Regulatory Compliance Specialist

General Description

Irvine Ranch Water District is currently accepting applications for a Regulatory Compliance Specialistin our Regulatory Compliance Department.

The District

Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) is a progressive, values-driven agency, with an international reputation for its leading-edge financial management practices, water recycling program, water use efficiency practices, water banking, urban runoff treatment, and energy generation and storage. Established in 1961 as a California Water District under the provisions of the California Water Code, IRWD is an independent special district serving central Orange County. IRWD provides high-quality drinking water, reliable sewage collection and treatment, ground-breaking recycled water programs, and environmentally sound urban runoff treatment to its customers. As an independent, not-for-profit public agency, IRWD is governed by a publicly elected five-member Board of Directors. The Board is responsible for the District's policies and decision-making. Day-to-day operations are supervised by the General Manager. Additional information can be found at the District's website: www.IRWD.com.

The Position

Under general supervision, perform various routine and special sampling and analyses of potable water treatment, storage and distribution systems, wastewater treatment systems, and reclaimed water storage and distribution systems according to approved methodologies. Access complex facilities including water, wastewater, biosolids, and recycled water treatment and distribution processes; interface with the Water Quality Team to determine sampling needs and drop off collected samples; use and maintain sampling and monitoring equipment including composite samplers, pH, and other similar handheld devices; respond to customer service calls via electronic communications and in person regarding water quality within the service area; provide compliance support including collecting reviewing and reporting data and information and communicating compliance status.

DISTINGUISHINGCHARACTERISTICS

This is an advanced entry-level to mid-journey level professional classification in the Regulatory Compliance Specialist series. Positions at this level are responsible for performing routine field monitoring of a diverse set of facilities throughout the service area including boating on open reservoirs. Most of the fieldwork is conducted independently with the exception of the boating, which is done in pairs. All work is used for compliance or process control purposes, so incumbents must strictly adhere to standard operating procedures and ethical work practices.

Summary of Duties

Perform daily field monitoring of potable, recycled and wastewater systems throughout the service area.

Coordinate daily with the Regulatory Compliance field team to schedule monitoring routes and ensure all samples are collected.

Follow proper sampling methods including the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), proper sample collection containers, sample location and identification, the use of preservatives (when required), proper labeling and sealing, and proper storage and transport.

Adhere to standard operating procedures, safe work practices, and internal policies during daily activities.

Work independently while using an assigned work vehicle and other equipment for a majority of daily activities.

Tow, launch, drive and recover a small watercraft for sampling some open reservoir locations.

Coordinate with the Water Quality Team (laboratory) for proper sample collection including timing, containers, and drop-off (chain of custody procedures).

Aid Regulatory Compliance Administrative staff by assisting in the drafting of regulatory reports.

Collaborate on a variety of Regulatory Compliance Programs including Drinking Water, Discharge permits (NPDES/WDR), and South Coast AQMD.

Coordinate with other agencies on monitoring and compliance (including Orange County Sanitation District (OCSAN), South Orange County Wastewater Authority (SOCWA), and the Orange County Water District (OCWD).

Assist with the implementation of IRWD's pretreatment and Fat, Oils, and Grease (FOG) programs including inspection, monitoring and report writing.

Use the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) program to schedule, track and review samples.

Assist with development, review, and revise Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on a periodic basis.

Attend relevant seminars, training, to remain current with new technologies or advances in the environmental monitoring and potable/non-potable water fields.

Exercise safe handling and preparation procedures for chemicals and reagents used in the analysis and preservation of samples.

Adhere and comply with the Laboratory and District's Safety Policies and Procedures and complete/attend mandatory safety trainings.

Maintain appropriate inventory levels of chemicals, reagents, media, sample containers and operating supplies used in assigned analyses. Notify supervisor in a timely manner of restock needs to avoid out of stock conditions. Minimize excess inventory of chemicals and reagents that have a limited shelf life to reduce waste and disposal costs.

Assist with special projects when assigned.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education

* A combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree in a scientific field is required including Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry, or a closely related scientific field. For degrees obtained outside of the U.S., an official equivalency evaluation is required.

Experience

* Two (2) years of experience and technical knowledge of the general principles of sample collection, field monitoring, and monitoring equipment usage and maintenance.
* Professional internship experience at a water, wastewater or related agency may be considered.

License

* A valid California Class C driver's license is required.

Additional Information

IRWD Corporate Values

Irvine Ranch Water District believes that its values drive the character, culture, and capacity of our organization. IRWD was built on values, and we weave them into the fabric of everything we do. Values are the ingredients in our recipe for both institutional and individual success. They are a code of conduct to promote positive outcomes for others and ourselves. They are more than words on a wall or a website. We live by them every day. We pledge to keep them relevant in an ever-changing world.

IRWD's employees enjoy working in a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment where they form strong bonds with fellow employees. To ensure effective communication and promote a collaborative team environment, employees report to work each day in the office or in the field, depending on their positions.

Thephysicalandmentaldemandsdescribedbelowarerepresentativeofthosethatmustbemetbyemployeesto successfullyperformtheessentialfunctionsofthisclass.Reasonableaccommodationsmaybemadetoenable individualswithdisabilitiestoperformtheessentialfunctions.

LanguageAbilityandInterpersonalCommunication

Ability to explain, demonstrate and clarify to others within well-established policies, procedures, and standards, as well as the ability to follow specific instructions and respond to simple and difficult requests from others. Work efficiently and independently from oral and written instructions with a minimum of supervision. Independently perform a variety of operational tasks and activities.

Demonstrateeffectiveverbalandwrittencommunicationbetweenlaboratory,management,operations,andfieldstaffdaily.Abilityto read,understandandinterpretSafetyDataSheetsandothersafetydocuments.Strongattentiontodetailand documentationskills.RepresentDistrictinaprofessionalmannerwhendealingwithcustomers.

JudgmentandSituationalReasoningAbility

Abilitytousegoodpersonaljudgmentanddiscretioninperformingalljobfunctions.Abilitytomanagetime,organize,plan,and prioritizeassignments.

Technology Ability

ComputerliteracyinMicrosoft OfficeSoftwaresuchasWordand Excel,or equivalentspreadsheetsandWordProcessingPrograms. Ability to navigate database programs and/or Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS/WIMS).

MathematicalAbility

Knowledgeofunitsofmeasurementandconcentrationusedinawater qualitylaboratory and field monitoring including pH, mg/L, temperature, and mL.Mustbeabletomake mathematical calculations up toalgebraicequations including standard statistical calculations (mean, mode and median).

PhysicalRequirements

Regularlyrequiredtosit,walk,bend,stoopandstand forextendedperiodsoftime.Abilitytocorrectlydifferentiateandinterpret colors.Abilitytotoleraterepetitivemotiontasks.Regulatory Compliance Specialists mustbeabletolift35lbs.ona routinebasis.

EnvironmentalAdaptability

Abilitytoworkinanenvironmentwithexposuretomalodorouschemicalsor othermaterialsinthelaboratory or field.Noiselevelmaybegreaterthantypicalofficeconditions.