ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST

Job Description:

ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST

Description

Description

The City of Palo Alto’s Watershed Protection Group has an exciting opening for an Environmental Specialist on its Public Education and Policy Team. We seek an energetic and resourceful individual with proven environmental compliance experience, a strong knowledge of water pollution prevention, and experience in science-based public education and outreach.

WATERSHED PROTECTION TEAM OVERVIEW:

Public Works- Watershed Protection is part of the City of Palo Alto Public Works Department-Environmental Services Division. The team is charged with protecting water quality in local creeks and the San Francisco Bay by working with industry, businesses, residents, and City operations to reduce pollutants entering surface waters by way of the sanitary sewer and storm drain systems. Public Works-Watershed Protection creates and implements innovative watershed protection projects and programs, develops policies, ordinances and public education, and ensures compliance with the Municipal Regional Stormwater Permit. In addition, the Watershed Protection team oversees the City’s programs for industrial wastewater pretreatment, recycled water, and maintains regulatory compliance for the Regional Water Quality Control Plant, a wastewater treatment plant serving Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, East Palo Alto Sanitary District, and Stanford University.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

The following are the position responsibilities for the Environmental Specialist:

• Provides outreach, education and public engagement for the Watershed Protection programs including those related to pollution prevention for stormwater and wastewater, recycled water, and sea level rise planning efforts
• Oversees consultants and contractors to prepare outreach campaigns and collateral including print, web and other material; keeps data metrics and evaluates program success
• Under direction, sets outreach goals and develops annual workplan
• Attends a selection of meetings with regional groups including Bay Area Pollution Prevention Group (BAPPG), and Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program (SCVURPPP)
• Creates and maintains Watershed Protection web content for the City website
• Leads and staffs public events, including tabling at events like Earth Day, Municipal Services Day, Rain Barrel and Rain Garden Workshops, Creek Cleanups, and tours of the wastewater treatment plant
• Under direction, ensures the City maintains compliance with select components of the City’s wastewater discharge (NPDES) permit stormwater permit and select Municipal Regional Stormwater Permit provisions
• Prepares regulatory reports in compliance with the City’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, including the Pollution Prevention Report for the wastewater treatment plant and select components of the stormwater annual report
• Oversees the City’s stormwater rebate program

IDEAL CANDIDATE:

The ideal candidate will have the following skills, knowledge, and experience:

• At least two years of experience working in the environmental field, with a focus on wastewater or stormwater
• Knowledge of stormwater pollution prevention, wastewater treatment, recycled water and sea level rise, and ability to interpret the importance of technical environmental concepts to diverse audiences
• Experience working with contractors, like professional consultants and service contractors, in a leadership role
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; Ideal writing skills include experience writing a variety of material including work proposals, technical scopes of work, regulatory reports and correspondence, web content, and public outreach material
• Experience in public education, which could include developing outreach campaigns, creating public outreach materials in various media, preparing or administering surveys, and informing and connecting with the local community via direct communication
• Ability to work effectively both independently and on a close team
• An effective collaborator: this position will require collaboration within the organization, other agencies and with the public
• Ability to work select weekends
• Bachelor’s degree in natural sciences, environmental studies, or a related field.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES (to see the full job description click here. Please note that while the position description applies to multiple positions throughout the city, this recruitment is specifically for the Environmental Specialist in the Watershed Protection Group - Public Works Department )

The Environmental Specialist will:

• Prepare designs, specifications, plans, estimates, reports, and request for proposals for projects of moderate complexity
• Develop outreach for environmental programs that meets regulatory requirements
• Assist manager of environmental control programs and project manager with environmental programs and implementation
• Assist in preparing quarterly reports and other related reports required by various regulatory agencies
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level

POSITION-SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

Positions assigned to Watershed Protection may be responsible for:

• Administering consultant contracts, writing scopes of work, preparing RFPs, evaluating and selecting consultants, reviewing consultant work, monitoring associated budgets, and ensuring compliance with established schedules.
• Coordinating with various departments, public groups and agencies on Watershed Protection and pollution prevention topics
• Outreach and public education

This position is represented by the Service Employees’ International Union (SEIU).

Essential Duties

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Prepares designs, specifications, plans, estimates, reports, and proposals for projects of moderate complexity.
• Develops design and operational procedures for environmental program that meets all requirements of various regulatory agencies having jurisdiction.
• Assists project manager for environmental programs and implementation which includes: scheduling; cost estimating; and presentation of materials for approval by department and City Manager; analysis of equipment needs; development of operational procedures and training programs for employees.
• In conjunction with other City staff, develops and explores new concepts and ideas related to environmental maintenance programs.
• Assists in preparing the Division's operating budget, quarterly reports, and other related reports required by various regulatory agencies; develops and prepares management information system to monitor and control operation.
• Assists in the coordination and review of design plans and specifications of technical staff.
• Reviews and analyzes environmental and solid waste regulations as required by regulatory agencies.

Essential Functions:

• Works with technical staff in preparing designs, writing requests for proposal and report preparation.
• Utilizes computer in administering contracts; prepares monthly progress payments, contract change orders, interpretation of project plans and specifications, coordinates final inspection and job closeout.
• Utilizes computer in monitoring the project budget including revisions, budget allocations, and assures full value received.

Related Functions:

• As assigned may perform tests and inspections of various projects.
• Acts as liaison with and controls professional services of consultants on conceptual design, working drawings, and specifications and estimates.
• Participates in consultant selection.
• Assists in managing consultant contracts. -Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills and abilities, which would typically be acquired through:

• Bachelor of Science degree in environmental sciences or equivalent, including civil engineering course work or other related curriculum. and
• Two years related experience.

Special Requirements:

• Possession of a valid California Driver's License.

Supplemental Information

The Selection Process:

• Applicants will receive recruitment status notifications via email. Governmentjobs.com account also has notification status updates.
  
• Applicants will be screened throughout the posting process and highly qualified candidates may be invited to interview at any time after the posting closes.
  
• The screening process for this position typically may include a virtual recorded interview and/or panel interviews preceding final interviews with the hiring manager or their designee.
  
  

Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday.

This position is represented by Service Employee International Union (SEIU).

Compensation (SEIU) :Comprehensive compensation plan, to learn more click HERE.

The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

See our Benefits at a Glance Bookletfor more details.
Learn more about our Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the City and its bargaining units, by clicking HERE.

Closing Date/Time: 11/12/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$122,886.40 - $150,425.60 Annually