Field Investigator

Field Investigator

Salary

Depends on Qualifications

Location

Houston, TX

Job Type

Regular Full-time

Job Number

16829

Department

Pollution Control Services Department

Opening Date

06/17/2026

Closing Date

8/1/2026 11:59 PM Central

Max Number of Applicants

200

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Position Description

Harris County Pollution Control Services Department (HCPCS) Mission

The mission of Harris County Pollution Control Services Department (HCPCS) is to protect the citizens of Harris County from environmental impacts through firm, consistent enforcement of state and federal regulations. The ultimate goal of PCS is clean air, water, and proper management of waste. The activities PCS are directed toward ensuring clean air and water for the citizens of Harris County, consistent with the protection of public health, enjoyment of property and the protection of plant, animal, and marine life.

What you will do for Harris County Pollution Control

The Investigator I is an entry level field position. This position will have a critical role in identifying & coordinating investigations, interacting with the general public, and commercial & industrial entities to support key Pollution Control initiatives and services.

The Investigator I will be responsible for conducting routine inspections and investigate complaints regarding air, solid and hazardous waste, stormwater and wastewater and generate detailed investigation reports documenting investigations.

This position will report to the Field Supervisor.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Investigate complaints of air, water, solid or hazardous waste problems to determine compliance with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality rules and regulations.
• Perform inspections of facilities for compliance with existing environmental regulations and permit parameters and complete detailed reports.
• Plan daily schedule to maximize work time and minimize drive time, while establishing priorities and other work as assigned
• Work on-call shift when assigned
• Work evenings and weekends per the assigned rotation
• Collect samples and perform field tests and maintain chain of custody protocols as required
• Enter complaints into Client Record Management (CRM) during assigned weekends, holiday and evening shifts.
• Gather evidence for court action as required
• Prepare for and provide testimony in court cases
• Responsibilities include other duties as assigned, including special tasks involved in responding to an emergency event

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx

If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net.

This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Requirements

Education:

• Bachelor's degree with 30 hours in Biology, Chemistry, Ecology or related field from an accredited college of university

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Must have good written and verbal skills
• Must have a cell phone
• Must have transportation to and from work
• Must be able to drive extensively, prioritize, and organize routes for maximum efficiency
• Must establish effective working relationships, exercise balanced judgment and organize work for maximum efficiency
• Must be a self-starter, able to work with minimal supervision
• Must be able to use discretionary judgment in routine fieldwork and must be able to handle difficult situations with tact and diplomacy
• Must be able to follow the policies and guidelines established by the County and the department
• An understanding of the principles and practices of pollution control is preferred
• Knowledge of state and federal statutes related to air, water, solid waste issues is preferred
• Ability and knowledge necessary to collect samples and operate analytical field equipment such as pH meters, DO meters, composite samplers, and summa canisters is preferred

NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

General Information

Position Type and Typical Hours of Work:

• Full-time | Monday - Friday | Typically 8 am to 5 pm.
• After hours and/or weekend work on a scheduled on-call basis
• On call during emergency events, natural disasters, etc.
• This position may require employee to be deployed to alternative county locations during emergency events.

Reporting Relationships:

• Reports to Position: Field Supervisor
• Supervised Positions: None

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

• Work in an office environment
• Work in an outdoor environment
• Possible exposure to inclement weather or various temperature changes
• Possible exposure to loud noises
• Possible exposure to dangerous chemicals
• Exposure to dangerous or aggressive/adverse populations

Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards. Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.

HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Harris County offers a highly competitive benefits program, featuring a comprehensive group health plan and defined benefit retirement plan.

The following benefits are offered only to Harris County employees in regular (full-time) positions:

Health & Wellness Benefits

• Medical Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Coverage
• Wellness Plan
• Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Ten (10) days of vacation leave per year (accrual rate increases after 5 years of service)
• Eleven (11) County-observed holidays
• One (1) floating holiday per year
• Paid Parental Leave*
• Sick Leave

Retirement Savings Benefit

• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan

The following benefits are available to Harris County employees in full-time and select part-time positions:

• Professional learning & development opportunities
• Retirement pension (TCDRS defined benefit plan)
• Flexible work schedule*
• METRO RideSponsor Program*
• Participation may vary by County department. The employee benefits plans of Harris County are extended to all eligible participants across various departments with the exception of the Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, for which the cited Health & Wellness Benefits are administered through the State of Texas.

In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, group health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time. Harris County Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the Countys behalf as needed.

For plan details, visit the Harris County Benefits & Wellness website:

www.benefitsathctx.com

01

Which of the following best describes your highest level of education completed as it relates to this position?

• High School or GED diploma
• Associate Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree or higher
• None of the above

02

If you selected a college degree in response to the previous question, which of the following best describes your major?

• Chemistry
• Biology
• Environmental Sciences
• Ecology
• Other Related Field
• Unrelated Field
• N/A; No Degree

03

In which of the following concepts do you have strong knowledge and/or professional experience? (Select all that apply)

• Basic knowledge of state and federal statutes related to air, water, solid waste issues
• Basic understanding of the principles and practices of pollution control
• Ability and knowledge necessary to collect samples and operate analytical field equipment such as pH meters, DO meters, composite samplers, and summa canisters
• None of the above

04

Which of the following describes your level of proficiency using a personal computer and common office software such as MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook). Please select your level of proficiency based on the following descriptions: Advanced: A person with this level of skills is able to produce very large, complex formal documents that require a table of contents, footnotes, endnotes, bookmarks, and other special elements; a wide range of graphic effects, and use advanced techniques for analyzing and manipulating data. Has full mastery of Macro commands and skills to tie the objects together into a cohesive system by using Macros and Visual Basic for Applications code. Makes interactive presentations by using hyperlinks and action buttons. Intermediate: A person with this level of skills is able to customize toolbars, import and insert graphs, embed Excel data, and elaborate reports. Understands the concepts of databases and is able to work with charts and to use the list management capabilities of Excel. Able to use complex query techniques, create efficient forms and reports, and create Macros to automate these forms. Makes interactive presentations by using hyperlinks and action buttons. Basic: A person with this level of skills is able to use basic formatting, editing, printing functions, and understands the document page setup. Has the ability to enter and correct data, modify a workbook, format a worksheet, and use printing functions. Understands the different database concepts and structures and is familiar with data validation and is able to create a simple presentation in PowerPoint, run it, and print it. Entry Level: A person with this level of skills has the ability to open, create, save and modify documents in Word, send and receive email in Outlook and create spreadsheets in Excel. Format documents for printing, comfortable using the printer menu to preview documents. Has ability to change the font, the margins, insert or delete pages and use the built-in spellchecker and grammar check.

• Advanced
• Intermediate
• Basic
• Entry Level
• Not proficient

Required Question

Employer Harris County

Address 1111 Fannin St

Ste. 600

Houston, Texas, 77002

Phone 713-274-5445

Website https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/harriscountytx