Environmental Scientist

Environmental Scientist

The Environmental Scientist position at the City of Tucson's Water Department provides environmental compliance support to achieve, maintain, and monitor water, soil, and air compliance with federal, state, and county regulations and permits that protect the environment and surrounding community. This position includes scheduling compliance and discretionary sampling, conducting field investigations, tracking compliance data and reporting, analyzing data to assess hazards and impacts, while working closely with Water Quality and Operations and the Tucson Water Quality Laboratory.

Work is performed under the supervision of the Water Program Superintendent. This position may supervise.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Corresponds frequently with regulatory agencies such as Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Coordinates assigned work plans to ensure timely responses to the needs of the City, community, department, and unit, while ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal regulations and requirements. Prepares and updates regulatory plans, including the Facility Emergency Response Plan (FERP), Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), Microbiological Sampling Site Plan (MSSP), Disinfection By-Products (DBP) Plan, Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) Sample Plans, and Groundwater Representative Monitoring Plan (GRMP).
• Identifies and tracks new or changing water, soil, and air regulations, advises the organization on impacts and concerns. Participates in regulatory development and ensures compliance with applicable environmental laws, regulations, rules, and standards, such as the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (DBPR), Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR), Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR), Ground Water Rule (GWR), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER).
• Determines workload priorities, monitors resources and timelines, tracks progress, recommends changes, and writes, reviews, and edits reports. Prepares and updates regulatory forms and deliverables for ADEQ, EPA, PDEQ, and ADWR, including compliance monitoring, hazardous materials reporting, discharge monitoring, hazardous waste reporting, permit notifications, and drinking water analyses.
• Implements the Hazardous Waste Exclusion Program by developing procedures, reviewing waste streams and laboratory methods, researching regulations and chemistry, and assisting waste generators with disposal issues. Monitors hazardous waste, reviews compliance reports, maintains databases, tracks reporting requirements, and coordinates responses to compliance violations.
• Attends required training and professional development courses. Performs field work, including water, soil, and waste sampling, conducts well site investigations, and participation in Sanitary Surveys and Air Quality Audits. Attends well site commissioning meetings. Provides customer service by responding to information requests, conducting research, resolving issues, preparing reports, reviewing and tracking Water Quality data, and assisting with special projects and related duties.
• Completes permit applications and renewals, monitors environmental permits, resolves discrepancies, inspects facilities for compliance, and ensures adherence to permit terms and pollution monitoring requirements, including AZPDES, APP, IWC, Air Quality, Hazardous Waste, and DMGP permits.
• Assists with implementing, evaluating, and interpreting department policies, projects, and procedures. Prepares and updates internal compliance documents, reports, schedules, memorandums, spreadsheets, and SOPs, and attends WQO Well Status Report meetings.
• Reviews and approves timecards, time-off requests and personnel actions for staff. Monitors employee workload and allocate resources effectively to meet operational needs. Conducts performance evaluations and provides ongoing coaching and feedback.
• Performs all other duties and tasks as assigned.

Working Conditions

Mostly office environment. Some exposure to light physical or environmental conditions (noise, dust, weather, etc.)

Education:

Bachelor's degree

Experience:

Three (3) years of relevant experience

Equivalency:
Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis. A valid and unrestricted driver's license with two (2) years of licensed driving is required

Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Environmental Science, Geology, Hydrology, or a closely related field.

Experience in:
Environmental regulatory compliance and remediation. Drinking water or related compliance programs. Surface water or groundwater resource work. Community water or…