Junior​/Assistant Environmental Specialist

ALL APPLICANTS MUST UPLOAD A COPY OF THEIR OFFICIAL AND/OR UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS OF THEIR COMPLETED DEGREE AT AN ACCREDITED COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY.

The County of Riverside’s Flood Control and Water Conservation District has an exciting opportunity for a Junior/Assistant Environmental Specialist for the Flood Control District’s Watershed Protection Division in Riverside, CA.

The Associate Environmental Specialist will be responsible in the development and implementation of regulatory compliance strategies for the County of Riverside’s Watershed Protection Division. They will be required to manage National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits governing construction, operation, and management of stormwater infrastructure. This role requires incumbents to manage all aspects of compliance standards, such as coordination, management practices, reporting, evaluation, analysis, and implementation of stormwater compliance programs.

The most ideal candidate will have excellent communication skills, prior stormwater and public works consultation experience within a public agency, experience in preparing high‑quality scientific and technical reports regarding municipal NPDES Stormwater Permits and California’s regulatory programs for water quality protection, and experience in the development of programs and projects protecting Riverside County’s creeks, streams, rivers, and lakes.

Candidates certified as a Certified Professional in Stormwater Quality (CPSWQ), Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC), or Qualified Stormwater Pollution Prevention Practitioner (QSP/SQP) are highly desired and strongly encouraged to apply.

Positions assigned to the Watershed Protection Division ensure the District’s compliance with environmental laws and regulations governing construction, operation, and maintenance of stormwater management infrastructure. Incumbents apply technical expertise related to the Clean Water Act Section 402, the Porter‑Cologne Water Quality Control Act, and related state and federal water quality regulations. Incumbents in this track support three Areawide Phase I Municipal National Pollution Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) Stormwater Programs, develop and implement regional compliance strategies, conduct water quality monitoring and research, and support stakeholder engagement efforts.

• Utilize technical knowledge of state and federal environmental laws, regulations, and stormwater management principles to support the construction, operations, and maintenance of municipal storm drain infrastructure.
• Evaluate regulatory requirements and initiatives to develop compliance strategies that safeguard Riverside County’s streams, creeks, lakes, and rivers.
• Draft and review policy documents, program guidance, and technical studies in support of NPDES.
• Engage in technical advisory committees, stakeholder meetings, water quality task forces, and public meetings as necessary.
• Contribute to rule making processes and negotiations related to NPDES permit adoption and Basin Plan updates.
• Develop requests for proposals (RFPs) and review and compare consultant scopes of work, budgets, and schedules; assist in consultant selection.
• Support staff training and development to meet the District’s stormwater management objectives.
• Conduct field investigations and collect environmental samples (biotic, inorganic, and organic) from flood control channels, waterways, and storm drains; perform routine analyses of water, soils, sediments, and groundwater.
• Research and perform statistical analyses of environmental data; assess findings against environmental quality objectives and recommend management actions.
• Oversee and maintain environmental data systems, including hydrologic, water quality, meteorological, and geospatial data; assist with Geographic Information System (GIS) analyses as needed.
• Evaluate stormwater quality management programs and projects for feasibility, funding opportunities, system impacts, and environmental documentation needs.
• Utilize Microsoft Office and ESRI GIS software applications in daily work activities.

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