Supervising Environmental Services Specialist – Environmental Services Department

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The City of San José is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of San José is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at 408-535-1285, 711 (TTY) , or via email at CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov .

About the Department

The Environmental Services Department (ESD) is a national leader in pollution prevention, watershed protection, utility service provision, and climate action. Together, ESD employees positively impact every resident and business in San Jose.

Our department is an exceptional place to start or grow your career. We have a supportive leadership team, numerous professional growth opportunities, and an inclusive workplace culture that is welcoming of your talents! We offer an array of meaningful career paths and value flexibility - offering hybrid work and alternative work schedules in select roles. Additionally, the City offers excellent health and pension benefits, as well as 15 paid holidays!

To learn more about ESD, follow @sjenvironment on X (formally Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and San Jose Environmental Services on LinkedIn.

Position Duties

The Environmental Services Department is currently seeking to fill two (2) full-time Supervising Environmental Services Specialist vacancies.

Job Classification Overview - Supervising Environmental Services Specialists (SESS):

Supervising Environmental Services Specialists plan, organize, and supervise the activities of assigned staff and program area within a division of the Environmental Services Department. This classification is designated as management and supervises other professional staff, as well as manages programmatic teams by providing direction and leadership. Incumbents in this classification are responsible for the successful development, implementation, and/or ongoing supervision and overview of assigned program(s). This classification not only supervises and oversees assigned professional staff, but also performs the most complex and specialized functions in support of assigned program(s).

This position requires an organized and motivated self-starter with strong collaboration, communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills, and a demonstrated track record of successfully managing multiple projects.

Current SESS Vacancies:

Sustainability & Policy Workgroup - Carbon Neutrality Position

The Sustainability & Policy (SuPo) workgroup, which is part of the Emergency Preparedness, Land Use, and Policy Division in the Watershed Protection Division, is seeking to fill one (1) SESS position. This SESS will lead municipal carbon neutrality efforts for ESD, including the continued development of an action plan and management of ESD carbon neutrality and sustainability projects. The City of San José adopted a resolution in 2021 committing to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, and ESD aims to lead by example and provide a model for other departments to follow. This role includes collaborating with ESD’s utility divisions and Climate Smart San José to manage initiatives aimed at reducing CO2 emissions and achieving carbon neutrality. In addition, staff engages in programs for ESD related to energy and water efficiency, renewable energy technologies, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The desired outcome is to contribute to ESD utility resiliency and protection of resources in an equitable and fiscally responsible manner.

An ideal candidate has experience in advancing sustainability, carbon neutrality, and environmental policies and programs for utilities, project management, data gathering, problem-solving, and technical writing/review.

Responsibilities may include but are not limited to:

• Manage program budgets, contractors, activities, and events related to ESD’s carbon neutrality initiatives.
• Coordinate program implementation with ESD divisions, other City departments, and local, regional, and state agencies.
• Utilize existing City resources and collaborators to inventory greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from operations and establish baseline inventories.
• Define carbon neutrality objectives with each utility division and support the development of division-specific goals, timelines, and implementation strategies.
• Represent ESD’s utility divisions in coordination with the Energy Department’s Climate Smart San José program and the Climate Smart Technical Working Group.
• Review and evaluate existing and future initiatives that contribute to carbon neutrality, ensuring alignment with the Roadmap to a Carbon Neutral ESD.
• Lead interdivisional and departmental initiatives that advance utility division carbon neutrality goals.
• Monitor implementation progress and develop tracking methods to ensure transparency, including updating the ESD Carbon Neutrality Workplan and team SharePoint site.
• Conduct data analysis and prepare technical reports, memoranda, and presentations with clear visualizations to communicate progress and outcomes to management and stakeholders.
• Support other programs, policies, and projects as assigned.

Regulatory Affairs and Purified Water Division’s Wastewater Compliance Position:

The Wastewater Compliance workgroup, under the Regulatory Affairs and Purified Water Division, is seeking to fill one (1) SESS position. This role will focus on the implementation and oversight of the Pollution Minimization Program, also known as the Pollution Prevention (P2) Program for the San José-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility (RWF) to ensure compliance with its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit requirements. In addition, this SESS will represent the City in coordinating with partner agencies on pollution prevention activities and emerging contaminant issues and initiatives.

This SESS will serve as the City’s primary lead for implementing the Clean Water Act Permit required Pollutant Minimization Program for legacy pollutants and will expand existing efforts to address contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), including PFAS, microplastics, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals. The position will supervise staff, oversee monitoring and special studies, outreach and education initiatives to residents, and engage in regional collaboration to support pollutant reduction and compliance goals.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead the Pollution Prevention (P2) Program for legacy pollutants and Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs).
• Supervise and provide leadership to Environmental Services Specialists responsible for pollutant reduction campaigns, P2 reporting, monitoring activities, and emerging contaminants studies and technical evaluations.
• Synthesize and summarize existing information and implement additional studies regarding legacy pollutants and CECs in wastewater. The information will be used to inform, guide, develop, and expand public education and outreach programs targeting residents, schools, and staff to address residential-source pollutants not controllable by treatment technology or industrial enforcement.
• Build partnerships across ESD divisions, City departments to align pollutant minimization strategies, leverage resources, and advance P2 efforts.
• Represent the City in regional P2 and scientific study groups, engaging in multi-agency coordination to align pollution reduction strategies.
• Coordinate monitoring and special studies on CECs, including planning, study design, implementation, and review of regional scientific studies.
• Track and analyze proposed regulations at local, state and federal level, providing timely updates to management.
• Identify and pursue funding opportunities to advance P2 programs, initiatives, and community outreach efforts.

NOTE: ESD intends to use the candidate pool developed from this recruitment to fill all current vacancies, as well as any future vacancies that may occur in the coming months throughout the entire department. If you are interested in employment in the SESS classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment. Divisions that have SESS classifications are below.

Division Descriptions

Integrated Waste Management (IWM) Division
ESD’s Integrated Waste Management (IWM) Division leads one of the largest and most advanced solid waste management systems in the United States through creativity and innovation. Division staff collaborate with other City departments and establish strong partnerships with private companies, other government agencies, nonprofits, and the community on a variety of key efforts. Experience fast-paced work and learn new skills that contribute to the bigger purpose of protecting the environment at a local level.

Regulatory Affairs & Purified Water (RAPW) Division
The Regulatory Affairs and Purified Water Division has four programmatic focus areas: Purified Water, Wastewater Compliance, Air Compliance, and Municipal Environmental Compliance. Division staff are environmental scientists, environmental professionals, and engineers. The Division’s responsibilities cover a broad range of initiatives including providing leadership for a Direct Potable Reuse project that is envisioned to use advanced water purification technology to boost local drinking water supply by developing the first direct potable reuse project in the region. Division staff and managers lead environmental monitoring, reporting, permitting, and compliance programs for various federal and state permits issued under the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Clean Soil regulations, lead and conduct environmental assessments, engage in regional, state, and federal scientific collaborations, and implement pollution prevention educational outreach initiatives to residents to reduce the levels of pollutants in wastewater.

Wastewater Facility Capital Improvement Program (CIP)

The San José-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility Capital Improvement Program (CIP) division is leading one of the largest public works programs in San José’s history! Check out CIP’s website for more information on the $1.4 billion infrastructure construction program currently in its first 10-year phase. While all this planning and construction is on-going, the facility is in continuous operation, serving 1.4 million residents and over 17,000 businesses in eight cities.Combine your expertise with the on-the-job experience you’ll gain in CIP by working with multi-discipline engineering professionals, program management consultants, and San José Public Works staff. You will enjoy career development, new skills, mentoring, and the benefits of contributing to your community.

Water Resources Division (WRD)

ESD’s Water Resources Division brings together engineers, operations, and maintenance, technical, and program staff to supply clean water to over 100,000 customers and recycled water to more than 850 customers; in addition, we lead conservation efforts to preserve our region’s precious drinking water supply. You can contribute to the local community by joining us in meaningful and important work focusing on water supply, resource sustainability, customer outreach, and infrastructure reliability. We are a small, but fun, division of ESD located in South San José.

Watershed Protection (WSP) Division

The Watershed Protection (WSP) Division provides services that support the City's efforts to protect water quality in local creeks and the Bay. These services are integral to the City's management of both wastewater and stormwater. The Watershed Protection Division is comprised of nearly 90 employees with four key functions: Stormwater Management, Environmental Enforcement, Industrial Pretreatment, and Emergency Preparedness &

Real Estate.

Salary Information

The actual salary shall be determined by the final candidate’s qualifications and experience. The below salary ranges include an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable pay. The annual salary range for the positions are presently as follows:

Supervising Environmental Services Specialist: $129,926.16 - $158,383.68

Minimum Qualifications

Education: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Four (4) years of increasingly responsible experience in developing, promoting, AND/OR implementing environmental programs (e.g.: programs in air quality, integrated waste management, biology, agriculture, energy, forestry or parks, habitat restoration, wastewater, water resources, stormwater, archaeology, geology, resource conservation, industrial or environmental health and safety, OR any program emphasizing environmental sustainability or environmental regulatory compliance), INCLUDING two (2) years of experience leading people or projects.

Relevant experience in environmental services programs typically includes the following: preparing outreach/educational materials, conducting survey work, tracking and monitoring deliverables, coordinating special events, promoting programs, implementing new programs, policy development, planning and permitting, grants or contracts administration, analyzing data and creating reports, and/or tracking budgets.

Acceptable Substitutions:

• A master’s degree from an accredited college or university in environmental studies or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience developing, promoting, and/or implementing environmental programs.
• Additional years of experience in developing, promoting, and/or implementing environmental programs maybe substituted for the bachelor's degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.

Form 700 requirement:

This position requires a disclosure of outside investments, real property interest, income, and business positions. You must complete and file an “Assuming Office Form 700” with the City Clerk’s Office within the first 30 days of employment with the office.

Other Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history.

Job Expertise - Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.

Teamwork and Interpersonal Skills - Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.

Supervision - Sets effective long and short-term goals based on a good understanding of management practices; establishes realistic priorities within available resources; provides motivational support; empowers others; assigns decision-making and work functions to others in an appropriate manner to maximize organizational and individual effectiveness.

Fiscal Management - Understands the relationship of the budget and resources to the strategic plan; complies with administrative controls over funds, contracts, and procurements.

Initiative - Exhibits resourceful behaviors toward meeting job objectives; anticipates problems, is proactive, and avoids difficulties by planning ahead; displays willingness to assume extra responsibility and challenges; pursues continuing education opportunities that promotes job performance.

Project Management - Ensures support for projects and implements agency goals and strategic objectives.

Problem Solving - Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem; collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.

Communication Skills - Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and inwriting; demonstrates effective use of listening skills and displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.

Selection Process:

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. You must answer all questions to be considered, or your application may be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses. Please be advised that use of AI content in your responses may result in your removal from the hiring process. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Adrienne Pea at Adrienne.Pea@sanjoseca.gov.

Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses. Please be advised that use of AI content in your responses may result in your removal from the hiring process.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application.

The City of San Jose offers a wide range of core health benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Disability, and Savings Plans. Please visit the City's benefits pagefor detailed information on coverage, cost, and dependent coverage.

For information on the City’s Retirement Plan(pension for full-time employees), please visit the Office of Retirement Services website. You will be able to view information based on different Sworn/Federated job classification.

In additional to the benefits above, there is an additional perks siteto explore further benefits of working for the City of San Jose like paid leave, educational reimbursements, and holiday pay are specific to the job classification and union membership.

Closing Date/Time: 9/15/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

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• City of San Jose

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