The Water Utilities Department is currently conducting a salary and compensation study to maintain standing as a regionally competitive water and wastewater employer. The results of this study may impact compensation rates during fiscal year 2024/25.

Monthly Salary Environmental Specialist I 5,609 -7,519
Environmental Specialist II 6,186 - 8,289
About Oceanside’s Water Utilities Department & Green Oceanside

The Oceanside Water Utilities Department is an innovative and forward-looking organization whose goal it is to ensure ongoing access to safe & affordable drinking water, reliable wastewater collection & treatment services, and environmental sustainability by maintaining top talent, resource resiliency, dependability, and system efficiency.

The City of Oceanside is accepting applications for the position of Environmental Specialist Grades I & II in the Solid Waste and Recycling (Zero Waste) Program. This program is a part of the City’s innovative Green Oceanside environmental division. There is currently one vacancy available, the position will be filled at either an Environmental Specialist I or an Environmental Specialist II.

About the position

Green Oceanside is seeking an environmentally-focused problem solver who is motivated to run the day-to-day programs within this dynamic group in the increasingly regulated zero waste industry. The ideal candidate is someone who can exercise creative initiative, implement solutions to complex problem-solving and communicate with the public in an outreach-centric role. The Environmental Specialist I is intended for entry level applicants with at least six months of experience and a degree in a related field, while Grade II applicants should additionally have at least two years of related work experience.

You should be excited about this opportunity because you will…

Incrementally work towards the city’s long-term Zero Waste objectives
Promote solid waste & recycling/zero waste programs & strategies to City staff, local stakeholders, and residents
Affect change in official city policy by assisting the preparation of memos, staff reports, agreements and documentation for a variety of solid waste & recycling services
Be part of a team who is passionate about solid waste sustainability & opportunities
Provide public-facing customer service to garner support for solid waste & recycling goals, regulations & objectives
Provide service information and regulatory enforcement for Oceanside’s many Solid Waste customers

We will also rely on you for…

Remaining current on new developments in the field of solid waste and recycling, zero waste, utilities, and public works; and partaking in contract administration and enforcement actions.

If this sounds like you, keep reading!

Educates residents, multifamily tenants and property owners, visitors, businesses and the public on solid waste and recycling practices, zero waste principles and applicable regulations, and coordinates enforcement actions when necessary; develops, implements monitors and analyzes citizen participation programs and community environmental education and outreach content for various platforms including webpages, social media, brochures, magazines and flyers; plans and conducts environmentally-focused community events and public workshops; remains informed on federal and state solid waste and recycling legislation and regulations, works with customers, stakeholders and City staff to resolve questions, problems and complaints related to environmental compliance; provides training on environmental programs and regulations; performs solid waste and recycling programming with increasingly independent authority, with an emphasis on guidance for zero waste, waste reduction, food recovery, recycling, composting and disposal best management practices; provides information and assistance on environmental ordinances and policies to customers, businesses and the development community; assists with ordinance development as needed to comply with State and Federal regulations and implement the Zero Waste and SB1383 Compliance Plan; participates in permitting and implementation processes as they relate to solid waste and recycling, regulatory compliance, and the City’s Zero Waste Plan and SB 1383 Compliance Plan; contract administration; applies for and administers grants for environmental improvement, regulatory compliance and educational projects; prepares State-mandated reports involving analysis and interpretation of technical data, creating charts and databases and report writing; conducts public speaking when necessary; deals with the public tactfully to maintain cooperative relations with those contacted in the course of duties; effectively utilizes software/computer applications to fulfill duties of the position, e.g., word processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation applications; communicates clearly, concisely and effectively, both orally and in writing; may be called upon to speak at various City and intergovernmental committees, commissions and City Council meetings; understands and carries out oral and written instructions.

ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST I

Knowledge of:

Data management, organization and analysis methods;
Modern principles and practices of environmental policy, environmental studies, sustainability, zero waste, solid waste, recycling, organics management, and public administration;
Principles and practices of zero waste, solid waste and recycling laws and legal terminology;
Principles and practices of public relations, communications and customer service;
Applicable state and federal laws

Ability to:

Learn and perform environmental monitoring and tracking methods and field analyses to detect, characterize and resolve compliance issues with applicable solid waste and recycling laws, programs and services;
Learn proper use of monitoring, administration and reporting systems commonly used to collect environmental compliance data related to waste and recycling laws;
Conduct research and prepare complete and accurate analyses, reports and recommendations on a variety of environmental issues;
Design and implement large-scale environmental outreach projects including solid waste, recycling and organics service roll-outs, social media campaigns and public workshops;
Utilize computer systems to enter, analyze, present and retrieve data;
Interpret and apply applicable codes and ordinances;
Exercise sound judgment and common sense;
Learn to apply procedures, techniques, and interpret and make decisions related to job duties;
Communicate clearly, concisely and effectively, both orally and in writing;
Understand and carry out oral and written instructions;
Read, understand, interpret and apply laws, policies, rules, contracts, guidelines and professional practices;
Establish and maintain cooperative relations with those contacted in the course of work;
Speak clearly and effectively before diverse audiences and groups and work collaboratively with both internal and external stakeholders, contractors, and the public.

Experience and Training

Experience: Six months of experience in environmental policy, environmental outreach, natural resource management, communications, public administration or a related field.

Experience with solid waste, recycling, organics management, sustainability, food recovery and food systems, communications, community planning, project management, or any other combination of environmental compliance or public administration experience is highly desirable.

Training: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in environmental policy; public policy; environmental studies; data management, resource management; public administration or a related field.

License/Certificates:

Possession of, or ability to obtain and maintain, an appropriate, valid California driver’s license.

ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST II

Knowledge of:

Advanced knowledge of solid waste and recycling best management practices;
Advanced knowledge of planning, development and oversight for solid waste, recycling, organics, zero waste, and environmental services, programs and outreach;
Advanced knowledge of research methods, statistical data analysis and report preparation;
Advanced knowledge of key developing State and Federal environmental legislation and regulations;
Advanced coordination with consultants, intergovernmental agencies and/or stakeholders;

Ability to:

Develop and implement community outreach and engagement programs promoting zero waste principles, practices, and requirements through the Green Oceanside campaign;
Plan, schedule and organize mandatory compliance workloads with a high degree of independence of action;
Conduct research and prepare complete and accurate analyses, reports and recommendations on a variety of issues;
Prepare clear and concise oral and written reports, both narrative and statistical;
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of City staff, other governmental agencies, and the general public;
Prepare clear, concise and decisive analyses and reports as required for review by executive City staff, committees, commissions and the City Council;
Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the diversity of the community.

Experience and Training

Experience: Two years of increasingly responsible experience in environmental policy, environmental outreach, natural resource management, communications, public administration or a related field.

Experience with solid waste, recycling, organics management, sustainability, food recovery and food systems, communications, community planning, project management, public administration or any other combination of environmental compliance or public administration experience is highly desirable.

Training: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in public policy, data management, communications, environmental policy; environmental studies; resource management; public administration or a related field.

License/Certificates:

Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid California driver’s license. Depending on assignment, the Environmental Specialist II position highly desires the possession of or the ability to obtain, within one year of date of hire, one of the following certifications:

Solid Waste Association of North America Certification, OR
California Resource and Recovery Certification – Zero Waste Principles and Practices, OR
National Registry of Environmental Professionals Certification

Environmental Conditions: Office and field environment; travel from site to site; extensive public contact; exposure to noise, dust, grease, smoke, fumes, gases, electrical energy, radiant energy, toxic materials, and inclement weather conditions; work in or with water and wastewater.
Physical Conditions: Essential functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for walking, standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time; exposure to computer screens, speaking and hearing to exchange information; visual acuity to read and interpret specifications and regulations.

Selection Process: All applications will be reviewed and the most appropriately qualified individuals will be invited to continue in the selection process. The process may include any combination of written examination, oral board examination, and/or skills assessment to further evaluate job-related qualifications. Candidates who successfully complete the examination process will be placed on the eligibility list and will remain eligible for employment consideration for a minimum of six months.

Note: Prospective employees will undergo, and must successfully pass, a background reference check (including fingerprinting) and a medical examination. Drug screening may be required.

RESUMES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED IN LIEU OF COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS BUT MAY BE ATTACHED.

CANDIDATES WHO REQUIRE A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION IN THE SELECTION PROCESS SHOULD STATE THEIR NEEDS IN WRITING WHEN SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION.

THE PROVISIONS OF THIS BULLETIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED CONTRACT. ANY PROVISION CONTAINED IN THIS BULLETIN MAY BE MODIFIED OR REVOKED WITHOUT NOTICE. #J-18808-Ljbffr

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