Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator.

Position Overview

You’re proud of the beautiful PNW, and you want to do your part to ensure it stays beautiful for generations to come. Your desire to make a positive impact drives you to jobs that aren’t just about punching a timecard, but are about how to protect, preserve, and enhance your community and ultimately, the environment. You lead change by example, understanding the importance of enforcing rules and regulations, but focusing more on the long term influence of outreach and education.

Is this you? Are you interested in joining an innovative, values-focused team in a position that positively impacts the community and our environment? Submit your application materials today! The City is searching for candidates who are self-driven yet team oriented to join the Public Works Department. Qualified candidates will have an Associate’s degree in a closely related field and two years of relevant experience. To be considered, please ensure you complete all sections of the application, attach a cover letter, and answer all supplemental questions. Additional information regarding this position, including minimum qualifications and essential job functions, can be found below.

Oversees and implements the City’s Industrial Pretreatment Program and Cross Connection/Backflow Program. This position implements programs protecting the City’s water resources, water distribution system, sewer treatment systems, and public health by working with commercial and industrial customers to control discharges of harmful pollutants to the environment as well as ensure proper backflow prevention is implemented to protect the public water distribution system. Works directly with industrial and commercial customers to assure their discharge control systems are permitted and functioning properly and that proper backflow prevention is implemented; works with the community to increase awareness and gain compliance with the City’s and State’s regulatory requirements; and works closely with the City’s Community Development Department, Wastewater Treatment plant staff, Drinking Water Treatment plant staff, and Public Works staff.

The Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator reports directly to the Public Works Director. Supervision or budget administration is not normally a function of this position, but the employee may occasionally act as a lead worker on projects.

This is a journey-level, specialized class that independently performs a wide variety of environmental compliance duties, including field inspections, public outreach, and preparing and filing reports with the appropriate regulatory agencies. Responsibilities include performing diverse, specialized, and complex work involving significant accountability and decision-making responsibility. The incumbent organizes and oversees day-to-day activities of the City’s Industrial Pretreatment program and Cross Connection/Backflow program. Successful performance of the work requires skill in coordinating programmatic activities and department work. This class is distinguished from the Public Works Director in that the latter is responsible for technical and functional direction over division staff and has management responsibility for related programs, functions, and activities.

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
The following tasks are representative and not to be considered all inclusive.

• Review applications and prepare, modify, and renew discharge permit documents for appropriate signatures.
• Review applications for new sanitary sewer connections and water service connections. This includes participation in development review, identifying potential impacts of new development, and proposing appropriate compliance measures.
• Assist with review of bulk water applications to determine whether backflow assembly is necessary.

• Schedule, coordinate, and perform inspections of industrial and commercial users. Meet with industry representatives and technical specialists about compliance issues and regulatory updates.
• Perform enforcement actions, if needed.

• Perform compliance monitoring as necessary and assist industries in understanding their responsibility in any self-monitoring and reporting requirements.

• Investigate and determine the source of unusual changes in the constituents of wastewater treatment plant influent.
• Assist in illicit stormwater discharge investigations.
• Investigate customer concerns about water quality. Obtain specific information concerning color, odor, clarity and location.

• Maintain complete and accurate records of pretreatment program and Cross Connection/Backflow Program implementation (including associated databases).
• Understand and implement records retention polices and regulations.

• Prepare reports of pretreatment activities for submission to DEQ and EPA. Coordinate and prepare responses to DEQ and EPA audits.
• Assist with the collections system maintenance program, including assisting in preparation of annual inflow/infiltration report.
• Maintain current library of pretreatment regulations.
• Draft updates of pretreatment regulations and modify permits and best management practices agreements, as needed.
• Prepare and submit Cross Connection Annual Summary Report.

• Submit newsletter articles and press releases pertaining to sanitary sewer system issues.
• Record and take action on related citizen concerns. Assist with the resolution of sanitary sewer complaints.
• Meet with customers and other governmental agencies to increase awareness and coordinate services.
• Coordinate with the school district and community groups to educate and promote water quality standards and pollution prevention methods.

• • Acknowledge customers when they enter a city facility by greeting them with a smile and positive tone of voice whether in person, on the phone or in email.
  • Gather necessary information to assist the customer. Where possible, handle issues/questions/requests without transferring customer to someone else.
  • Seek out answers to questions first; if unsuccessful provide name/contact information of someone who can assist.
  • Listen, understand, and clarify to gain in depth understanding of the needs to ensure they are being met.
  • Address difficult or contentious issues in a constructive manner.
  • Be positive and enthusiastic when speaking with customers.

Respect

• • Be courteous and polite.
  • Treat customers with dignity and respect.
  • Understand customer’s expectations and treat them as a priority.
  • Actively listen and give customer undivided attention.
  • Appreciate differing perspectives, opinions, and needs.
  • Demonstrate integrity and build trust through credibility, reliability, commitment, and ethical behavior.

Responsiveness

• Provide prompt and reliable service.
• Respond to phone/email as soon as possible.
• Follow through in a timely manner on commitments made to customers and provide estimated timeline for completion.
• Change voicemail and email when out of office/unavailable and provide alternate contact person for customers.
• Demonstrate a “can-do” approach.
• Exhibit problem-solving skills leading to sound judgment and quality decisions.

Qualifications

Education: Requires an Associates degree in biology, chemistry, microbiology, Water or Wastewater technology, or closely related field.

Experience: Requires at least two (2) years of experience in a technical or research-related position in wastewater operations. A Bachelor’s degree in a closely related field may substitute for one (1) year of the required experience.  Prefer experience with state and federal reporting requirements as they relate to NPDES, or other regulated activities.

Certifications: Required Licenses/Certifications: Valid driver license and Cross Connection Specialist Certification, or ability to obtain within six (6) months.

Desired but Not Required: Certification in Wastewater Treatment and/or Collection.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Knowledge of organic, inorganic, analytical, environmental, and water pollution chemistry;
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal water quality criteria, water pollution regulations,
• and occupational safety requirements.
• Experience with EPA sample collection and preservation methods including sampling protocols.
• Knowledge of current literature on environmental analytical chemistry, water pollution, and wastewater treatment.
• Knowledge and understanding of wastewater treatment principles including advanced secondary and industrial treatment systems.
• Knowledge of City codes, resolutions, and policies related to wastewater.
• Skilled in preparing technical reports and issuing industrial pretreatment discharge permits.
• Excellent communication skills both verbally and written, including strong public presentation skills, experience developing reports and community education materials.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to interpret laboratory reports and data.
• Ability to preserve confidential information related to proprietary information.
• Ability to obtain and maintain high security clearance for secure locations.
• Ability to evaluate new construction plans and evaluate related water quality impacts.
• Ability to present materials to State, local, and public officials, property owners, and the general public.
• Ability to comprehend and make inferences from written material.
• Ability to read and understand construction documents, details, schematics, layouts, and other visual aids.
• Ability to analyze and evaluate work programs and make corrections when necessary.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with City
  management, coworkers, supervisors, contractors, property owners, other agencies, and the general public.
• Ability to evaluate alternatives and make sound, creative recommendations and present recommendations to individuals from all levels of the City, as well as individuals outside the City.
• Ability to make decisions independently in accordance with established policies and to use good judgment in carrying out tasks and responsibilities with little supervision or guidance.
• Ability to operate computers using spreadsheets, databases, and word processing applications at an intermediate to advanced level.
• Ability to compile and maintain comprehensive and detailed records systems.
• Ability to coordinate and implement program requirements.
• Ability to comply with safety requirements of the position and actively promote safe work practices.
• Ability to communicate effectively with coworkers, management, elected officials and the general public, and display excellent interpersonal skills and awareness of controversial and/or sensitive issues.

Additional Information

Working Environment: Work is performed both in the office and in the field. Duties will occasionally involve working in adverse or inclement weather conditions; exposure to high noise levels; dealing with distraught or difficult individuals; attending meetings or activities outside normal working hours; occasional response to emergency conditions during off hours; and operation of a motor vehicle on public roads.

Physical Requirements: Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; to work in the field; strength, stamina, and mobility to perform light to medium physical work, to work in confined spaces, around machines, and to climb and descend ladders; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone or radio. The job involves fieldwork requiring frequent walking in operational areas, including rough and uneven terrain, to identify problems or hazards. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate above-mentioned tools and equipment. Positions in this classification bend, stoop, kneel, reach, and climb to perform work and inspect work sites. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to 50 pounds and heavier weights with the use of proper equipment.

Cognitive Functions: The position incumbent works in a fast-paced environment characterized by frequent deadlines, interruptions, and decision making processes. Work is performed with minimal direction and supervision. In the course of conducting these duties, the Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator will encounter issues where interpretation/application of policies and regulations will require consultation and approval by management. The incumbent must be capable of working effectively with coworkers and members of the public. Concentration and focus are required to complete complex, detail oriented tasks.

Equipment used: Personal computer with application software. Camera, hand tools, absorbent booms, portable samplers, flow meters, measuring devices, and utility vehicle.