Environmental Specialist

About us:

Public awareness is one of the most important components to the City's stormwater program. To help us spread the stormwater knowledge the City joined Stormwater SMART, a cooperative partnership of counties and other municipalities in the Piedmont region with the goal of providing education and outreach concerning stormwater, water quality and conservation issues.

Stormwater SMART is governed by a Steering Committee, on which the City sits, that is composed of representatives from each county or municipal partner. The Steering Committee helps guide Stormwater SMART staff members in targeting audiences and events for environmental education programs each year.

This role involves technical field inspections and office work to ensure compliance with watershed protection and stormwater management regulations under NPDES and NCDEQ guidelines. Responsibilities include enforcing stormwater and watershed ordinances, maintaining databases of stormwater facilities, and educating stakeholders on pollution prevention. Key tasks include inspecting stormwater discharge points and control measures, monitoring water quality, detecting illicit discharges, and identifying pollution sources using GIS and analytical methods.

The position also involves enforcing code violations, preparing reports, and supporting pollution prevention initiatives.

• Champion of Compliance: Enforces state and local stormwater and watershed ordinances with precision and care.
• Inspector Extraordinaire: Examines SCMs like detention ponds, gutters, piping, and ditches; conducts water quality tests and identifies illicit discharges.
• Pollution Detective: Analyzes monitoring results with GIS tools, identifies pollution sources, collects evidence, and initiates enforcement actions.
• Plan Reviewer & Field Expert: Reviews watershed control plans, inspects worksites, advises on methods, and ensures safety and code compliance.
• Technical Advisor: Guides developers, contractors, and community members on watershed control, stormwater drainage, and flooding solutions.
• Educator & Advocate: Leads educational presentations, resolves resident concerns, and explains stormwater challenges like flooding and erosion.
• Mapping Maven: Maintains inventories of maps, engineering drawings, and databases to track outfalls, monitoring, and stormwater facilities.
• Project Manager: Oversees upgrades, retrofits, and maintenance of stormwater systems and devices such as bio-retention cells and cisterns.
• Program Leader: Coordinates storm drainage cost-share programs and ensures successful construction of City stormwater structures.
• Data Storyteller: Compiles comprehensive divisional reports showcasing work accomplishments and stormwater management progress.
• Multitasking Expert: Performs a variety of duties to keep the City's stormwater systems flowing smoothly and sustainably.

• Mapping Mastery: Expert in reading topographic maps, interpreting grading plans, and understanding storm drainage systems.
• Code Keeper: Thorough knowledge of development ordinances, NPDES requirements, and watershed/stormwater regulations at all levels.
• Engineering Expertise: Skilled in applying engineering concepts and utilizing GIS for innovative stormwater management solutions.
• Tech Savvy: Proficient with software for reports, forms, mapping, and maintaining databases for runoff control maintenance.
• Public Relations Pro: Communicates tactfully with the public, contractors, officials, and colleagues to resolve concerns and foster collaboration.
• Tools of the Trade: Skilled with planimeters for measuring, GPS for field mapping, and surveying equipment for determining elevations.
• Decision-Maker: Confident in making independent decisions tailored to diverse situations and challenges.
• Collaborative Connector: Builds strong relationships with the community, water resource professionals, and City employees for seamless teamwork.

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, engineering, biology, chemistry or other related field and some work experience in the field of stormwater management in the municipal setting, or an equivalent combination…