Environmental Program Specialist

Salary $80,488.72 - $113,033.02 Annually

Location  Mesa, AZ

Job Type Full Time

The current vacancy is for the Environmental Assignment; however, this recruitment will be used to establish an eligible list to fill possible future vacancies in all assignment areas. 

First review of applications will be Monday, October 27, 2025.

An Environmental Programs Specialist performs technical and professional duties associated with environmental and hazardous materials/waste programs. Duties include analyzing and interpreting environmental regulations to determine impact on City operations; developing plans and processes to ensure regulatory compliance; providing City departments with compliance guidance and assistance; reviewing compliance plans and programs to determine status of compliance; developing criteria and strategies for corrective and preventative actions; developing and conducting public outreach and education activities pertaining to environmental initiatives; providing training to City personnel on environmental compliance requirements and initiatives; conducting audits and inspections of public and private facilities; coordinating compliance efforts with City departmental representatives, consultants, contractors, regulatory agencies, and the general public; drafting and managing contractor agreements; drafting compliance and enforcement actions; filing and maintaining accurate documentation; providing oversight of environmental field activities; and representing the City at meetings involving regulatory agencies, regional municipal partnerships, and professional associations. Employees in this class are also responsible for making decisions relating to regulatory compliance matters. 

Employees in this class must be able to work independently and cooperatively in a team environment to develop and implement compliance programs. Work as an Environmental Programs Specialist involves continual learning and sharing of best practices to remain current and knowledgeable on environmental compliance and enforcement strategies. This class performs related duties as required. 

Environmental Assignment: Employees in this assignment will be responsible for programs relating to asbestos, air quality, environmental site assessment, lead paint, stormwater, City generated hazardous waste, storage tank, environmental water quality, citywide environmental training, and other related environmental compliance programs. Employees in this assignment may routinely perform environmental audits and may support the Household Hazardous Materials Facility.

Hazardous Materials/Waste Assignment: Employees in this assignment are responsible for programs relating to hazardous materials handling and waste disposal and will be assigned to the City’s Household Hazardous Materials facility. Work hours may include weekend work. Employees in this class are also responsible for training City employees in hazardous material handling and proper disposal procedures, creating weekly work schedules, and ensuring proper handling and disposal of hazardous materials by Environmental Technician personnel, Service Worker Assistants, and contractor workers.

This classification differs from the Environmental Technician class by requiring a broader understanding of environmental principles and technics, along with handling more complex and varied assignments. An Environmental Programs Specialist works with considerable independence and minimal supervision, regularly using professional judgement to complete technical tasks. The role requires a high level of professionalism when interacting with the public, City staff, and outside agencies. Strong interpersonal skills are also essential in this role, to handle challenging situations and conflicts that may arise. Employees in this class must have a thorough knowledge of environmental regulations to make independent and sound compliance decisions during inspections and daily activities. Employees must be able to present complex technical information and data in a format that is comprehensible to captive audiences. Employees in this class may be required to work after hours and be on-call. While on-call, during non-work hours, employees must be able to respond to environmental situations and make on-site independent decisions on-site as to appropriate actions and to communicate those decisions in a timely manner to division and department management personnel. This class reports to the Environmental Programs Supervisor, with work reviewed through conferences, meetings, written reports, and by overall results achieved. This class is FLSA exempt-administrative.

Please refer to the link below for the full job description and additional information regarding assignments, preferred qualifications, and essential functions.

Employee Values:  All employees of the City of Mesa are expected to uphold and exhibit the City's shared employee values of Knowledge, Respect, and Integrity.

Minimum Qualifications Required. Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Industrial Hygiene, Hydrology, Geology, Sustainability, or a closely related field. Considerable (3-5 years) of full-time work experience in environmental and compliance related programs.

Special Requirements. Must possess a valid Class D Arizona Driver’s License by hire or promotion date. Must meet the qualifications to wear a tight-fitting respirator by passing a medical evaluation in accordance with Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910.134 within four weeks of hire or promotion date and must maintain certification. Must be able to obtain Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 40-Hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) certification within 12 months of hire or promotion or maintain annual refresher training. For those program areas directly managed by this class, must obtain Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) certification, Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials (DOT) certification, and United States Environmental Protection Agency Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) certification within 12 months of hire or promotion date and maintain annual refresher training.

Substance Abuse Testing. Due to the safety and/or security sensitive nature of this classification, individuals shall be subject to pre-employment or pre-placement alcohol, drug and/or controlled substance testing as outlined in City policy and procedures. 

Preferred/Desirable Qualifications. Strong verbal and written communications skills.

General Environmental Assignment: Considerable (3 - 5 years) broad-based experience including: managing asbestos, stormwater, air quality, hazardous materials/waste, underground storage tank programs, and environmental site investigation/remediation. Considerable (3 - 5 years) experience dealing effectively with the general public, consultants, contractors, and regulatory agencies. Preferred certifications include Certified Environmental Auditor, Certified Hazardous Materials Manager, Certified Environmental Manager, Certified Industrial Hygienist, Professional Engineer, and/or Registered Geologist.

Hazardous Materials/Waste Assignment: Considerable (3 - 5 years) experience in the management of hazardous materials/wastes. Considerable (3 - 5 years) experience dealing effectively with the general public, consultants, contractors, and regulatory agencies. 

Link to Job Description

http://apps.mesaaz.gov/JobDescriptions/Documents/JobDescriptions/cs4785.pdf

Apply Here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/mesaaz/jobs/5110736/environmental-programs-specialist