Environmental Program Specialist

Job Description:

Environmental Program Specialist

Description

The Position

The City of Oakland is an equal-opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city’s historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.

Why join the City of Oakland Public Works Department?
The Environmental Services Division (ESD) within Oakland Public Works is a dynamic team of environmental professionals committed to advancing solid waste recycling and composting programs, fostering environmental stewardship through volunteer efforts, providing environmental investigation and remediation services for City-owned properties, and ensuring regulatory compliance for City facilities and assets. We achieve these goals through active public outreach, stakeholder engagement, logistical support, and enforcement.

The Compliance and Remediation Unit within ESD is seeking a highly skilled professional to provide oversight of City hazardous materials/waste management, compliance with local, state, and Federal regulations, reporting to regulatory agencies, and evaluating toxic contamination on City-owned or prospective City-acquired properties. This role involves inspections of City facilities for proper hazardous material/waste management and coordinating with different City departments to make appropriate corrections, as needed. In addition, the position includes researching and reporting on the environmental conditions of these sites, developing the scope of work and cost estimates, reviewing technical documents, preparing detailed reports, coordinating with regulatory agencies on compliance matters, and overseeing environmental aspects of fieldwork by consultants.

We are looking for someone who is:

• A Critical Thinker: You have experience analyzing data and research findings to make objective and well-reasoned decisions.
• A Professional & Technical Expert: You leverage your expertise to address complex challenges and implement impactful solutions that serve the City's needs.
• Detail-Oriented: You excel at focusing on the specifics, ensuring accuracy and quality in processes and deliverables that ensure regulatory compliance.
• Ethical and Integrity-Driven: You demonstrate honesty, strong principles, and accountability while upholding the City of Oakland’s commitment to transparency and fairness.
• An Experienced Project Manager: You have managed projects that strengthen public agencies, delivering them on time, within budget, and in alignment with community goals.

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Conducting a variety of tasks related to Environmental Site Assessments, including evaluating properties for potential toxic contamination.
• Performing historical and title research, gathering data, and interpreting information from technical reports, maps, aerial photos, and soil or groundwater samples.
• Overseeing and negotiating contracts for professional services related to Environmental Site Assessments, and the City's other regulatory compliance needs.
• Preparing and presenting both written and verbal reports on the environmental conditions of properties and on environmental compliance of the City's operations.
• Conducting research and analysis, maintaining accurate records, and compiling findings into clear, actionable reports.
• Developing cost estimates for projects involving soil and groundwater work, factoring in necessary scope and resources.
• Collaborating with various City departments to address environmental concerns, mitigating risks, and ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
• Providing technical guidance to City staff on environmental matters, helping ensure adherence to environmental standards and legal requirements. Examples of guidance for City staff include proper storage of hazardous materials, management of above-ground and underground storage tanks, training on the use and storage of hazardous materials, coordination with different departments on hazardous waste disposal, and regular reporting to regulatory agencies.

Read the complete job description by clicking this ** Environmental Program Specialist **

*Click on the link below to see a video on what it's like to work for the City of Oakland!

Working for the City of Oakland

A few reasons you might love this job:

• You will have the opportunity to perform a wide range of environmental duties related to City programs and projects.
• Your work will have a direct impact on the City’s ability to provide important public services to a community with a rich and dynamic history.
• You will be a part of a passionate, fun, and diverse group of environmental professionals.
• You will have exposure to other environmental disciplines such as environmental stewardship/volunteer programs, climate action planning, and recycling.
• You will work near great restaurants, cultural events, and convenient public transportation.

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• You will need to provide timely services while managing competing priorities effectively.
• You will have to navigate City bureaucracy to collaborate with other departments to implement environmental programs.
• You will need to ensure compliance with local, state, and Federal regulations for environmental programs.
• You will need to address public inquiries and resolve complaints with professionalism and care.

Competencies Required:

• Critical Thinking: Analytically and logically evaluating information, propositions, and claims
• Fact Finding: Obtaining facts and data pertaining to an issue or question
• Mathematical Facility: Performing computations and solving mathematical problems
• Legal & Regulatory Navigation: Understanding, interpreting, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations
• Professional & Technical Expertise: Applying technical subject matter to the job
• Attention to Detail: Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products
• Displaying Ownership and Accountability: Holding self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results
• Innovative Problem Solving: Identifying and analyzing problems in order to propose new and better ways of doing things
• Professional Integrity & Ethics: Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
• Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue
• Building & Maintaining Relationships: Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships
• Negotiating: Reaching mutually satisfying agreements and compromise
• Project Management: Ensuring projects that are on time, on budget, and achieve their objectives
• Thinking & Acting Systematically: Formulating objectives and priorities, and implementing plans consistent with the long-term interest of the organization in a global environment

Minimum Requirements for Application

This recruitment will produce two eligible lists. The restricted list will be for full-time, permanent part-time, or part-time City and Port of Oakland employees who maintain employment for the duration of the recruitment and pass all stages of the recruitment process. The open list will be for all other applicants who pass all stages of the recruitment process.

Any combination of experience and education that would demonstrate possession of the required knowledge and abilities.

A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:

Two years of environmental site assessment experience which includes field and contract management experience. Familiarity with the structure of governmental agencies is highly desirable.

Education:

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in environmental health, civil, environmental, or geologic engineering, geology, or related field. A master's degree will be considered for the replacement of one year of work experience. Proof of continuing education in a hazardous materials management program is highly desirable.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience with performing Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments.
• Familiarity with coordinating with environmental regulatory agencies.
• Familiarity with hazardous waste rules and regulations.

Supplemental Information

The Recruitment Process:

The City of Oakland works with a Civil Service system. Applicants apply online, and HR staff reviews their experience, education, and training listed on the application against the “minimum qualifications” listed for each position.

Candidates who demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements are then invited to participate in an assessment process (or testing) to measure their knowledge, skills, and abilities in job-related areas.

Candidates who do not demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements will have an opportunity to request a final review. Candidates must request a final review within 5 business days of being notified that they did not meet the minimum qualifications.

In the final review, candidates may clarify information already provided on their application. No additional work history, education, or certifications will be accepted. Any decisions made during this review process will be final.

For this recruitment, all qualified applicants will be sent a writing exercise, which will then be evaluated and rated by subject matter experts. The tentative date that the writing exercise will be sent to you for completion is mid-February.

For some recruitments, more than one type of assessment may be used. Depending on the number of candidates who pass the first assessment (multiple-choice test, structured interview, writing exercise, performance exam) you may be asked to complete a secondary assessment before the recruitment is finalized. If a secondary assessment is scheduled, you will be notified by email with specific details. If a secondary assessment is not scheduled, department hiring interviews will occur during this time frame.

Candidates who pass each stage in the process will be placed on an eligible list. Some candidates may receive extra points, for example, if you are a Veteran with an honorable discharge, or if you are a current City of Oakland resident. If you’re applying to a “restricted” posting and you are eligible as a current City employee, you may also receive additional points for your City service. Extra points are only applied to passing scores, so if you do not pass every element of the testing process, you cannot use extra points to pass.

The City of Oakland reserves the right to modify the selection process and date of examination as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessity. The information contained in this announcement is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

What’s in it for you?

• Work/Life Balance: 37.5 hour work weeks, and a flexible/hybrid remote schedule
• 15 paid holidays
• Vacation: 2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service
• Retirement: CalPERS (California Public Employees’ Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security
• Health: The City of Oakland pays the full cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care, and other HMO and PPO plans
• Dental: Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents
• Vision: VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents
• Sick leave: Employees accrue 12 days per year
• Deferred Compensation: 457(b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401(k)plan
• Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement, Life Insurance up to $200k & Employee Training.

Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner, applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list.

Disaster Service Workers

All employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

How to Apply

Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least two to three hours to submit your application if you are a new user of the system. APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ONLINE ONLY. You may apply and view current openings by visiting our employment opportunities webpage at:

http://agency.governmentjobs.com/oaklandca/default.cfm.

If you do not have access to a computer, there are computer stations available at any City of Oakland Public Library. There are also workstations at the Human Resources Management Department, 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 2nd Floor, Oakland, CA 94612. Workstations are available during regular business hours (normally 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).

Our online application system is provided by GovernmentJobs. If you have problems while applying online, please contact GovernmentJobs Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday. You may also call the City of Oakland Human Resources Management Department during regular business hours at (510) 238-3112 for information; however, we are unable to provide technical support for the online application system. For recruitment-specific questions, please contact Briana Wong at bwong@oaklandca.gov.

The City of Oakland is committed to the wellbeing of its employees and offers comprehensive health and wellness services along with an array of other benefits for most positions. Benefits may include*:

• CalPERS Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Medical Waiver Plan - Cash-In-Lieu
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Commuter Benefits
• Group & Supplemental Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH)
• Pension Benefits
• Deferred Compensation

* Specific benefits may vary depending on the assignedspecific bargaining unit. Information regarding most benefits can be reviewed here: Employee Benefits Information Current MOUs may be reviewed here: City of Oakland Labor Agreements

Closing Date/Time: 1/31/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$97,503.24 - $119,705.88 Annually