Senior Hazardous Materials Specialist

Overview

Under direction leads staff and performs complex inspections and investigations in the enforcement of hazardous materials/waste laws and ordinances.

This recruitment is for positions working in the County’s Hazardous Materials Program, which is authorized by the California Environmental Protection Agency to operate as a Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA), and the County’s Site Mitigation Program, which is certified under State law to implement a Local Oversight Program (LOP) and operate as a Local Oversight Agency. Both programs are located within the Department of Environmental Health’s Hazardous Materials Compliance Division.

Candidates selected for positions in either program must have the ability to climb ladders, scaffolding, or trenches, or crawl, if necessary, while performing investigations or field inspections. Candidates selected for positions in the Hazardous Materials Program will be required to obtain an International Code Council certification as a California Underground Storage Tank Inspector within 180 days of hire or placement into the position.

• Performs lead duties, such as assigning, distributing, and adjusting workloads, reviewing work of staff and interpreting departmental policies, procedures and practices;
• Helps resolve issues among staff;
• Takes disciplinary actions up to and including written counseling;
• Assists management in the development of budgets for programs;
• Oversees household and small business hazardous waste disposal programs and directs technicians and contract personnel in their duties;
• Inspects establishments and properties for compliance with hazardous materials/waste laws and regulations and applicable Federal, State and Local laws and regulations;
• Assists in the development of programs and implements those programs;
• Enforces compliance of hazardous materials/waste laws, regulations, ordinances and codes and assists/advises regulated facilities to bring them in compliance with hazardous materials/waste laws, regulations, ordinances and codes;
• Issues citations to facilities that are not in compliance;
• Performs construction and alteration plan check reviews for hazardous materials storage facilities and tank systems. Makes necessary contacts with property owners, contractors and consultants and coordinates with County/city departments to determine compliance with State laws and regulation and local codes and ordinances;
• Performs architectural and site approval (ASA) reviews and/or Hazardous Materials Clearance reviews. Coordinates information with County's land use committee and various county departments such as planning, building and zoning;
• Audits the implementation by local jurisdictions of Unified Program elements and recommends modifications as required by law;
• Conducts field inspections and reviews documents for compliance with California's Underground Storage Tank (UST) law and regulations;
• Reviews facility plans and conducts inspections for compliance with applicable laws and ordinances for hazardous materials/waste onsite;
• Conducts the more complex investigations of illegal dumping and unauthorized releases of hazardous materials including major or repeated violations and clandestine drug laboratories. Duties may include providing oversight and direction to contractors for cleanup of sites;
• Gathers information on prior inspections and investigations using departmental database and files and reviews this information to understand certifications of compliance or resolution of outstanding issues;
• Collects samples and maintains chain of custody of suspected hazardous wastes to determine if there have been unauthorized releases, spills or leaks;
• Interviews witnesses, assists in the collection of evidence and prepares reports of findings concerning spills and prepares material for use in legal actions, coordinates with the District Attorney's Office on actions;
• Appears in court as an expert witness to provide testimony in cases of criminal complaints and civil suits involving hazardous materials/waste;
• Prepares clear professional reports, memoranda, business correspondence, and other documentation including reports of findings concerning…