Position Description
The City of Tacoma is seeking a highly motivated individual to join our team in gathering data and providing exceptional service to the citizens and rate payers of Tacoma. We are accepting applications for a Senior Environmental Technician. This Senior Environmental Technician position is located in the Environmental Services Department, Science and Engineering Division.

This position operates as a field lead for the flow metering and sampling of the City’s sanitary and surface water conveyance systems, soils, sediments, and groundwater in compliance with the City’s NPDES Phase I Stormwater Permit, NPDES Wastewater Discharge Permit, and Superfund Consent Decrees (Thea Foss, Landfill). Work is also driven by the City’s engineers need for precipitation, flow and hydraulic modeling data; inflow and infiltration investigation; utility billing and pollution source investigations.

Tacoma’s Environmental Services Department provides a unique opportunity for senior environmental technicians to work on a variety of complex environmental projects as they progress through their careers. Projects can cover the spectrum of monitoring and improvements associated with Wastewater, Surface Water, and Solid Waste Utilities.

The Principles that Guide Us:
Tacoma, the City of Destiny, has a workforce of dedicated, talented and open-minded employees with unique skills and perspectives.  We embrace innovation and strive for excellence and community engagement in all that we do.  The Principles that Guide Us, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Equity, speak to the values that we embody as City of Tacoma employees, and represent the core of our work in public service.

Essential Duties:

• Depending on assignment, Environmental Technician Seniors:
• May serve as a lead for Environmental Technicians in the support of environment science projects and maintenance activities and oversees environmental project support functions;
• Responsible for the preparation of records, logs, and reports on collected data pertinent to environmental issues such as water resources, forestry, fisheries, wildlife, botany, geology, soils, and other natural resource sciences;
• Coordinate, perform and review environmental inspections on construction and maintenance projects. Maintain records and logs as applicable.
• Leads the installation, maintenance, and monitoring of environmental science research and other projects including activities such as conducting surveys and collecting samples of water, fish, and wildlife.
• May design less complex environmental science studies and projects;
• Layout, mark, and locate projects and area boundaries for activities such as forest and game management projects and wildlife area boundary setting;
• Document research and project findings for visual representations of environmental studies;
• Prepares maps and maintains spatial and tabular environmental data using appropriate software;
• Communicate information about ongoing environmental projects to government agency staff, regulators and the public;
• Coordinate the provision of assistance in maintaining  roads, gates, culverts and other facilities;
• Lead the operation of environmental facilities, such as those required for fish handling, movement and safekeeping.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

City of Tacoma Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Tacoma’s diversity is its greatest asset. Tacoma embraces its multi-cultural and multi-ethnic character. Communities of color and immigrant communities are fundamental to Tacoma’s entrepreneurial spirit, workforce, and long-term success. In Tacoma, equity and empowerment are top priorities, meaning that all Tacoma residents must have equitable opportunities to reach their full potential and share in the benefits of community progress.  One of our goals is for the City of Tacoma workforce to reflect the community it serves. We actively work to eliminate racial and other disparities and welcome candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skill sets and experiences. Our goal is for Tacoma to be an inclusive and equitable place to live, work, and play.

QualificationsBachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and two years related work experience

OR

An associate degree in Environmental Science and four years related work experience.

LICENSING, CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER LEGAL REQUIREMENTS:
Valid Washington State Driver’s License at time of appointment with maintenance thereafter;

Valid CPR and first aid certification prior to completion of probation with maintenance thereafter.

 Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
Positions in this class may require: sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, standing, pushing, pulling, walking, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.

Incumbents may be subject to travel, rough terrain, office environments with typical associated odors, dusts, ventilation, workspace restrictions, and noise.

Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.Knowledge & Skills

Selection Process & Supplemental InformationWHY WORK FOR THE CITY?
The City of Tacoma offers a generous program of employee benefits:

• Outstanding working conditions and an exceptional quality-of-life environment.
• Medical coverage for eligible employees, spouses and dependents, including children up to age 26.
• Vision care with VSP for employees and eligible dependents enrolled in the Regence PPO medical plan with vision benefits.
• Dental coverage for eligible employees and their elected dependents, including dependent children up to the age of 26.
• Deferred compensation allowing tax-deferred savings as authorized under Section 457 of the IRS Code.
• Personal time off.
• Paid holidays.
• A great pension plan.

The City of Tacoma:
With a population over 200,000, Tacoma is the third largest city in the Puget Sound region, gracing the shores of Commencement Bay. We are a diverse, progressive, international city that serves as a gateway to the Pacific Rim and the rest of the world.  Named one of the most livable areas in the country by Livability.com, Tacoma and the surrounding area is a playground for outdoor and maritime enthusiasts.  Our businesses are vibrant, our parks are beautiful, our schools are exceptional and our housing is affordable.

When you work for the City of Tacoma you’ll enjoy a healthy work/life balance, the potential for flexible schedules with some job classifications, continuing education programs, leadership pathways, wellness incentives and a total rewards benefits program. We welcome you to take a look at our website and discover how the City of Tacoma can make your next career move part of our combined destiny:

http://www.cityoftacoma.org/newhires
http://www.cityoftacoma.org/
http://www.traveltacoma.com/

The City of Tacoma believes that each employee makes a significant contribution to our success.  This job description is designed to outline primary duties, qualifications and job scope.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

Interested individuals must complete the online application and attach a detailed resume and cover letter that includes major responsibilities and accomplishments related to this position.

Candidates who are eligible for Veteran’s Preference scoring criteria must attach a copy of their DD-214 member copy 4, (proof of military discharge form) at time of application, to be eligible for review for Veteran’s Preference points, with redacted birth date and social security numbers.

Examination Process:
This is a competitive selection process. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will have their job application and responses to Supplemental Questions 5-8 reviewed and scored by a committee of subject matter experts, as the Experience and Training Test. It is the responsibility of the applicants to adequately describe all pertinent experience and training. Candidates who pass the test will be placed on an Eligible List for potential interview and hiring consideration.

Per City of Tacoma Personnel Management Policy #170, the City of Tacoma is a drug-free work environment.  Appointment is subject to passing a pre-employment background and references check.

A person offered the position must successfully complete a nine-month probationary period in order to attain permanent status in this position.

Communication from the City of Tacoma:
We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from cityoftacoma.org and/or governmentjobs.com must be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.

The online application system requires you to enter a substantial amount of information. Be prepared to spend at least an hour entering information. In order for your application materials to be considered, all information must be submitted by the closing date and time listed on this job announcement.

For assistance with the NEOGOV application process, or questions regarding this job announcement, call the Human Resources office at (253) 591.5400 before 4:00 pm of the closing date of the job announcement.