Hazardous Materials Specialist I/II/III (Open & Promotional)
Salary
$7,959.47 - $12,367.33 Monthly
Location
San Mateo, CA
Job Type
Full-Time
Job Number
J004O
Department
Environmental Health Services
Division
Environmental Health Services
Opening Date
07/01/2026
Closing Date
7/28/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit
02
Description
San Mateo County Health is seeking well-qualified individuals for the position of Hazardous Materials Specialist I/II/III to work in the Environmental Health Services Division, which is the Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) for the County. Hazardous Materials Specialists (HMS) perform inspections, enforcement activities and special assignments to ensure regulatory compliance at underground storage tank facilities, hazardous waste generators, tiered permitting facilities, hazardous materials handlers and above ground tank sites. They also respond to industrial and residential complaints and provide technical consultation and coordination of activities with city and county agencies. These positions will also assist facilities with compliance, review electronic facility submissions, and locate and educate new facilities.
There are currently three regular vacancies; they are in San Mateo, CA, but will travel/drive throughout the County to perform duties of the position.
In addition, Hazardous Materials Specialists I/II/III will review underground storage tank permit applications and perform UST construction/modification inspections.
Certification: Local regulatory staff must possess a valid California Underground Storage Tank (UST) Inspector Certificate issued by the International Code Council (ICC). Successful candidates selected for the position who do not possess a valid California Underground Storage Tank (UST) Inspector Certificate issued by the International Code Council (ICC) are required to pass the exam within 180 days of hire. The certificate must be renewed every 24 months in accordance with the California Code of Regulations, Title 23, Section 2715(j).
The ideal candidate is self-motivated, eager to learn, observant, able to ask appropriate follow-up questions, synthesize complex information, and draw conclusions about compliance. A desire to assist facilities with environmental regulatory compliance and manage time effectively is critical; familiarity with California Environmental Reporting System (CERS) and experience performing regulatory inspections is preferred.
SALARY
Level I: $7,579 - $8,901/monthly
Level II: $9,327 - $11,655/monthly
Level III: $9,897 - $12,367/monthly
NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.
Examples Of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Qualifications
Knowledge of:
Skill/Ability to:
Education and Experience:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:
Level I: Bachelors degree in environmental health science, physical science, engineering science, industrial hygiene, chemistry, geology, or a related field.
Level II: One year of experience in hazardous materials management.
Level III: Two years of journey level experience in hazardous materials management.
Application/Examination
Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, Confidential and Management extra-help/limited term, and SEIU or AFSCME represented extra help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.
The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidates application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.
IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the Countys website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the Countys website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.
TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Application Deadline: Tuesday, July 28, 2026, 11:59PM PST
Application Screening: Week of August 10, 2026
Civil Service Panel Interviews: August 19 & 20, 2026
Departmental Interviews: Week of September 2, 2026
About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse communities.
The County of San Mateo is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.
The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
Talent Acquisition Analyst: Debbie Kong (07012026) (Hazardous Materials Specialist I/II/III - J001, J003, J004)
We invite you to explore our Benefits-at-a-Glance page for a snapshot of the comprehensive and competitive benefits available to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. From health and wellness to financial security, our benefits are designed to support you at every stage of your career. (Please note that benefits are subject to change.)
In addition to core benefits, the County is proud to offer a variety of wellness and professional development programs to help you grow both personally and professionally. Most of these enriching opportunities are available during work hours and come at no cost to you.
As a County employee, you'll also be covered by the federal Social Security system, earning valuable retirement benefits based on your salary and years of service.
01
IMPORTANT: Applicants for this position are required to submit responses to the supplemental questions below. Your responses will provide detailed information about your background and experience related to this position.
This information will weigh heavily in the application screening by the subject matter experts and will also be used in the selection process.
Answer the questions completely, paying attention to the multi-parts of the questions. While being thorough and detailed, also be concise. Your strategic use of language as well as neatness, clarity of expression, attention to detail, proper use of grammar and the ability to follow instructions will be considered in the evaluation process. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for your responses.
02
Describe your qualifications, including your training and experience in underground storage tanks, hazardous waste, hazardous materials, and other Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) programs. Include any relevant licenses or certificates.
03
Describe your training and work experience in conducting inspections, performing investigations and enforcing Federal, State or local regulations. Include your role, typical tasks you performed, and challenges you encountered and how you resolved them.
04
Describe a situation in which you were required to verbally explain a new process or procedure to a coworker, customer, or the public, the steps you took to effectively communicate this information, the challenges you faced, and outcome.
05
Tell me about a time you noticed an inefficient process and took the initiative to fix it. How did you implement the change, and what was the impact on your team or organization?
06
How did you learn about this position?
07
If you answered, "Professional Publication/Website" or "Other" to the above question, please indicate below how you learned about this position. Your response to this question will help us in better marketing County jobs. Type NA if not applicable.
Required Question
Employer County of San Mateo
Address County of San Mateo Human Resources Department
500 County Center, 4th Floor
Redwood City, California, 94063-1663
Phone (650) 363-4343
Website https://jobs.smcgov.org