Environmental Specialist

Compensation Range

$23.04 - $29.52

Please note: This job opening may close earlier than the stated date, due to high candidate volume. If interested, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Who We Are:

At the City of High Point, we celebrate the creator in everyone. Building on our rich cultural history steeped in industrialism and innovation, our employees seek not only to transform themselves, but the world around us. We are collaborators, we are makers, we are visionaries.

We invite you to explore the many opportunities to serve our community, by sharing your talents, skills, and expertise. You'll join a diverse team of over 1300 individuals dedicated not just to making a career, but a difference; because what we create in High Point, changes the world!

Our Core Values:

• Integrity: Saying what we mean and consistently doing what we say with no desire other than the good of the citizens we serve. It means standing up for beliefs.

• Responsibility: A continual process that emphasizes a high level of personal accountability by each member of the organization.

• Partnership: Adding competitive value and quality to the services provided to our residents, businesses, and visitors through responsible fiscal stewardship, increased innovation, greater use of technology, and expanded civic, neighborhood and regional partnerships.

What We Offer:

The City of High Point offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. We also offer generous benefit package for full-time employees which include but are not limited to:

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service

• 401K and 457B Retirement Plans

• PTO earned within first year

• 12 Paid Holidays per year

• Tuition Reimbursement Plan

• Competitive medical, dental, and vision plans effective day one

What You'll Do:

Performs responsible administrative, technical and skilled work assisting in the implementation of the City's Stormwater Management and Erosion Control Programs; maintains compliance with the City's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit; enforces the Erosion Control Program as regulated by the City Development Ordinance and State statutes; does related work as required.

Work is performed under regular supervision of the Environmental Analyst.

Essential Tasks & Responsibilities:

• Perform plan reviews, prepare erosion control approval packages and issue grading permits for Residential Construction; perform erosion control inspections on residential and commercial sites and evaluate construction conditions for compliance with ordinances and statutes; participate in pre-construction meetings of assigned residential and/or commercial sites.
• Perform inspections and analyses of permanent stormwater control devices to ensure compliance with the NPDES permit.
• Perform inspections of City facilities for compliance with their individual stormwater permits and prepare reports of findings and/or corrective actions required.
• Perform wet weather and TMDL sampling throughout the year during various weather conditions; perform dry weather screening from stormwater outfall sites throughout the City.
• Assist with developing and implementing public education, involvement and outreach programs for specific target audiences, prepare and conduct training and educational workshops for homeowners, City staff, contractors, engineers and developers.
• Prepare inspection reports, notice of violations, diagrams, maps and correspondence; create and maintain computerized files and databases.
• Keep records of all site inspections, approved plans, plan revisions, correspondence, notices, contractors, responsible persons, bonds and expiration dates; keep informed of current regulations, ordinances, and statute changes.
• Communicate directly with contractors, property owners, developers, citizens and engineers regarding erosion control laws, violations and stormwater compliance.
• Investigate citizen complaints and address concerns by advising and determining the best course of action.
• Perform a variety of other duties for Environmental Manager, Civil Engineers, or the Engineering Services Director.
• Ensure all work is performed in accordance with OSHA and City Safety Standards and Policies.

Qualifications:

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited institute or college with an associate degree in civil engineering technology, environmental science, natural resource science/management, or closely related field, or experience equivalent.
• Must have a valid driver's license
• Must obtain Stormwater SCM Inspection & Maintenance Certification within 1 year of hire date.
• Must obtain Erosion Control Inspector Certification within 1 year of hire date.
• Must be able to apply principles of logical thinking to practical and technical problems encountered in erosion control inspection of private developments and public works construction projects.
• Must have knowledge of state and federal environmental stormwater rules and sediment/erosion control regulations to ensure NPDES requirements.
• Must be able to select the proper course of action from several alternatives to illicit compliance with the code(s) by property owners and parties in interest.
• Must be able to read and comprehend construction plans and related Codes, Zoning Ordinances, technical manuals, policy manuals, instructions, directions, reports, maps, and other documents relating to the job requirements.
• Must be able to write concise descriptions of deficiencies and findings of progress observed during inspection of projects, correspondence detailing the requirements of the code(s) and penalties for failure to comply, and technical reports associated with the job.
• Must be able to communicate ideas to other employees, property owners, workers, public, and able to express ideas in technical and/or trade terms.
• Must be able to deal effectively with the public and remain polite and courteous while being firm in the enforcement of codes and ordinances.
• Ability to communicate and maintain effective working relationships with public officials, outside agencies, contractors, citizens, City officials and coworkers.
• Ability to read public improvement plans and site plans, topographic maps, etc.; prepare and maintain clear and concise records and reports; ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to assist with the creation and implementation of effective public outreach, educational and training programs, and present public presentations.
• Ability to analyze a wide variety of project information to ensure federal, state and local compliance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree from an accredited four-year college or university

Physical Requirements

• Hearing/Speaking - Expressing and/or receiving information by means of spoken word are both necessary to converse with internal and external customers including co-workers, citizens, and applicants.
• Visual Abilities - Acuity, far - clarity of vision at 20 feet or more. Must be able to see from a distance when inspecting structures and for the safe operation of motor vehicles. Acuity, near - clarity of vision at 20 inches or less. Must be able to see reading material, forms, reports, etc. Must be able to take readings from tape measure or test equipment. Depth Perception - Three-dimensional vision and the ability to judge distance and space relationships. Must be able to judge distances and perceive angles while performing inspections.
• Field of Vision - the area that can be seen up and down or to the right or left while eyes are focused on one point. Must be able to see a wide span of area.
• Accommodation - Must be able to adjust the eye lens to glance quickly. Necessary when looking at various infrastructure projects at varying distances.
• Physical Strength - Degree of physical demands typically associated with this position include:
• Exerting up to 20 pounds of force frequently; and/or
• Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally; and
• Requires a significant amount of walking, standing, climbing, stooping, bending, crawling, kneeling, reaching, and lifting. On occasions employee is required to maneuver over both even and extremely uneven terrain. There is significant use of arms, hands, legs, and feet. Physical demands are varied with work situations.
• Type of Physical Demands
• Reaching - Extending the hand(s) or arm(s) in any direction. Necessary for the use of hand tools required for making inspections and to reach building systems to assess their conditions.
• Handling - Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with hand(s). Necessary in the operation of hand tools used in making inspections and the operation of office equipment.
• Fingering - Picking, pinching or otherwise working with fingers primarily rather than the entire hand or arm. Necessary to hold pen or pencil to write, to dial telephone, to operate hand tools and to operate office equipment.

Mental Activity/Reasoning

• Reasoning

• Ability to apply principles of logical thinking to work tasks and handle practical and technical problems; to comprehend and respond to a variety of situations in an expedient manner; ability to select proper course of action from several alternatives to illicit compliance with the code(s) by property owners and parties in interest.

• Mathematics Ability

• Ability to apply basic math skills to analyze and compile technical information, figure amounts of materials needed for a project, interpret data in spreadsheets and reports; ability to use mathematics in engineering calculations and estimates; ability to apply mathematical formulas found in the practice of engineering.

• Language Ability

• Ability to read technical journals, reports, plans and proposals, maps, addresses, graphics, statistical information, instructions, directions, ordinances and other documents relating to the job.

• Ability to speak in front of a group for training the public and/or city staff. Must be able to communicate clearly and rapidly during emergency situations in person and by phone.

• Ability to be conversant in voice and diction to convey ideas to other employees, governmental agencies, other professionals, legislative bodies, contractors, and the public; ability to express ideas in the technical and/or trade terms associated with the engineering profession.

• Writing Ability

• Ability to write instructions and/or directives as received, notes pertaining to the job, completed assignments on a work log and messages.

• Ability to write letters and emails that convey technical information in a clear and concise manner

• Reading Ability

• Ability to read ordinances, environmental regulations, safety rules and regulations, City Personnel Resolution, instructions, directions, street names and signs, city street location maps, detailed reports and other documents relating to job.

Environmental Conditions

• Physical Surroundings

• Employee will be working inside buildings which are air conditioned and outside in all weather conditions. When working outside employee may encounter wet, hot, or cold extremes.

• May have to go into unsanitary areas, areas with offensive odors, spaces where there may be temperature extremes, and into areas with extremely limited horizontal and vertical clearances.

• May be required to maneuver over uneven terrain.

• Environmental Hazards

• Employee will be exposed to trash, debris, insects, vermin, dust, dirt, mud, and wet conditions, various types of trees and vegetation, , noise, vibration, mechanical and chemical hazards, atmospheric conditions that affect the respiratory system or the skin, darkness or poor lighting conditions, chemicals, fertilizers, mulch, etc. Must negotiate uneven terrain.

• Must sometimes work in and around construction sites which are dangerous due to the stage of their construction.

• Work is subject to final standards of OSHA on blood borne pathogens.

Machinery/Tools/Work Aids/Other Equipment

Motor vehicle, desktop or laptop computer, iPad, Microsoft Office software, plotter, writing instruments, hand tools, flashlight, testing devices, video and camera equipment, cell phones, calculators, copiers, code books, technical manuals, site plans, stormwater pollution prevention plans, municipal codes and ordinances, Federal and State regulations, stormwater related materials, levels, folding rules, steel tape, safety glasses, steel-toed boots, vest, hard hat, leather work gloves, and other work aids associated with this trade and safety manuals, City Personnel Resolution, and operator manuals.

The work location of this job will be 816 E Green Dr High Point, North Carolina.

Our Commitments

The City of High Point is dedicated to fostering a work environment that values individuals from all backgrounds and seeks to attract and retain the most qualified partners in service to the citizens of High Point. As an at-will employer, the City allows employees to terminate their employment, or be terminated at any time, with or without cause, as long as it is not prohibited by law.

The City of High Point is committed to classifying and compensating its employees fairly for the work they do, weighing both the internal capabilities and the external market. While the job description is not intended to and does not create a contract of employment, we are excited to use this "living document" as a guide for managing performance and positions to ensure job descriptions are reflective of the current work required by the incumbent or expected by any candidate to whom an offer of employment is extended.

The City of High Point is committed to providing a safe, comfortable working environment for all employees. To that end, we are proud to comply with all Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements, as well as make reasonable accommodations to candidates and employees as we are able in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Candidates selected for employment must undergo (a.) a drug screening, in accordance with the City's drug and alcohol policy and (b.) a background screening to determine whether there is any current, pending, or previous charge, conviction or other infraction deemed incompatible with service in the capacity for which the candidate is being hired. In lieu of or in addition to background screening, candidates selected for employment in a position that requires working with children in any capacity must be fingerprinted and undergo a criminal history record check conducted by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Certain positions are considered so critical to the health and safety of others that a candidate cannot be placed in any such position without passing a pre-placement physical exam. The City offers employment to successful candidates conditioned upon the City's receipt of satisfactory results from all required screenings, checks, and exams, as applicable.