Senior Environmental Resources Specialist

Job Description:

Senior Environmental Resources Specialist

Description

CAREER DESCRIPTION

SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES SPECIALIST

SALARY INFORMATION
Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and the successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

This position is scheduled to receive salary range increases on the following date:
Effective June 27, 2025 - 4.00% increase

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
This recruitment is being held to establish anopen eligiblelist to fill current and future Senior Environmental Resources Specialist vacancies within OC Public Works. This recruitment may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications throughout the County of Orange.

DEADLINE TO APPLY
Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately, as the recruitment will close on
Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 11:59 PM (PST)

OC ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES
OC Environmental Resources is a service area within OC Public Works that manages the OC Watersheds program, which protects public health and safety, promotes environmental quality, and sustains business competitiveness through education, regulation, and collaborative regional programs.

For more information on OC Environmental Resources click here .
For more information on OC Public Works click here .
For more information on the County of Orange click here .

THE OPPORTUNITY
OC Public Works has an exciting career opportunity for a Senior Environmental Resources Specialist in the Monitoring and Data Assessment Division of OC Environmental Resources. This position will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of numerous water quality monitoring programs as outlined in the North Orange County Monitoring and Reporting Program and the South Orange County Water Quality Improvement Plan Monitoring and Assessment Program .

The Senior Environmental Resources Specialist’s job duties include, but are not limited to:

• Directly supervise a section with five positions
• Administer various data collection programs related to surface water quality, sediment quality, and hydrology, along with managing the program budget
• Manages a range of complex studies, research initiatives, and analyses related to environmental resources and regulatory compliance
• Co-manage the development of annual water quality data compliance reports required by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and (Total Maximum Daily Load) TMDL programs for submittal to regulatory agencies
• Conduct technical reviews of reports, research documents, permits, work plans, etc., prepared by other entities
• Administer multiple consultant services contracts that support program activities

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS AND CORE COMPETENCIES
The ideal candidate will possess a bachelor’s degree (or higher) in environmental science, biological science, ecology, or a related science field. The ideal candidate should have extensive knowledge, understanding, and experience (four (4) or more years of applicable experience) with one or more of the following:

• NPDES stormwater permits, comprising complex requirements to protect and improve the quality of creeks, streams and coastal waters at both watershed and regional scales
• Development and implementation of multi-agency watershed-scale monitoring plans to assess environmental conditions
• Operate and maintain data management systems such as, but not limited to Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)
• Administration of an Automated Local Evaluation in Real Time (ALERT) flood warning radio telemetry system.

In addition, the most successful applicants will demonstrate professional competencies in the following areas:

Technical Knowledge | Experience
• Ability to lead the planning and implementation of NPDES and TMDL monitoring programs on behalf of the County, municipalities, partner agencies, and other stakeholders

• Laboratory and field applications, including safety principles and practices applicable to natural resource management

• Familiarity with the environmental regulations that would apply to surface water quality monitoring

• Understanding of the legislative process and ability to track pending legislation related to watershed management and/or water resources funding

• Ability to assist in preparing budgets and vendor/professional service contract documents

• Ability to utilize web-based applications and databases to support data access, management, assessment, and integration

Analytical | Decision-Making Skills

• Understand and follow oral and written technical instructions
• Analyze problems and adopt an effective course of action
• Plan, organize, and direct the work of others
• Analytically search for resources or seek subject matter experts to make informed decisions
• Demonstrate critical thinking, creative problem solving, and exercise appropriate judgment in answering questions and releasing information
• Understanding of prioritizing competing priorities while meeting established deadlines
• Creative and effective analytical reasoning with a solution focus

Communication | Coordination Skills

• Coordinate monitoring efforts with multiple County departments, cities, and special districts; and lead multi-agency workgroups and meetings
• Coordinate with Federal and State regulatory agencies on surface water quality monitoring programs
• Communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing
• Address difficult issues immediately utilizing tact, diplomacy, and confidentiality in dealing with difficult and sensitive situations

Leadership | Supervisory Skills

• Experience supervising, managing, or working in a lead capacity overseeing activities
• Empower, mentor, and coach/train staff, contractors, and consultants
• Effective working relationships with all levels of County staff, contractors, and public
• Direct and manage outside consultant(s) contracts to regulate and monitor budgetary boundaries and meet deliverable deadlines
• Operate independently and collaboratively

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Please view the minimum qualifications for a Senior Environmental Resources Specialist, here .

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Human Resource Services (HRS) screens all application materials for minimum and/or desirable qualifications. After screening, applicants who meet the minimum and/or desirable qualifications will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process. All applicants will be notified via email of their status in the process.

Structured Oral Interview | (Weighted 100%): Applicants will be interviewed and rated by a qualification appraisal panel of job knowledge experts. Each applicant's rating will be based on responses to a series of structured questions designed to elicit the applicant's qualifications for the job.

Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures above may be modified. Candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedures.

Eligible List
Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

Veterans Employment Preference
The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here to review the policy.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING COVID 19 RELATED REQUIREMENTS
Effective April 3, 2023, it is strongly recommended that County employees working in health care settings and correctional facilities follow vaccination and booster guidelines provided by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Please click here to see the latest guidance for more details.

EMAIL NOTIFICATION
Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.

NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.

Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com .

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.

Questions? For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, contact Rose Nguyen at 714-667-9699 or by email at Rose.Nguyen@ocpw.ocgov.com .

EEO INFORMATION

Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Non-Management Benefits
In addition to the County's standard suite of benefits, such as a variety of health plan options, annual leave and paid holidays--we also offer an excellent array of benefits such as a Health Care Reimbursement Account, 457 Defined Contribution Plan and Annual Education and Professional Reimbursement. Employees are provided a Retirement Plan through the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS).

Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.
http://www.ocers.org/active-member-information

Click here for information about benefits offered to County of Orange employees.

Closing Date/Time: 2/13/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$91,020.80 - $122,616.00 Annually