities, and inspection of stormwater outfalls. Position is responsible for various reports relevant to tasks completed and in process. Inspections are conducted independently, but in accordance with departmental regulations and established technical standards. Supervision is received through verbal and written instructions and work review is through reports submitted. This is professional and technical work in the area of utility program management, construction and maintenance activities and environmental compliance that requires interpretation of state and federal regulations. The work involves: maintaining a stormwater utility billing system and related geographic information system; review, inspection of stormwater construction and maintenance practices; evaluation of current and future programs related to compliance with applicable environmental laws; inspection of various private sites, public works and public utilities projects that are under construction, repair or alteration to determine compliance with municipal codes and ordinances. Major policies are outlined by City ordinances and programs/projects are administered by the Public Works Director, but the employee in this class assists in development and execution of those policies, programs and projects related to stormwater and solid waste. Considerable field work may be required involving inspection of various private sites, public works and public utilities projects that are under construction, repair or alteration to determine compliance with municipal codes and ordinances. The position requires understanding of the various programs related to water quality and quantity discharges and flow, as well as examination and the application of standard trade practices, i.e., inspection of erosion controls measures, inspection of existing stormwater facilities, and inspection of stormwater outfalls.

Examples of Duties: (Illustrative Only)

-assists in administering the Stormwater MS4 program for the City, including but not limited to the NPDES and TMDL programs;

-confers with state, city, and public officials, as well as, legal counsel in developing stormwater quality and quantity programs, new environmental programs and draft permit responses to the issuing authority;

-maintain records required for compliance with City's NPDES permit;

-inspects developments to monitor compliance with local, state and federal stormwater regulations and operating procedures regarding stormwater environmental compliance;

-maintains compliance tracking and enforcement of permitted users on computer software and issue appropriate notices of violation which escalate to legal action as necessary;

-helps develop and implement stormwater facility mapping including on-sight surveys, inspections and mapping of municipal stormwater outfalls and other existing stormwater structures;

-assists in administering the Stormwater Utility program for the City, ensuring it is primarily financially self-supporting;

-reviews all applications for adjustments and credits from Stormwater Utility customers;

-assures that the database of Stormwater Utility customers is accurately maintained, tracked, updated, and amended to include all adjustments, credits, and new development additions;

-schedules and conducts pre-construction meetings with utility companies, contractors, property owners, and other involved agencies / interested parties;

-consults with various entities involved in construction, alteration, and repair of public or private projects, i.e., contractors, and street/highway, maintenance, and utilities departments;

-examines project plans to determine conformance to applicable codes and ordinances;

-discusses erosion control, construction, alteration and repair explaining and interpreting regulations where necessary;

-makes on-sight surveys and inspections of residential housing, commercial and industrial projects during the course of construction, alteration and repair as frequently as necessary for conformance to established regulations, i.e., in easements, drainage installed per plans, erosion control;

-informs appropriate entities of violations and methods of correcting violations according to applicable ordinances and past precedents under the supervisor's direction;

-prepares reports of inspections performed covering conditions found, actions taken and recommendations made for further action;

-assists with the Solid Waste program for the City as required

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: knowledge of stormwater environmental regulations which govern the flow and discharge of stormwater. Ability to under supervision to evaluate, plan, organize and conduct a stormwater environmental program as mandated by current or proposed future federal, state and local regulations. Ability to speak clearly and write. Knowledge of the materials, methods and practices used in erosion prevention and sediment control, and of stages of construction when possible violations may be most easily observed and corrected; knowledge of legal procedures as related to the enforcement of municipal ordinances and codes; ability to recognize faulty construction or hazardous conditions created by deterioration and to recommend effective corrective measures; ability to read and interpret project construction plans and specifications and to recognize deviations from such plans in the construction process; ability to enforce codes and regulations firmly, tactfully and impartially; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with contractors, property owners, representatives from other agencies and the public; ability to express oneself clearly and concisely, orally and in writing. Extended periods of sitting at a workstation or desk and extension periods in the field. Manual dexterity to work efficiently on a computer keyboard for data entry. Frequent bending, twisting, walking, stooping and crawling. Working knowledge of databases, GIS, GPS, CAD, spreadsheets, word-processing software preferred.

Acceptable Experience and Training: Graduation from an accredited college or university with major course work in higher mathematics, engineering, Geographic Information Systems, environmental health or related education preferred; Three to five years of verifiable experience, or any equivalent combination of experience and training which would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities may be considered. Shall pass any required TDEC certifications required for NPDES stormwater compliance including both the Tennessee Level I - Fundamentals of EPSC and Tennessee Level II - Design Principles for EPSC. An employee who is hired must obtain any required TDEC certifications for NPDES stormwater compliance within twelve (18) months (dependent upon class availability) in order to maintain job classification. Pre-employment physical, drug screening and background check required.

EEO/AA