PRINCIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST (CONSTRUCTION/COMPLIANCE) - Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Metro’s mission is to provide a world-class transportation system that enhances the quality of life for all who live, work, and play within LA County.

Description

Plans, implements, and administers environmental and sustainability compliance on Metro projects, programs, and operations.

Examples of Duties

Incumbents may perform several but not all of the following duties depending on assignment

• Plans, prepares, and monitors environmental reports and procedures for compliance with environmental agencies
• Collaborates with other departments to support and determine environmental requirements, recommend strategies for environmental compliance, and establish compliance policies and procedures
• Evaluates proposed legislation for impacts on specific plans, programs, and projects
• Interprets, analyzes, and applies federal, state, local environmental regulations, and Metro environmental and sustainability policies to Metro's projects; recommends compliance actions to management
• Conducts studies, tests, investigations, and reviews of Metro sites to monitor compliance with environmental regulations and submits appropriate report(s); recommends modifications for conformance and/or corrections of identified deficiencies
• Advises Metro on environmental regulations, compliance, and impacts during planning, designing, engineering, and construction of transit projects or capital improvement projects
• Evaluates design plans and specifications to assess the environmental impact of projects; recommends course of action to reduce risks, costs, and liabilities
• Evaluates proposed projects to determine environmental impacts
• Prepares environmental impact documents to obtain necessary permits for projects
• Recommends appropriate waste disposal or treatment techniques, including resolution of problems involving contaminated waste removal, treatment, and disposal
• Supervises the accumulation, storage, and disposal of hazardous/contaminated waste from all Metro operating facilities
• Responds to hazardous material releases that involve Metro vehicles or equipment on public highways or rail right-of-ways, or that occur on Metro property; ensures any release of materials are properly remediated and reported
• Works with the Procurement Department to secure proper materials for ensuring environmental compliance and effectiveness
• Plans, reviews, and manages work of consultants or contractors and staff related to environmental issues
• Maintains assigned projects on schedule and within budget and ensures that services are performed according to appropriate regulations
• Represents Metro in environmental issues and meets with staff, consultants, regulatory agencies, and the public
• Prepares Scopes of Work, reviews and analyzes contractor submittals (work plans, contract specifications, and reports) for environmental compliance, accuracy, and impact; prepares written comments including recommendations
• Provides cost estimate and technical assistance during negotiation
• Negotiates mitigation measures with contractors and regulatory agencies
• Negotiates consultant and equipment contracts, including contract changes; oversees program control processes
• Oversees contractor activities to ensure environmental compliance with federal, state, and local regulatory requirements
• Prepares and submits required reports to regulatory agencies
• Assists in the development of budgets, forecasting, funding applications, and complex requests to fund service contracts
• Plans and provides required hazardous or contaminated material training to appropriate Metro personnel
• Trains junior professionals and assigned staff
• Prepares required documents, notices, reports, and correspondence
• Collects, creates, and maintains various files and records
• Maintains library of environmental policies, procedures, case laws, administrative practices, and local, state, and federal environmental laws, rules, and regulations
• Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out

  
  May be required to perform other related job duties

Minimum Qualifications

A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Additional experience, as outlined below, may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis. A typical combination includes:

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Biology, Chemical Sciences, Urban Planning, Resource and Energy Management, or a related field; Master's Degree in a related field preferred

Experience

• Five years of relevant experience in compliance or monitoring of environmental, climate change, and resource management issues, including water, energy, waste, or environmental media, requiring at least two years specialized experience in area of assignment

Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements

• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions
• Hazardous Material Management, Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER), Lead Construction Supervisor, Contractor Supervisor Asbestos, and DOT Certification preferred
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-Accredited Professional Certification preferred

• Experience complying with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including Sections 1601, 1602, 401 and 404, and administering Caltrans and South Coast Air Management District (SCAQMD) air quality programs.
• Experience monitoring waste, wastewater, and stormwater management programs.
• Experience managing and performing compliance work and communicating effectively with diverse audiences. 

Essential Knowledge

Knowledge of (defined as a learned body of information that is required for and applied in the performance of job tasks)

• Applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations governing environmental compliance, including, CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act), NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act), Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Clean Water Act, NHPA (National Historic Preservation Act) Section 106, USDOT (U.S. Department of Transportation) Section 4(f), AQMD (Air Quality Management District) rules and permitting, and SWRCB (State Water Resources Control Board) rules and permitting
• Various hazardous waste laws and regulations, including classification, handling, and disposal
• Theories, principles, practices and standards of environmental compliance and sustainability, including mitigation monitoring, waste management and reduction, energy management and efficiency, water conservation and management, climate change adaptation and resiliency, and greenhouse gas emissions reporting and reduction, specifically those relating to transit and the transportation industry
• Application of environmental/sustainability principles, regulations, and requirements
• Transportation theory, principles, practices, laws, and regulations.
• Transportation construction and construction management
• Data collection, research, and interpretation
• Report preparation methods
• Construction noise and vibration control and mitigation(s)
• Metro processes and procedures as they relate to the implementation of environmental/sustainability initiatives, projects, procedures, and pilots
• Contract and project administration

Skill in (defined as the proficient manual, verbal, or mental utilization of data, people, or things)

• Preparing environmental science/engineering or sustainability related reports, research, data mining, fact-finding, analysis, and recommendations
• Analyzing environmental conditions
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing
• Negotiating and managing contracts
• Thinking independently
• Developing innovative solutions
• Exercising sound judgement and creative decision making
• Forming teams to accomplish goals
• Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders
• Overseeing consultants and other staff
• Interacting professionally with various levels of Metro employees and outside representatives

Ability to (defined as a present competence to perform an observable behavior or produce an observable result)

• Represent Metro before local, state, and federal agencies and organizations
• Compile and analyze complex data, environmental reports, lab results, and analytics; identify problems and recommend solutions
• Develop program goals, objectives, strategies, and milestones
• Understand, interpret, and apply various environmental regulations and laws
• Oversee fast-paced projects with high demand, and support multiple projects at one time
• Set priorities, delegate, and manage workload on multiple projects
• Work independently while identifying times when upper management support/insight is needed
• Prepare comprehensive reports and correspondence
• Communicate technical material and advise Metro on environmental regulations
• Understand, interpret, and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, contracts, and budgets
• Procure proper resources
• Train and oversee assigned staff
• Travel to offsite locations
• Read, write, speak, and understand English

Special Conditions

The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Metro provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions

• Typical office situation
• Close exposure to computer monitors and video screen

Physical Effort Required

• Sitting at a desk or table
• Operate a telephone or other telecommunications device and communicate through the medium
• Type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions
• Communicating through speech in the English language required
• Good distance vision and/or depth perception to judge distances

Metro is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age, veteran status, or disability. Learn more about Metro’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program. Metro does not deny participation in the application process to anyone with prior justice system involvement, in line with Fair Chance hiring practices.

Selection Procedure

Applicants who best meet job-related qualifications will be invited to participate in the examination process that may consist of any combination of written, performance, or oral appraisal to further evaluate job-related experience, knowledge, skills and abilities.

Application Procedure

To apply, visit Metro's website at www.metro.net and complete an online Employment Application.

Computers are available to complete online Employment Applications at the following Metro location:

METRO Headquarters, Employment Office
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Telephone: (213) 922-6217 or persons with hearing or speech impairments can use California Relay Service 711 to contact Metro.

All completed online Employment Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date. 

*Open to the public and all Metro employees

This job bulletin is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Employees may be required to perform other related job duties.