Senior Environmental Health Scientist

The Senior Environmental Health Scientist position at Environmental Health in Albuquerque, NM involves leading complex projects related to municipal environmental health, developing plans, and implementing strategies to enhance health standards. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and six years of experience in environmental evaluations. Knowledge of various environmental regulations and strong technical skills are preferred. A valid New Mexico Driver's License is required.
Position Summary

Lead, oversee and participate in the more complex and difficult work involved in the development and implementation of short and long range plans, programs and special projects in the field of municipal environmental health; implement strategies for achieving improved environmental health standards and perform a variety of other highly technical tasks relative to assigned areas of responsibility.

Job descriptions are intended to present a general list of tasks/duties performed by employees within this job classification. Job Descriptions are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

Minimum Education, Experience And Additional Requirements

Education and experience directly related to the minimum requirements below may be interchangeable on a year for year basis.

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in natural or environmental science or engineering; and

Six (6) years experience in conducting scientific, environmental or environmental health evaluations.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Possession of a valid New Mexico Driver's License, or the ability to obtain by date of hire.
Possession of a City Operator's Permit (COP) within six (6) months from date of hire.

Preferred Knowledge
• Federal Clean Air Act, State of New Mexico Air Quality Control Act, and Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board Regulations
• Federal Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), State of New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) Regulations, State of New Mexico Petroleum Storage Tank Regulations, and New Mexico Solid Waste Management Regulations
• Air Pollution engineering and science of air pollution problems and solutions
• Approaches and techniques to determine air emissions from various equipment and activities
• Principles of chemistry and physics
• Principles and practices of environmental engineering geology and hydrology
• Laboratory principles and methods
• Air pollution engineering, control technology and scientific principles
• Methods and techniques of air quality measurement, monitoring, data validation, and forecasting
• Principles and practices of groundwater monitoring
• Principles and practices of soil and groundwater remediation
• Remediation technology for soil and groundwater
• Principles of contaminant fate and transport in soils and groundwater
• Analytical laboratory methods of analysis for contaminants in soil and groundwater
• Analytical laboratory data validation
• Methods and techniques used in conducting environmental health studies
• Methods and techniques of environmental analysis and interpretation
• Occupational hazards and standard safety practices
• Principles and practices of public speaking
• Advanced report writing skills
• Principles of mathematics and statistics
• Advanced English grammar, spelling and punctuation

Preferred Skills & Abilities
• Perform a wide variety of technical scientific duties in support of assigned program and/or division.
• Conduct a variety of environmental inspections and investigations to ensure compliance with applicable laws, codes, regulations and ordinances
• Respond to requests and inquiries from the general public
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals
• Plan, organize, and coordinate the work of staff
• Select, supervise, train and evaluate staff
• Interpret, apply and enforce applicable Federal, State and local policies, laws and regulations
• Coordinate assigned activities with those of other divisions, outside agencies and organizations
• Prepare clear and concise technical reports
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work
• Develop, direct and coordinate environmental health programs in assigned areas
• Develop long range plans and goals for the department
• Conduct a variety of environmental health evaluations, analyze and interpret data and draw conclusions
• Operate a computer and a variety of computer programs including data bases, spread sheets and statistical programs
• Operate groundwater sampling equipment and vehicles in a safe and effective manner
• Develop groundwater monitoring well networks and strategies
• Apply Federal Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), State of New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) Regulations, State of New Mexico Petroleum Storage Tank Regulations, and New Mexico Solid Waste Management Regulations.
• Perform ground water and contaminant fate and transport studies
• Assess the feasibility of groundwater and soil remediation technologies and best management practices.
• Develop and implement soil and groundwater remediation strategies
• Recommend changes to existing environmental health policies
• Perform air quality measurement, monitoring and calculations
• Write air quality permits which are in compliance with applicable air quality laws and regulations.
• Evaluate proposed air quality projects and conduct a determination on what air quality laws and regulations apply.
• Apply Clean Air Act regulations, Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board Regulations, policies, guidance and/or best professional judgment to determine appropriate, enforceable air quality permit conditions.
• Operate air monitoring equipment and vehicles in a safe and effective manner.
• Calibrate and maintain assigned analytical equipment
• Negotiate air quality permit requirements with permittee and interested parties.
• Utilize resourcefulness to find and use relevant documents, information, and guidance to write air quality permits.
• Conduct air quality forecasting.
• Conduct pollen counting and reporting.
• Develop and write quality assurance documentation.
• Quality assure, validate, and submit data.
• Develop and write air quality permits and the supporting technical and regulatory basis.
• Calculate air emission rates for various types of equipment and activities
• Develop air quality permit monitoring and reporting requirements.
• Access the feasibility of air pollution control technologies and best management practices.
• Prepare clear and concise analytical, statistical and narrative reports
• Read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications
• Work independently in the absence of supervision
• Communicate clearly and concisely
• Perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation