Environmental Specialist (Waste Diversion and Sustainability)

Job Summary

The Operational Sustainability team focuses on waste diversion, climate action planning, and sustainability initiatives geared towards lowering greenhouse gas emissions for Travis County as an organization.

We are currently seeking a self-motivated, qualified Environmental Specialist to assist with organization-wide waste diversion initiatives, education and outreach, and event planning related to the program goals.

The Environmental Specialist will be tasked with coordinating the responsible disposal of waste materials generated by County business operations. Disposal efforts may be hands-on or in collaboration with other departments or 3rd party vendors. Waste streams could include single stream recycling, universal and household hazardous waste, metal & brush recycling, hazardous waste, and other materials as requested. This position will work closely with the program’s contract administrator when necessary to coordinate with vendors.

Other work will include on-the-ground site assessments for the purpose of relationship building and assessing department recycling needs, assistance with illegal dumping and spill response, annual TCEQ Tier II reporting, program inventory purchases and tracking, and assistance with internal education and outreach efforts, including creation of social media content. This position will also plan events related to the program’s waste diversion initiatives. The Environmental Specialist will be critical to the program’s mission of moving the County towards greener, more sustainable business practices.

Requirements will include knowledge of waste diversion methods, strong written and oral communication skills, interpersonal skills, and the ability to work with diverse groups of stakeholders. HAZWOPER certification, knowledge of climate action planning, and experience in event planning and education and outreach are preferred. The Environmental Specialist position is hybrid. There will be minimum requirements for this position to work in the field or off-site every week with some flexibility around work hours, and a mix of office work with teleworking options.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This position may support one or more of the following program areas: Hazardous materials management, hazardous waste management and cleanup, pesticide use and management, household hazardous waste and other special wastes; Solid waste management, recycling, responsible purchasing; Storm water management, erosion and sedimentation controls; Water quality monitoring, assessment, regulation, compliance and policy; Air quality monitoring, assessment regulation, compliance and policy; Land acquisition in support of endangered species protection or other natural resources program; Grant development and administration; Environmental policy and legislative analysis; and Compliance and civil enforcement across multiple program areas. This classification may require a flexible work schedule in order to meet the needs of the department.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Develops, implements, performs duties of and/or administers countywide natural resource and environmental quality programs. Includes planning, processing and evaluating projects and activities in support of the programs. Manages multiple projects and activities within authorized scope, schedule and budget.
• Coordinates efforts with contractors, department staff, other departments and agencies, the regulated community,stakeholders and the general public.Serves as departmental liaison for the designated program.
• Analyzes and interprets Federal, State and Local environmental regulations. Recommends, develops and implements procedures and projects consistent with environmental regulations. Makes recommendations on compliance to the department and the regulated community. ?
• Prepares cost estimates, plans and specifications for outside goods or services within the designated areas ofprogram specialization. Prepares requests for proposals, assists in contract negotiations with vendors, and manages approved contracts in accordance with authorized scope, schedule and budget. Develops purchase requests for required supplies and services.
• Analyzes, evaluates and presents data, maintain databases and prepares written reports. Presents findings and reports to department staff and management, other agencies, the Commissioners Court and the public.
• Conducts education and outreach to the general public by participating in information meetings, trainings, and conferences to explain issues related to the programs goals. Represents the department by working closely with groups, community members and organization representatives
• Assists in preparing and submitting grant applications for new and continued funding of programs through Federal,State, Local and County sources.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
  
  

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Policy, Technical Writing or a directly related field AND two (2) years experience in the program specialization areas listed above;

OR,

Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:

Valid Texas Driver's License.

Depending on program specialization assigned to, may require certification in one of the following designated specialty fields, such as: International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Arborist Certification, International Erosion Control Association (IECA) certification (e.g. Certified Erosion, Sediment and Storm Water Inspector, CESSWI), Pest Control Applicator License, Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Fluent in Spanish
• HAZWOPER Certified
• Understanding of climate action and sustainability initiatives
• Experience in education and outreach and event planning
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Standard theory, principles, practices and techniques of designated program and area of specialization.
• Scientific principles and techniques related the assigned area of environmental specialization.
• Federal, State, Local and County applicable environmental laws, rules, regulations and guidelines.
• Principles, practices and techiniques of project management. ?
• Research and data analysis techniques.
• Principles of data, document and records management.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages including geographic information systems.
• Technical writing, report writing and preparation, business letter writing, grammar and punctuation.
• Legislative economic, technological and industry trends applicable to the designated areas of program specialization.
  
  

Skill in:

• Use of biological monitoring, environmental assessment, and wildlife control equipment and instruments.
• Use of field techniques, equipment and instruments appropriate to the area of specialization.
• Data analysis.
• Geographic Information Systems, including the ability to:
• create maps and graphs, using GIS software and related equipment;
• compile geographic data from a variety of sources which may include censuses, field observation, satellite imagery, aerial photographs, and existing maps;
• retrieve stored maps, manage shape files and other GIS data.
• Data management techniques.
• Explaining complicated technical problems in simple non-technical language.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• Manage time well, perform and prioritize multiple tasks, organize diverse activities, develop and implement environmental research and projects.
• Meet deadlines and produce projects in a timely manner while working on several projects at once.
• Work as a team member within a diverse organization.
• Research, compile, analyze, interpret and prepare a variety of memorandums or reports.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with County employees and officials, representatives of outside agencies, and the general public.
  
  

Work Environment & Other Information

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 20-50 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to driving a 4-wheel drive vehicle, standing, walking/hiking (some rough terrain), carrying, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions. May work in extreme temperature/weather change/conditions, and smoke on prescribed or wild fires. Maybe subject to contact with dangerous machinery, fumes, communicable/infectious disease, and hazardous chemicals.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Work Hours: 8 am - 5 pm, Monday-Friday.

Location: 700 Lavaca St., Austin, TX 78701

Department: TNR (Trans & Natrl Resrc)

Criminal, Driving, Education, and Employment Background Checks Required.

For updates or questions on this position, contact: [email protected]

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.