Environmental Health Scientist

Position Summary

Perform a variety of duties involved in the development and implementation of short and long range plans, programs and special projects in the field of municipal environmental health; research and refine strategies for achieving improved environmental health standards and perform other technical assistance activities relative to assigned area of responsibility.

Job descriptions are intended to present a general list of tasks/duties performed by employees within this job classification. Job Descriptions are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

Minimum Education, Experience And Additional Requirements

Education and experience directly related to the minimum requirements below may be interchangeable on a year for year basis.

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in natural or environmental science, or engineering; and

Five (5) years experience in conducting scientific, environmental or environmental health studies.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Possession of a valid New Mexico Driver's License, or the ability to obtain by date of hire.

Possession of a City Operator's Permit (COP) within 6 months from date of hire.

Preferred Knowledge

* Federal Clean Air Act, State of New Mexico Air Quality Control Act, and Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board Regulations
* Federal Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), State of New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) Regulations,
* State of New Mexico Petroleum Storage Tank Regulations, and New Mexico Solid Waste Management Regulations
* Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Endangered Species Act
* State of New Mexico Statutes and Regulations and all local ordinances and policies pertaining to wildlife issues
* Air pollution engineering and science of air pollution problems and solutions
* Approaches and techniques to determine air emissions from various equipment and activities
* Principles of chemistry and physics
* Principles and practices of environmental engineering geology and hydrology
* Laboratory principles and methods
* Air pollution engineering, control technology and scientific principles
* Methods and techniques of air quality measurement and monitoring
* Principles and practices of groundwater monitoring
* Principles and practices of soil and groundwater remediation
* Remediation technology for soil and groundwater
* Principles of contaminant fate and transport in soils and groundwater
* Principles and practices of ambient air monitoring using EPA approved methods
* Principles and practices of scientific instrumentation, data acquisition systems, and system integration
* Principles and practices of analyzing electrical systems diagrams, and troubleshooting circuits
* Principles and practices of analyzing pneumatic systems diagrams, and troubleshooting associated circuits
* Principles of wildlife biology and behavior, especially in an urban or semi-urban environment
* Principles of wildlife and ecosystem conservation and ecology
* Biology of vector-borne and zoonotic disease agents and their transmission
* Analytical laboratory methods of analysis for contaminants in soil and groundwater
* Analytical laboratory data validation
* Methods and techniques used in conducting environmental health studies
* Methods and techniques of environmental analysis and interpretation
* Methods for monitoring, tracking, collecting, identifying and handling wildlife
* Methods and effective management strategies for controlling, excluding and managing wildlife, especially urbanized wildlife species
* Methods for investigating disease outbreaks in human and wildlife
* Occupational hazards and standard safety practices
* Principles and practices of public speaking
* Advanced report writing skills
* Environmental Health databases and software systems
* Principles of mathematics and statistics
* Advanced English grammar, spelling and punctuation

Preferred Skills & Abilities

* Develop, direct and coordinate environmental health programs in assigned areas
* Develop long range plans and goals for the department
* Conduct a variety of environmental health studies, analyze and interpret data and draw conclusions
* Operate a computer and a variety of computer programs including data bases, spread sheets and statistical programs
* Operate groundwater sampling equipment and vehicles in a safe and effective manner
* Develop groundwater monitoring well networks and strategies
* Apply Federal Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), State of New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) Regulations, State of New Mexico Petroleum Storage Tank Regulations, and New Mexico Solid Waste Management Regulations.
* Perform ground water and contaminant fate and transport studies
* Assess the feasibility of groundwater and soil remediation technologies and best management practices.
* Develop and implement soil and groundwater remediation strategies
* Recommend changes to existing environmental health policies
* Perform air quality measurement, monitoring and calculations
* Prepare air quality permits
* Write air quality permits which are in compliance with applicable air quality laws and regulations.
* Evaluate proposed air quality projects and conduct a determination on what air quality laws and regulations apply.
* Apply Clean Air Act regulations, Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board Regulations, policies, guidance and/or best professional judgment to determine appropriate, enforceable air quality permit conditions.
* Negotiate air quality permit requirements with permittee and interested parties
* Utilize resourcefulness to find and use relevant documents, information, and guidance to write air quality permits.
* Develop and write air quality permits and the supporting technical and regulatory basis
* Calculate air emission rates for various types of equipment and activities
* Develop air quality permit monitoring and reporting requirements
* Access the feasibility of air pollution control technologies and best management practices
* Identify and investigate possible routes of exposure that could lead to human or veterinary cases of plague, tularemia or similar diseases
* Safely track, monitor, identify and handle wild animals for sample collection or management purposes
* Resolve human-wildlife conflicts according to best practices and with the interests of all parties in mind
* Recognize and differentiate between wild animals existing in their natural environment and those that have become urbanized or habituated to humans; understand the risks and benefits associated with urban wildlife
* Develop and recommend strategies, policies, ordinances and guidelines pertaining to wildlife and ecosystem conservation and management, as well as conflict resolution
* Educate the public regarding public health or wildlife issues
* Maintain a current knowledge and understanding of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases, especially those commonly found in New Mexico
* Respond to requests and inquiries from the general public
* Prepare clear and concise analytical, statistical and narrative reports
* Read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications
* Work independently in the absence of supervision
* Understand and follow oral and written instructions
* Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work
* Communicate clearly and concisely
* Perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation
* Assess whether the proposed operations, emissions and emission impacts comply with relevant limitations
* Develop emission monitoring or parametric monitoring strategies that will enable a source to clearly demonstrate continuing compliance
* Identify and analyze relevant legal and regulatory requirements
* Independently review and critique air quality permit applications to reconcile chemical, thermodynamic and mechanical operations and activities with estimated emissions and projected emission impacts
* Participate in public hearings regarding proposed permits
* Perform computer modeling to quantify emission impacts to determine compliance with ambient air quality impacts
* Operate air quality sampling and monitoring equipment and ancillary systems in a safe and effective manner
* Perform air quality measurements, monitoring, and calculations
* Design, install, implement and execute air quality monitoring studies for understanding environmental conditions
* Troubleshoot, diagnose and repair environmental monitors and ancillary equipment
* Program environmental monitors and data acquisition systems
* Maintain accurate records and files
* Plan, organize and prioritize work activities to meet schedules and deadlines
* Read, analyze and interpret new and existing regulations
* Review and understand complex local, state and federal regulations