Assistant Environmental Specialist

 

Description

The Port is seeking an Assistant Environmental Specialist to support natural resources management programs. This is an entry level position in the Environmental Conservation Department and the Assistant Environmental Specialist will be responsible for assisting with a variety of environmental initiatives in San Diego Bay including project planning and implementation, monitoring efforts, permit compliance, environmental outreach efforts and project management support.

Assistant Environmental Specialist will assist with field surveys and environmental monitoring; applying for grants to support endangered and invasive species management programs and wetland restoration projects; preparing permit applications, reviewing permit applications, and ensuring permit compliance with Army Corps of Engineers and Regional Water Quality Control Board permits; coordination with and assisting other Port departments in implementing the Chula Vista Natural Resources Management Plan for the development and restoration of the Chula Vista Bayfront; implementation of the Port and Navy’s Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan; assisting with obtaining entitlements for a saltmarsh mitigation bank; assistance with meeting preparation and materials for public environmental advisory committees; assistance with managing consultant agreements and tasks; and excellent presentation, communication, and writing skills.

Assistant Environmental Specialist should be familiar with applicable environmental laws and regulations and have a background in marine or coastal watershed science and/or environmental policy; a willingness to support project management and permit compliance; and effective communication skills, both internally and with the general public, stakeholders, and resources agencies.

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GENERAL PURPOSE

Under general supervision, performs routine to moderately complex environmental field investigative and compliance work and special studies, requiring technical expertise and knowledge within areas of assigned specialty; assists in development, implementation and monitoring of assigned environmental programs, program elements or projects; enforces environmental regulations of the Port code; conducts a variety of environmental research, studies and analyses; assists in the development, review, and presentation of related reports, documents and correspondence; represents Port or department in interactions with the public, tenants, other governmental agencies, member city representatives and internal contacts; and performs related duties as assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Assistant Environmental Specialist is the entry-level professional class in the Environmental Specialist class series. Initially under direct supervision, incumbents perform the more routine assignments associated with this class series, such as sampling or survey activities. With experience and an incumbent's enhanced knowledge of legal, regulatory and policy provisions, the work becomes progressively more diversified and difficult and requires increasing independence. Incumbents may be assigned program or project responsibilities in any one or more of the Port's environmental protection program areas, including natural resources management, storm water management, watershed management, site assessment and remediation, bay water and sediment quality, climate planning, energy management, sustainability, air quality and public engagement and information.

Assistant Environmental Specialist is distinguished from Associate Environmental Specialist in that the latter class is the full working-level professional class in the Environmental Specialist class series, and incumbents in the latter class typically carry out specialized and moderately complex assignments and are independently responsible for assigned programs or program components, requiring independent judgment, initiative and decision-making.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

1. Performs environmental field investigative and compliance work and special studies, requiring technical expertise and knowledge within areas of assigned specialty; performs site assessments, field investigations, field sampling and other environmental survey and clean-up/mitigation activities; assists in conducting or conducts tenant environmental compliance investigations; collects, compiles, analyzes, summarizes and communicates data and findings and develops and recommends courses of action.

2. Coordinates with and provides information and technical assistance to other departments, tenants, agencies and organizations; responds to routine to moderately complex environmental inquiries from representatives of different Port divisions/departments and tenants; educates and informs Port staff, contractors and tenants about regulations, rules, policies, processes and procedures related to areas of responsibility; responds to requests for information regarding specific environmental activities; cooperates with and provides information to responsible enforcement agencies and other governmental agencies; represents the department in meetings with internal and outside agencies regarding program issues.

3. Develops, writes and maintains a variety of reports, documents, correspondence and records related to areas of assigned responsibility; composes and presents written technical reports; drafts correspondence to other Port departments, tenants and State and Federal regulatory agencies; maintains accurate, complete and current records.

4. Assists in development, implementation and monitoring of assigned environmental programs, program elements or projects; performs technical and administrative duties in the implementation of program activities; participates in developing program/project designs; participates in ensuring program compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and regulatory agency requirements.

5. Participates in developing and administering consultant and contractor contracts and budgets related to assigned areas of specialty; participates in coordinating and overseeing work of consultants to ensure contract terms are met; participates in monitoring work programs and schedules to ensure timely project completion; participates in reviewing invoices and identifying discrepancies.

6. May oversee, instruct, or train Interns and/or temporary staff as needed.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

1. Theory, principles, standards, practices, methods, techniques and information sources of natural resources, environmental sciences, climate planning, energy management, sustainability, and environmental management and protection.

2. Principles, theories, methods and techniques of environmental management and protection.

3. Federal, state and local laws, regulations and court decisions applicable to assigned areas of responsibility.

4. Basic principles and practices of communication.

5. Computer capabilities and standard and specialized software applicable to the work.

Ability to:

1. Collect, evaluate and interpret appropriate and applicable data, either in statistical or narrative form.

2. Understand, interpret, explain and apply federal, state, regional, and local laws, regulations, ordinances and policies applicable to assigned program responsibilities.

3. Understand, interpret and respond to internal and external customer needs and expectations.

4. Prepare clear, concise and comprehensive reports, correspondence and other documents appropriate to the audience.

5. Communicate effectively orally and in writing.

6. Maintain all required files, records and documentation.

7. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those encountered in the course of work.

8. Manage multiple projects.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education, Training and Experience:

Graduation from a four-year college or university with a major in environmental, biological, physical, chemical, or earth science or a closely related field to work being performed by the Port; and no experience in environmental program assignments required.

Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements:

A current, valid California Class C driver's license at time of appointment and maintained at all times thereafter in order to operate a vehicle on District business

Recruitment Information

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this class with reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis and depends, in part, on the specific requirements for the job, the limitations related to disability and the ability of the hiring department to accommodate the limitation.

Resolution #:2014-130
Dated: June 10, 2014

Supplemental Information

The application review process will include screening to ensure applications are complete and meet all minimum qualifications. In addition to the application, the applicant is required to complete the Supplemental Questions to further evaluate their education, training, and experience relative to the required knowledge, skills, and abilities for the position. Applicants must submit answers that are as complete as possible.

Only qualified applicants who pass the minimum qualifications review will be invited to the assessment process, which may be administered by a written examination, panel interview, or any combination of qualifications appraisal determined by the People Services Department to be appropriate. The People Services Department will make reasonable accommodations in the examination process for disabled applicants. If you have an accommodation request, please indicate such on your application.

Depending upon the number of applicants meeting the minimum qualifications, applicants may be scheduled for one or more of the assessments listed below. A passing score is 70% out of 100% on each assessment section.

THE INITIAL ASSESSMENT (50%) AND APPRAISAL PANEL (50%) ARE TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2023

To move forward in the application process, you must complete an online application through our website https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/portofsd. Resumes may be uploaded but cannot be used in place of a completed application.

Placement on Eligible List:

The Department of People Services may limit the number of qualified applicants eligible to participate in the assessment process. Candidates who are successful in all phases of the assessment process will be placed on an eligible list. The eligible list established by this recruitment will be active for a minimum of ninety (90) days or up to one (1) year, unless otherwise determined by the Director pursuant to Rule 8, Section 4.

Pre-employment Medical Requirements

Designated classifications required to submit to an employment medical examination generally include those that are physical in nature or as may be required by law. If you have any questions about the pre-employment requirements, please contact the People Services Department at (619) 686-6315.

Eligibility for Employment
You will be required to submit verification of your identity and citizenship or legal right to work in the United States at the time of and as a condition of an offer of employment.

As a condition of employment, all prospective employees may be required to be fingerprinted.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The District firmly believes in, and is committed to, the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination. It is the policy of the District to recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job classifications without regard to age (40 and above), ancestry, color, disability (mental or physical), gender (including identity, appearance, or behavior, whether or not that identity, appearance, or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person's sex at birth), marital status, medical condition, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, or veteran status.

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