Watershed Programs Specialist
Columbus Water Works through Westaff Staffing Agency
SUMMARY: Execute the daily functions of the Columbus Water Works (CWW) Watershed Protection Programs. This encompasses all regulatory compliance programs in relationship to the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act, as amended. These include, but not limited to, CWW’s Watershed Program, Source Water Protection Program and TMDL Programs for the Columbus Water Works. These include site inspections, meetings, monitoring, correspondences, and regulatory planning for these programs.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
- The employee is responsible for the overall oversight and maintenance of CWW’s current Watershed Protection Program, and any amendments, and all required reporting for compliance with that program. The employee must meet all scheduled activities of the programs so that the specific goals and targets of the programs are achieved. This includes resource acquisition, planning, and program development. This will include data analysis, reporting, presentations, and modeling.
- The employee is responsible for the overall oversight and maintenance of CWW’s Source Water Protection Program and all required reporting for compliance with that program. The employee must meet all scheduled activities of the programs so that the specific goals and targets of the programs are achieved. This includes resource acquisition, planning, and program development. This will include data analysis, reporting, presentations, and modeling. The employee shall also be responsible for CWW’s real-time monitoring program and deployed data collection devices. The employee is responsible for calibration of equipment and data analysis from the systems.
- The employee shall be responsible for supporting Columbus Water Works in reviewing and reporting on all activities in association with the ACF System. This includes attending some meetings and plan review for the entire basin. This will also include review of data and modeling information released by the State for the purpose of water planning and summarizing this information for CWW.
- Meets regularly with the Assistant Manager of Watershed & Quality Assurance and Manager of Environmental Services to give progress reports and discuss difficult compliance issues.
- The employee shall also be responsible for supporting the CWW Creek Walkers Program. This program as managed by the Assistant Manager of Watershed & Quality Assurance is designed to reduce CWW’s impact on the creeks and streams in Muscogee County from the sanitary sewer system. Job duties include inspection of the sewer conveyance system and all creeks within Muscogee County. Also includes sampling, running analyses, set up work orders for any repairs to the system that may be needed and reporting results.
- The employee will work closely with the Department Manager in preparation for renewal or re-issuance of all CWW’s permits. These include, but are not limited to, the NCWRF water withdrawal permit, the SCWRF NPDES permit and CWW’s CSO NPDES Permits.
- The employee shall also be required to perform other duties as assigned by the Department Manager and Assistant Manager of Watershed & Quality Assurance for and during the normal course of business.
The list of essential functions, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment to the position.
- Responsible for the sampling and data reporting for the Cooperative Water-Quality Monitoring (River Runs) contract between Columbus Water Works and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD).
- Responsible for the current Watershed Protection Program, and any amendments which will include sampling, data analysis, reporting, presentations, and modeling.
- Accountable for the Source Water Protection Program which includes resource acquisition, planning, program development data analysis, reporting, presentations, and modeling.
- Routinely collects and/or oversees stream sample collection for chemical analysis.
- Supports in the Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources Freshwater Macroinvertebrate Biological Assessments.
- Assists with habitat assessment and records field observations during stream sampling.
- Helps enter laboratory data into database (e.g., habitat, macroinvertebrate and chemical analysis of stream samples).
- Aids in conducting the Fecal/E. Coli Monitoring Program.
- Assists in investigating customer inquiries regarding water quality issues within the watershed.
- Assists Environmental Compliance staff with water quality issues and SSO investigations and reports to EPD. Will be on call.
- Helps prepare reports based off the data analyses for submission to Mgr. of Env. Services and other management staff.
- Maintains current knowledge of trends for environmental and regulatory developments for the lab and Watershed Protection.
- Develops and maintains working relationships with surrounding utilities and environmental groups such as the Riverwarden
- Assist as liaison with schools, Oxbow Meadows ELC, and other environmental groups. Provides talks and presentations on water quality, and other environmental issues for CWW.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
None
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILL, AND ABILITY
Experience must include, but not limited to, municipal and/or industrial environmental management, capabilities to read and interpret blueprints and architectural drawings, with expert knowledge of hydraulics and piping systems. Must be able to communicate verbally in a clear, concise manner and is able to prepare written reports. Must be able to plan work and manage multiple projects as designated by the Manager of Environmental Services. Must be able to effectively use a personal computer and various programs. No physical limitations.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s Degree in the field of Environmental Sciences/Environmental Engineering or any discipline that is chemistry or biology based. As an alternative, experience can be considered. Must be able to obtain within one year of employment, a Water and/or Wastewater Analysts certification.
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read, analyze and interpret common and complex scientific and technical documents such as procedure manuals, operating and maintenance instructions, financial reports, and legal documents; ability to write detailed reports and correspondence; must have outstanding communication skills and the ability to describe complex technical concepts; ability to communicate effectively, both verbal and written, with members of the Board, managers, employees, and the general public.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical interference, and fundamentals on plane and solid geometry, trigonometry and calculus. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations as well as theoretical.
REASONING ABILITY
Ability to define problem, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables; ability to make recommendations for the solution of practical problems based on facts.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, AND REGISTRATIONS
Must possess a valid drivers' license and good driving record; Water and/or Wastewater Analyst certification within one year of employment.
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Ability to operate general office equipment, to include copy machine, fax machine, typewriter, calculator, and computer. Working experience and knowledge of PowerPoint, Excel, Microsoft Word, and database systems. Ability to establish and manage multiple projects and set priorities. Good knowledge of general office operations.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Must be able to walk in creeks and along unstable and uneven environments.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or equipment, stoop, kneel, crouch; talk and hear.
The employee must occasionally lift and be able to move object of up to ten pounds; specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those the employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an office environment and in the field.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: 26-28
PAY GRADE: 12