Hazardous Materials Inspector I/II - Fire Department

Job Description:

Hazardous Materials Inspector I/II - Fire Department

Description

Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 employees play a key role in the success of San José, the heart of the Silicon Valley. All City of San José employees work together as one team to make San José a vibrant, innovative, and desirable place to live and work. Visit here to learn more about our One Team Leadership Values and Expectations, including quality and excellent customer service and here to learn more about San José.

The City of San José is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of San José is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at 408-535-1285, 711 (TTY) , or via email at CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov .

About the Department

The San José Fire Department's (SJFD) mission is to serve the community by protecting life, property, and the environment through prevention and response. SJFD is a high-volume, high-performance, “all hazard” fire department, responding to more than 100,000 calls for service each year from 34 Fire Stations. SJFD’s service area includes a number of high-hazard occupancies, including an international airport; a general aviation reliever airport; five major hospitals (including two trauma centers, and five emergency departments); the SAP Center, home of the NHL’s San Jose Sharks (17,500 capacity); PayPal Park, home of MLS’s San Jose Earthquakes (18,000 capacity); San José State University (the oldest public institution of higher education on the West Coast) with a student population of 33,409; three super regional malls; approximately 100 high-rise structures; and the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

For more information on the San José Fire Department (SJFD), please visit the website here.

Position Duties

The San José Fire Department is recruiting for one (1) Hazardous Materials Inspector position in the Bureau of Fire Prevention Division. Hazardous Materials Inspector perform annual inspections to verify compliance with the California Fire Code, San José Municipal Code, and applicable standards at facilities that use, store, and handle hazardous materials within San Jose. Inspectors evaluate Hazardous Materials Management Plans, closure plans, and hazardous materials system installation plans during the facility inspection process. Facility chemical inventory submittals are evaluated for chemical classification and quantity range calculations. Experienced inspectors may be assigned to participate in installation plan reviews and inspections for the Hazardous Materials Development Services group. Hazardous Materials inspectors routinely provide crossover services as required for backup and customer service needs. Inspectors are cross-trained for customer service enhancement, as needed.

Duties for this position include, but may not be limited to:

• Knowledge of principles and practices of chemistry, biology, physics, industrial hygiene, or geology as applied to the management of hazardous materials, hazardous wastes, and industrial wastes.
• Knowledge of quality assurance programs and procedures, sampling techniques, statistical analysis, laboratory equipment, and its uses.
• Knowledge of methods of inspection.
• Ability to prepare routine reports.
• Evaluation of applicable codes and standards for compliance determination
• Customer education and code enforcement regarding applicable codes and standards.
• Providing technical assistance to facilities, consultants, architects, engineers, contractors, department officers/staff, and Fire Operations staff on the application and/or interpretation of fire safety codes/regulations and on resolution of fire safety and hazardous materials issues identified in the design, construction or operations of buildings and integrated systems.
• Review and analyze hazardous materials inventory statements for chemical classification.
• Review and analyze hazardous materials management plans, construction documents, monitoring, and treatment system plans for compliance with codes and regulations.
• Assisting outside agencies and other City Departments including, Code Enforcement, Building Department, Planning Department, Public Works, and Environmental Services-Wastewater Pretreatment.
• Assist with training of staff as requested.

For more information about BFP, please click here.

Salary range for this classification is:

• Hazardous Materials Inspector I: $113,589.84 - $137,985.12 annually
• Hazardous Materials Inspector II: $125,230.56 - $152,159.28 annually

This range includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable pay. Actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates’ qualifications and experience.

Minimum Qualifications

Hazardous Materials Inspector I

• Education: A Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Environmental Chemistry, Geology, or closely related field, including 18 semester units or 24 quarters units of Chemistry.
  
• Experience: None
  
• Certifications: Possession of a valid California Driver's License is required.
  
• Medical: Respiratory exam.
  

Hazardous Materials Inspector II

• Education: A Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Environmental Chemistry, Geology, or closely related field, including 18 semester units or 24 quarters units of Chemistry.
  
• Experience: Two (2) years of increasingly responsible experience involving industrial or hazardous materials inspection, or development project plan review, permit issuance, enforcement, and explanation of laws, ordinances, and codes, and one (1) year of experience in a position comparable to the Hazardous Materials Inspector I with the City of San José.
  
• Certifications: Possession of a valid California Driver's License is required.
  
• Medical: Respiratory exam.
  

Other Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history.

• Job Expertise- Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.
  • Knowledge of principles and practices of chemistry, biology, physics, industrial hygiene, or geology as applied to the management of hazardous materials, hazardous wastes, and industrial wastes.
  • Knowledge of quality assurance programs and procedures, sampling techniques, statistical analysis, laboratory equipment, and its uses.
  • Knowledge of methods of inspection.
• Communication Skills - Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills; displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.
• Conflict Management - Uses appropriate interpersonal styles and methods to reduce tension or conflict between two or more people, by presenting the facts, analysis, and conclusions or solutions that show command of content and perspectives and interests of the audience.
• Customer Service - Demonstrates the ability to anticipate customers' needs and deliver services effectively and efficiently using professional demeanor.
• Decision Making - Identifies and understands issues, problems, and opportunities; uses effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions.
• Project Management - Ensures support for projects and implements agency goals and strategic objectives.

Selection Process:
The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. You must answer all questions to be considered or your application may be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses. Please be advised that use of AI content in your responses may result in your removal from the hiring process. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews.

You must answer all job-specific questions in order to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Angela Tea at Angela.Tea@sanjoseca.gov.

Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses. Please be advised that use of AI content in your responses may result in your removal from the hiring process.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application.

The City of San Jose offers a wide range of core health benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Disability, and Savings Plans. Please visit the City's benefits pagefor detailed information on coverage, cost, and dependent coverage.

For information on the City’s Retirement Plan(pension for full-time employees), please visit the Office of Retirement Services website. You will be able to view information based on different Sworn/Federated job classification.

In additional to the benefits above, there is an additional perks siteto explore further benefits of working for the City of San Jose like paid leave, educational reimbursements, and holiday pay are specific to the job classification and union membership.

Closing Date/Time: 10/2/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$113,589.84 - $152,159.28 Annually