Come work at a place where you have a direct impact on the quality of life for Kent residents, business owners and visitors alike!
The City of Kent is currently accepting applications for the position of Environmental Compliance Specialist in Public Works Engineering. Are you a dedicated professional who is passionate about the environment, particularly efforts to enhance environmental quality? The main focus of this position is the performance of source control and storm drainage inspections to protect stormwater quality, enforcing city code related to stormwater or sanitary sewer violations, educating the general public and businesses about pollution prevention and other tasks requiring a high level of independent judgment and decision making. The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated and detail-oriented individual who has relevant education in water quality protection, environmental science or a related field, supplemented with at least two (2) years of experience in stormwater management, stormwater utility inspections, environmental compliance, or another science field.
This position is a full-time, benefited one that is not represented by a union.
**A cover letter and resume are required with your online application in order for your application to be considered complete. Uploading your resume to auto-fill portions of the application does not automatically attach it to your application. Incomplete applications will not be considered for this position. Please note that you cannot attach documents to your application after it has been submitted. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your online application, please call our office at (253) 856-5270 and we will do our best to assist you.**
Applications will be accepted through June 16th. The selection process for this position will consist of two interviews.
SALARY:
$7,171.00- $8,717.00 month, depending on qualifications
For a listing of benefits, please use the following link: Employee Benefits | City of Kent (kentwa.gov)
GENERAL PURPOSE:
Under the direction of the Environmental Supervisor:

• Perform technical duties related to protecting stormwater quality as required by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination permit
• Inspect stormwater, hazardous waste, and sewer pre-treatment systems at commercial properties
• Enforce city code related to stormwater or sanitary sewer violations
• Provide education and outreach related to stormwater management to a variety of audiences
• Respond to and provide technical guidance for incidents of chemical spills, illicit discharges to the stormwater system, and other environmental incidents
• Review commercial project plans, specifications and requirements to ensure they comply with city code and design standards

Work is characterized by exercising a high degree of independent professional judgement and decision making to resolve routine and specialized technical duties to accomplish program goals and objectives.
Work is performed under limited supervision. The supervisor defines source control program objectives, priorities, and deadlines; and assists the employee with unusual situations, which do not have clear objectives or precedents. The employee plans and carries out assignments and handles problems and deviations in accordance with instructions, policies, procedures, and/or accepted practices. Work is evaluated for technical soundness and conformity to practice and policy
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Inspect commercial and industrial properties to ensure proper operation and maintenance of stormwater management facilities, including retention/detention ponds, bio-swales, underground storage tanks, stormwater filter vaults, bioinfiltration systems, flow control structures, catch-basins, oil/water separators, and permeable pavement.
Provide technical assistance to property owners and managers related to design and maintenance standards and provide guidance on the repair of onsite stormwater facilities.
Develop and send correction notices to ensure commercial and industrial stormwater facilities are properly repaired maintained. Follow up with formal code enforcement action as necessary.
Inspect fats, oils, and grease (FOG) generating properties to ensure proper operation and maintenance of FOG-control facilities, including grease traps and interceptors.
Provide technical assistance to property owners and managers to detail design and maintenance standards and provide guidance on the repair of onsite FOG-control facilities.
Develop and send correction notices to ensure FOG-control facilities are properly repaired maintained. Follow up with formal code enforcement action as necessary.
During investigations and/or inspections, identify, record, and report all defects/deficiencies and maintenance necessary in the facility database to bring pollutant generating sources into compliance with the City's codes, standards, and requirements, as well as NPDES permit requirements.
Prepare correction letters to property owners to notify them of repairs, maintenance, or corrections necessary to bring their business or property into compliance; coordinate abatement actions as necessary.
Perform re-inspection and follow-up after maintenance corrections are made by property owners; communicate and present diverse and complex compliance violations with the City Attorney's office to recommend citations for property owners as needed.
Assess erosion/sediment control measures at commercial and industrial construction sites. Coordinate with the construction and building inspection staff to ensure erosion and sediment control measures are properly implemented.
Provide technical assistance and education and outreach to businesses owners and operators to prevent pollution from entering the stormwater system. If necessary, require operational or structural source control BMPs in order to prevent pollution from entering the stormwater system.
Respond to reports of pollution and drainage problems. Assess situations from a stormwater and environmental perspective, determine causes, and then work with property owners and other parties to resolve the problems. Identify code violations and lead or coordinate code enforcement efforts as necessary.
Utilize construction plans and specifications, easements, plat maps, covenants, technical information reports, utility billing data, Department of Revenue databases, King County Public Health databases, Arc GIS, King County Parcel viewer, Oracle, WebQA and facility sketches to verify site ownership, utility system configuration, and maintenance responsibilities.
Setup, update, and maintain the facility inspection database throughout the business inspection program and complaint process.
Utilize analytical test strips to test for pollutants; collect samples of pollutant generating sources; prepare samples for delivery to laboratories for evaluation of Water Quality; summarize laboratory sample analysis results to determine proper response and possible enforcement of code violations.
Communicate with internal City departments and personnel, private companies, engineering firms, consulting firms, contractors, and other agencies regarding business and property requirements.
Review and signoff on permit applications and attend pre-construction meetings when they pertain to pollutant generating sources. Provide input into plan reviews, construction inspections, final inspections, and walkthroughs for businesses and properties.
Attend meetings, committee meetings, seminars, conferences and training sessions to maintain current knowledge of inspection codes, regulations, standards, etc.
Evaluate, research, and provide feedback to internal departments on emerging and approved technologies, such as stormwater treatment, LID, and engineered grease traps.
Meet with the Environmental Supervisor regularly to receive and/or discuss job assignments, ongoing inspections, work schedules, and priorities.
Actively support the vision, mission, values, and goals of the department and the City.
PERIPHERAL DUTIES:
Perform related duties as assigned.
May act as a witness providing inspection documentation for hearings and other legal proceedings.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Stormwater management principals
• Pollution prevention strategies
• Chemical and hazardous materials spill response procedures
• City of Kent construction and development standards
• City, county, state, and federal codes, standards, requirements and regulations relating to Fish and Wildlife; Water Quality; Surface Water, Industrial Wastewater, Utility & Drainage; National Pollution Discharge Elimination Systems permits; and other applicable laws, codes, regulations, policies, and procedures related to inspection
• Water quality sampling techniques and methods
• City organization, operations, policies, and objectives
• Applicable health and safety regulations
• Correct English grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary as it pertains to the job
• Recordkeeping techniques
• Research and analytical methods, practices, and procedures
• Modern office practices, procedures, and equipment including personal computers and related software

SKILLED IN:

• Inspecting commercial facilities for stormwater management effectiveness and sewer pretreatment sufficiency
• Maintaining accurate records and preparing routine reports and correspondence
• Effective oral and written communication
• Using interpersonal skills effectively in a tactful, patient, and courteous manner
• Setting goals and assuring those goals are accomplished
• Remaining professional when dealing with hostile and/or irate contractors, owners and citizens
• Anticipating problems in advance of their occurrence and eliminating them when possible

ABILITY TO:

• Inspect, identify, and report defects/deficiencies of commercial stormwater systems, erosion/sedimentation measures, and corrections needed to bring items identified into compliance with City standards and regulations
• Research, review, and understand stormwater system function, ownership, and maintenance responsibility
• Work from construction plans, blue prints, site drawings, sketches, and electronic files
• Read, interpret, apply, and explain codes, rules, regulations, policies and procedures, and general business correspondence
• Effectively utilize water quality sampling techniques to collect samples from drainage facilities as required
• Understand and summarize results of the laboratory sample reports
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with other employees and the public
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action
• Be innovative, finding better ways to do the work more efficiently and effectively
• Apply common sense understanding to interpret and to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, sketch, or schedule form
• Solve practical problems and deal with a variety of situations where only limited standardization exists
• Plan, organize, and prioritize work assignments to meet schedules and timelines
• Act in fair, honest, and ethical manner
• Operate a personal computer and related software such as Microsoft Office and other applicable software programs utilized by the City, including asset management software
• Work independently with minimal direct supervision
• Understand and follow oral and written directions
• Commit to respecting and caring for employees and the public
• Effectively present information in one-on-one situations to supervisor and/or other employee of the organization and to respond to inquiries from property owners or the public
• Use proper telephone etiquette and techniques to properly assist a diverse assortment of inquiries and individuals
• Add, subtract, multiply, and divide using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals; calculate figures and amounts such as proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume; and apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry
• Thoroughly investigate a problem and the possible consequences, under strenuous pressure and timeframes
• Conduct the work of numerous projects concurrently

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
SKILLS FOR THE POSITION MAY BE GAINED THROUGH EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, RELEVANT JOB EXPERIENCE or a COMBINATION, SUCH AS:
Education: High school diploma, or equivalent, supplemented by two (2) years of post high school training in water quality protection, environmental science, or a related field; and
Experience: Two (2) years' experience in stormwater management related field; including stormwater utility inspections, environmental compliance, or other science field.
LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Valid Washington State Driver's License, or the ability to obtain within thirty (30) days of employment
• New employees must successfully pass the City's pre-employment driver's records check; successfully complete the City's Defensive Driving Course; and all employees must maintain an excellent driving record
• Valid First Aid/CPR Card, or the ability to obtain within thirty (30) days of employment
• Successfully complete the Confined Space Training as required by WAC 296-62-14511
• Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Lead, or the ability to obtain within six (6) months of employment

MACHINES, TOOLS, AND EQUIPMENT USED:
Typical business office machinery and equipment including, but not limited to, personal computers and related software such as word processing (Word) applications, telephone, cellular phone, pager, fax machine, copy machine, and calculator.
Standard and specialized hand and power machines, tools, and equipment, including but not limited to, measuring rods, electronic metal detectors, temperature sensors, water quality lab meters/test kits, and a variety of utility lid lifting devices.
The incumbent is required to operate a City vehicle to travel to and from inspection sites.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk and hear normally with or without mechanical assistance. The employee is frequently required to sit; stand; walk; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is frequently required to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 100 pounds with assistance. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision; depth perception; and the ability to adjust focus.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Work is performed in an indoor and outdoor environment, subject to driving to several different sites daily to perform inspections. While performing the duties of this position, the incumbent may be exposed to noxious odors, outside weather conditions, confined spaces, uneven terrain, different heights and depths of surfaces, moist/damp surroundings, vehicle traffic, and individuals who are irate or hostile. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate in the office and loud to very loud in the field.
The City of Kent is an Equal Opportunity Employer.