(Closed)City of Sunnyvale, CA
Environmental Compliance Inspector
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- Sunnyvale, California
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- Sunnyvale, California
About
Location : Sunnyvale, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 25-00049
Department: Environmental Services
Division: Regulatory Program
Opening Date: 05/19/2025
Closing Date: 6/16/2025 5:00 PM Pacific
Description
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE INSPECTOR
(1) Regular Full-Time Employment Opportunity
The final filing date is Monday, June 16, 2025 by 5:00 pm.
The Environmental Services Department is currently looking to hire ONE regular full-time Environmental Compliance Inspector. The list established from this recruitment may be used to fill future Environmental Compliance Inspector vacancies as a regular or term-limited position.
The Environmental Services Department provides comprehensive and innovative environmental utility services for Sunnyvale's residents and businesses, and facilitates initiatives to achieve the City's sustainability objectives. The department brings together technical, operational, and administrative professional disciplines to form its dedicated and dynamic team.
These programs help protect our waterways and the San Francisco Bay by ensuring that businesses and residents are implementing best management practices to prevent water pollution and are in compliance with Federal and local water quality regulations. Environmental Compliance Inspectors work closely with a wide variety of businesses to ensure that the composition of their wastewater is in compliance with City requirements and does not compromise the integrity of the City's Water Pollution Control Plant or the sewer collection system. Such businesses range from aerospace and semiconductor manufacturers to dental offices and restaurants. The inspection team is also advancing multiple stormwater initiatives such as trash reduction and controls for pollutants of concern such as mercury and PCBs.
Under general direction, performs journey level inspection and enforcement activities on industrial, commercial, and residential discharges to the sewage and storm drain system for compliance with codes and laws regulating waste processes; and does other related work, as required.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
The Environmental Compliance Inspector is the journey level classification in the Environmental Compliance Inspector series and is expected to interpret regulations and initiate appropriate enforcement action after identifying noncompliance with local, state, or federal requirements. Incumbents perform the full range of inspection, sampling, monitoring and enforcement activities. This position is distinguished from that of Senior Environmental Compliance Inspector, which is a lead position and provides technical guidance and coordination to Environmental Compliance Inspectors and performs the more complex technical regulatory work.
Essential Job Functions
(May include, but are not limited to, the following):
- Performs inspections and sampling of industrial, commercial, and residential sources of discharges to the wastewater and storm drain systems.
- Inspects facility wastewater-generating processes and wastewater treatment equipment.
- Inspects non-point sources and responds to complaints of illegal discharges or connections to stormwater collection system per federal, state and local requirements.
- Reviews building plans and performs post-construction inspections of applicable new and redevelopment projects' Best Management Practices (BMP) for stormwater treatment and flow control to meet local Stormwater Permit and Sunnyvale Municipal Code requirements.
- Reviews, and evaluates various technical reports submitted by industrial facilities in order to determine discharge compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
- Installs, calibrates and monitors sampling equipment such as, field flow and data collection devises to ensure proper functioning; conducts sampling according to established and/or regulatory protocol and procedures.
- Performs technical calculations to derive accurate and defensible pollutant limits.
- Reviews and approves industrial and commercial discharge permit applications and issues appropriate permits.
- Issues orders to enforce the provisions of industrial waste permits, ordinances, program's enforcement response plan and any other applicable rules and regulations.
- Reviews and approves applications and issues permits for discharge of groundwater to sanitary collection system.
- Resolves problems between City, industries and other relevant parties related to industrial, commercial and residential wastewater or stormwater discharges; answers inquiries and provides information to the public.
- Evaluates laboratory reports and gathers evidence for legal actions.
- Prepares detailed written and oral reports of inspections and related correspondence; prepares annual reports; monitors submission of compliance reports from categorical industries.
- Updates and maintains permit and inspection files and databases.
Position requires sitting, standing, walking on level, uneven and slippery surfaces, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, stooping, squatting, crouching, grasping and making repetitive hand movements in the performance of daily duties. Acute hearing is required in both the field and the office. Near vision is required when reading plans, written reports and other documents, and far vision is required when inspecting work sites. The need to lift, carry and push equipment and full sample containers weighing up to 50 pounds is also required. The job duties expose the incumbent to the outdoors, which may include exposure to chemicals; hazardous materials, skin irritants, fumes, solvents, and air contaminate aerosols from wastewater. Sampling laboratory sanitation and personal hygiene procedures require incumbent to frequently wash his/her hands. The nature of the work may also require the incumbent to drive motorized vehicles and work in heavy traffic conditions. Some of these requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodation.
Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience
The minimum qualifications for education and experience can be met in the following way:
A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in chemistry, biology, microbiology, environmental science, environmental or chemical engineering, AND
One year of increasingly responsible experience in the collection and analysis of industrial or other wastewater/water samples, or one year of increasingly responsible experience in conducting environmental or regulatory inspections.
Knowledge and Abilities:
Knowledge of:
- Biological, chemical and physical wastewater treatment processes.
- Modern principles and practices of chemistry, biology, or microbiology and basic fluid dynamic analysis as applied to domestic, industrial and commercial wastewater streams.
- Methods of detection of hazardous or detrimental wastewater contaminants or conditions, and effects on treatment plants and collection systems.
- Inspection, sampling and flow measurement procedures as they relate to industrial and commercial wastewater discharges and/or their pretreatment facilities and stormwater systems.
- Operation and maintenance of equipment used for monitoring industrial and commercial waste discharge and stormwater flows.
- Methods and procedures to monitor compliance with regulations, codes, and laws.
- National, state, regional and local regulatory waste and stormwater rules, regulations and practices as they apply to the City's industrial pretreatment program.
- Procedures associated with hazardous materials clean-up and appropriate safety precautions.
- Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP) for physical treatment, chemical or biological pollutant reduction, and/or other mandated control of stormwater flows.
- Office methods, procedures, software and equipment.
- Safely work in, with, and around wastewater, industrial wastes, and hazardous substances.
- Work in the immediate vicinity of laboratory chemicals and reactive agents used to analyze suspected industrial wastes.
- Interpret and apply Federal, State, and local rules, regulations and standards relative to wastewater and stormwater systems.
- Travel to remote sites within the City to conduct inspections of discharges of suspected hazardous materials.
- Work well under pressure and meet multiple deadlines.
- Tactfully communicate the objectives of the industrial wastewater and stormwater pollution prevention and source control programs to representatives of commercial, industrial facilities and residential communities.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
- Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; maintain accurate records and reports and prepare clear and concise correspondence.
- Obtain, compile, and evaluate information on industries regarding wastewater discharges, using computers, handheld devices and software programs.
- Work in the field without the need for close supervision.
- Work in a manner consistent with safety policies.
- Use computerized data systems.
- Operate a computer using word processing and business software and other office equipment.
Licenses/Certificates
Possession at time of hire and continued maintenance of a valid Class C California driver's license and a safe driving record.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
A California Water Environment Association Grade I Environmental Compliance Inspector Certificate is desirable.
Application and Selection Process
If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit a City of Sunnyvale employment application and responses to the supplemental questions to the Department of Human Resources no later than 5:00 pm on Monday, June 16, 2025. Candidates are asked to fully describe any training, education, experience, or skills relevant to this position. Electronic applications may be submitted on-line through the City's employment page at and click on JOBS. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
EXAM PROCESS
Applications will be competitively screened based on the minimum qualifications of this position. Based upon a review of the application materials, the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in the examination process, which may consist of an oral examination scheduled for Tuesday, July 1, 2025 (Note: The examination process may be changed as deemed necessary by the Director of Human Resources).
SELECTION PROCESS
Those candidates that receive a passing score on the examination will be placed on an eligibility list for up to one year, in accordance with the City's Civil Service Rules and Administrative Policies. Top candidates on the eligibility list will be invited to participate in a selection interview with the Environmental Services Department tentatively scheduled for the week of July 14, 2025.
Any candidate selected by the hiring department will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment process, which may consist of a comprehensive background investigation, as well as medical exam(s) administered by a City-selected physician(s) before hire. Prior to starting work, all newly-hired employees will be fingerprinted to check conviction history. A conviction history will not necessarily disqualify an applicant from appointment; however, failure to disclose conviction history will result in refusal of employment or termination.
INFORMATION ABOUT PROOF OF EDUCATION
Any successful candidate selected by the hiring department will be required to submit proof of education (i.e., original copy of the diploma or college/university transcripts).
Any successful candidate selected by the hiring department will be required to submit proof of education (i.e., copy of the diploma or college/university transcripts). An applicant with a college degree obtained outside the United States must have education records evaluated by a credential evaluation service at the candidate's expense. Candidates may utilize any third-party agency for the evaluation. If you search 'education equivalency verification' or similar online, you will obtain results for agencies that provide this evaluation service. A conditional job offer cannot be made until the education has been evaluated and submitted to the Department of Human Resources.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Summary of Sunnyvale's Employees Association (For Full Time Positions)
For assistance on how to fill out your job application, watch the following video:
- - YouTube (5:13)
The information contained within this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.
The City of Sunnyvale is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the City of Sunnyvale not to discriminate against all qualified applicants or employees on the basis of actual or perceived race, religion (including religious dress or grooming practice), color, sex (includes gender, pregnancy, childbirth, medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, breastfeeding or medical conditions related to breastfeeding), gender identity and/or gender expression, sexual orientation (including heterosexuality, homosexuality and bisexuality), ethnic or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, uniformed service member status, marital status, family relationship, age, cancer or HIV/AIDS related medical condition, genetic characteristics and/or genetic information, and physical or mental disability. Applicants needing special accommodations for testing should submit a request to the Department of Human Resources at time of application.
Summary of Sunnyvale's Employees Association
(California Family Rights Act) Rights and Obligations
01
Instructions for completing the supplemental questionnaire:
This supplemental questionnaire will be a primary tool in the evaluation of your qualifications for this position. The supplemental information that you provide will be evaluated along with your completed application. Please limit your response to one page per question. In answering the question(s), be as specific as you can. Some questions may include multiple parts (i.e., (a), (b), (c), (d), etc.). Please make sure to address each part of each question in the supplemental questionnaire below.
Please be advised that you will be 'timed out' of this page after 30 minutes. Therefore, it is best to copy the supplemental questions that require text answers from this page into a document that you can save on your computer, produce your responses in that document, and then copy and paste the responses into the space provided below. Additionally, please save your work continuously.
The completed application and responses to supplemental questions constitute an examination. Note: qualifying experience must be reflected on the education, work experience, Certificates/Licenses section of the job application form. Please note the information provided in the supplemental question will not be accepted in lieu of completing the work experience section of the application.
Resumes may be attached, but they will not be accepted in lieu of completing the work experience section of the application or the supplemental questions. The information you provide will be used to further identify those applicants who are best qualified to continue in the selection process for this position.
Your responses to the questions that require you to detail your background and experience should include the following information:*
- The number of years of experience you have had performing the duties that you are describing;
- The name(s) and type(s) of organization(s) where you obtained such experience; and,
- Your role and specific responsibilities within the organization(s).
Additionally, I certify that I have completed the following supplemental questionnaire on my own; the answers accurately reflect my training, education and experience; and, I understand that my responses are subject to verification.
- Yes
- No
02
Do you have a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in chemistry, biology, microbiology, environmental science, environmental or chemical engineering?
- Yes
- No
03
Do you have at least one year of increasingly responsible experience in the collection and analysis of industrial or other wastewater/water samples, or one year of increasingly responsible experience in conducting environmental or regulatory inspections?Please note: "Increasing responsibility" could be further defined as, but not limited to, the following: Taking responsibility and ownership of key tasks or projects within the position; expressing initiative to take on projects that would provide a learning opportunity and new knowledge, skills and abilities pertinent to the current position; and becoming a subject matter expert in the assigned area.
- Yes
- No
04
Please describe your increasingly responsible experience (at least one year or more) in the collection and analysis of industrial or other wastewater/water samples, or one year of increasingly responsible experience in conducting environmental or regulatory inspections, as defined in the question above. If you answered 'No' to question #3, please enter 'N/A' in the space below.
05
Please describe your experience applying federal, state, and local regulations and Enforcement Response Plans to determine compliance and issue enforcement actions. If you do not have this experience, please enter 'N/A' in the space below.
06
Please describe your knowledge and experience in inspecting facilities for stormwater and/or wastewater regulations. If you do not have this experience, please enter 'N/A' in the space below.
07
Please describe your work experience with data systems or tools to evaluate compliance and/or manage inspection workload activities such as sampling, inspection, and enforcement. If you do not have this experience, please enter 'N/A' in the space below.
08
A valid California Class C driver's license is required for this position at time of appointment. Do you possess a valid California Class C driver's license with a safe driving record?
- Yes
- No
09
Please select which Environmental Compliance Inspector position(s) you would like to be considered for:
- Regular Full-Time Positions Only
- Term-Limited Full-Time Positions Only
- Both - Regular and Term-Limited Full-Time Positions
Required Question
Nice-to-have skills
- Chemistry
Work experience
- Administrative
Languages
- English