Chief Inspector - Water Quality

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Chief Inspector - Water Quality

Salary

Depends on Qualifications

Location

Houston, TX

Job Type

Regular Full-time

Job Number

14477

Department

Engineering Department

Opening Date

02/13/2025

Closing Date

3/31/2025 11:59 PM Central

Position Description

Position Overview:

The Water Quality Chief Inspector leads, manages, and coordinates a team of field inspectors and an administrative assistant to ensure compliance with state and local stormwater and onsite sewage facility (OSSF) regulations. This role oversees inspection activities, enforces compliance, and provides technical guidance while developing reports, compliance materials, and enforcement actions as needed. The Chief Inspector also collaborates with other departments and agencies to uphold water quality standards and regulatory requirements. Resume and cover letter required.


Serves as personnel manager and provides leadership to the Water Quality inspections team within the Watershed Protection Group through coaching, mentoring, training, and counseling.


Job Duties:

  • Work to improve existing policies and procedures in the Water Quality Inspection team to allow for greater efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Assigns work to the Water Quality inspections staff to ensure completion of all field inspection and compliance tasks, including ensuring processes are efficient and effective. This includes coordination of cases brought to Justice of the Peace courts and the County Attorney's Office by the Watershed Protection Group.
  • Makes field site inspections or visits as necessary. This responsibility may require standing for long periods of time and walking on uneven terrain.
  • Represents the Water Quality Inspection's team at local and regional events, including giving the occasional public presentation.
  • Resolves inspection matters and violations in accordance with established regulations, orders, and procedures by written and verbal communication in a professional and consistent manner.
  • Manages and provides monthly reporting related to equipment assigned to inspectors, including vehicles.
  • Provides excellent customer service to both internal and external stakeholders.
  • Prepares required documentation and reporting to demonstrate compliance with local, state, and federal permits and rules, as appropriate. This includes reporting related to compliance with the County's Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit and Title 30 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 285.
  • Reviews new or revised environmental permits, documents, and rule proposals as directed, for potential impacts to the Water Quality inspections team activities and compliance with applicable rules.
  • Assists the Watershed Protection Group Manager in the discharge of their duties, as assigned
  • At times, the Water Quality Chief Inspector may be asked to assist with other duties, such as assisting with disaster recovery planning and/or operations for the County.

Under general supervision, performs inspection of businesses, buildings, infrastructure such as highways and bridges, homes, dams and sewer systems. Examines structures to ensure they have been built in compliance with building codes and ordinances.


Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx
If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net

This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Requirements

Education:     Bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, Water Resources, Biology, Natural Resources, Hydrology, Ecology, Geology, Agriculture, or a closely related discipline.


Experience:

  • A minimum of 8 years of relevant environmental experience in stormwater quality and onsite wastewater
  • A minimum of 5 years of direct supervisory experience

 

Knowledge, Skill & Abilities (KSAs):

  • A valid driver's license (Texas upon hire)
  • Must be a State registered Designated Representative or become one within six months of hire, unless extended by the Watershed Protection Group manager due to training schedule.
  • This position required daily operation of a County vehicle. Knowledge of environmental issues surrounding water quality, specifically stormwater, OSSFs, and environmental compliance
  • Proven proficiency at balancing multiple tasks concurrently and exercising good judgement
  • Skilled in building professional relationship across multiple disciplines
  • Excellent verbal and written communications skills
  • Detail oriented, conscientious, and self-motivated
  • Strong analytical, problem solving, and organizational skills
  • Basic computer skills and proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office programs required.
  • This position requires bending, stooping and lifting up to 25 pounds, frequent walking, standing, sitting, reaching, carrying, and ascending/ descending stairs, as well as exposure to the elements in the field.


NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

Preferences

Education:     Masters degree in Environmental Studies, Water Resources, Biology, Natural Resources, Hydrology, Ecology, Geology, Agriculture, or a closely related discipline.


Experience:

  • Existing current State registered Designated Representative
  • 10+ years professional experience in environmental issues surrounding water quality, specifically stormwater, OSSFs, and environmental compliance.
  • 6+ years of direct supervisory experience

 

Knowledge, Skill & Abilities (KSAs):

  • Ability to read engineering plans and specifications
  • Proven leadership skills
  • Consensus-builder
  • Bilingual English/Spanish a plus

General Information


Position Type, and Typical Hours of Work:

  • Full-Time | Regular | 40 hours per week.
  • Subject to early mornings, late evenings, weekends and holidays at times, depending upon the project or workload.  

Salary: 

  • Commensurate with experience, based on 26 pay periods.

Physical Demands and Environmental Exposure: 

Most assignments will be performed in an office, meeting, or operations command center environment, but some field work may be required. May be required to work extended work hours during activation of disaster recovery operations for an unspecified length of time (varies based on the extent of the event).

This position requires bending, stooping, and lifting up to 25 lbs., frequent walking, standing, sitting, reaching, and ascending/descending stairs.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

FEATURED BENEFITS: 

  • Medical, vision, and dental insurance.
  • Wellness.
  • Professional development opportunity.
  • Flexible spending account.
  • 457 deferred compensation plans.
  • Retirement pension (TCDRS).
  • Transportation assistance (Metro Ride Sponsor Program).
  • Disability and life insurance.
  • Harris County is a Qualified Employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).




Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.

Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department. 


BENEFITS
Harris County offers a competitive benefits program, including comprehensive group health and related benefits plan as well as defined benefit retirement plan.
 
The following list of benefits is offered only to employees in regular (full-time) positions:
  • Medical Coverage
  • Dental Coverage
  • Vision Coverage
  • Wellness Plan
  • Life Insurance 
  • Long-term disability
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Ten (10) days of vacation each year for the first five (5) years of service
    • Accrual rates increase based on years of service
  • Eleven (11) County-observed holidays and one (1) floating holiday
  • Professional development opportunities
  • Dependent Care Reimbursement Plan
  • Healthcare Reimbursement Account
  • 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
The following benefits are also available to regular (full-time) employment and may be available to part-time employees:
  • Retirement Pension (TCDRS)
  • Flexible schedule (varies by department)
  • Transportation Assistance (Metro RideSponsor Program)

In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, Group Health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time. Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the County's behalf as needed.
 
For plan details, visit the Harris County benefits website:

01
Which of the following best describes your highest level of education completed as it relates to this position? Qualifying information must be documented in the Education section of your application.
  • High School or GED diploma
  • Associate Degree
  • Bachelor's Degree
  • Master's Degree or higher
  • None of the above
02
If you selected a college degree in response to the previous question, which of the following best describes your major?
  • Environmental Studies
  • Water Resources
  • Biology
  • Natural Resources
  • Hydrology
  • Ecology
  • Geology
  • Agriculture
  • Closely related field
03
This position requires possession of a valid Texas-issued driver's license with a good driving record. Do you meet the above requirement? (Please be sure to include all related details in the Certificates and Licenses section of your application.)
  • Yes, I have a Valid Texas Driver's License with a good driving record.
  • Yes, I have a Valid Driver's License but understand I must obtain a Valid Texas Driver's License prior to start date.
  • No, I'm not interested
04
How many years of relevant environmental experience do you have in stormwater quality and onsite wastewater?
  • less than 5 years experience
  • 5-7 years experience
  • 8 years experience
  • 8+ years experience
  • none of the above
05
How many years of supervisory experience do you have?
  • less than 3 years experience
  • 3-4 years experience
  • 4-5 years experience
  • 5 years experience
  • 5+ years experience
  • none of the above

Required Question

Employer
Harris County
Address
1111 Fannin St
Ste. 600
Houston, Texas, 77002
Phone
713-274-5445