ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SPECIALIST
Commander, Navy Installations Command
FreshPosted Jan 29
CaliforniaRemote California$121,585 - $158,062GS-12Environmental and Natural ResourcesMore Navy jobs →
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Posted: January 28, 2026 (1 day ago)
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Associate Environmental Specialist
County of Riverside
Flood Control
Location
Riverside, California, 92502-1569
Salary
$40.10 - $61.47
per hour
Type
Closes
February 12, 2026
Job Description
Summary
This job involves helping protect the environment by ensuring that flood control projects follow water quality laws, monitoring stormwater pollution, and working with teams to plan and maintain safe infrastructure.
It's a mid-level role where you'll analyze data from field studies and develop strategies to keep rivers and watersheds clean while preventing floods.
A good fit would be someone with a background in environmental science who enjoys fieldwork, problem-solving, and collaborating with government agencies and communities.
Key Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in environmental science, biology, or a related field
- Knowledge of environmental laws like the Clean Water Act and Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act
- Experience with stormwater management, NPDES permits, and MS4 programs
- Skills in conducting field studies, water quality monitoring, and data analysis
- Ability to interpret regulations and develop compliance strategies
- Strong collaboration skills with public agencies, stakeholders, and internal teams
- Experience in environmental protection or regulatory compliance activities
Full Job Description
The Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District seeks an Associate Environmental Specialist that will be assigned to the Watershed Protection Division in Riverside.
Under direction, performs a of broad range environmental protection or regulatory compliance activities, developing and implementing strategies for stormwater or flood control infrastructure planning, construction, and maintenance; interprets and applies environmental laws and regulations related to water quality, environmental protection, and permitting; collaborates with public agencies, stakeholders, and internal teams to ensure project and program compliance; conducts field studies and data analysis to guide planning, regulatory decisions, and compliance strategies; performs other related duties as required.
The Associate Environmental Specialist is the fully qualified journey-level classification in the Environmental Specialist series and reports to an appropriate supervisory or manager level position. The series includes positions ranging from Junior Environmental Specialist to Senior Environmental Specialist, with opportunities for advancement to Environmental Project Manager and Flood Control Division Chief. Incumbents are expected to work independently and exercise judgment within established policies and procedures. Advancement to the next level in the series is obtained by competitive selection through an open recruitment.
The Associate Environmental Specialist differs from the Senior Environmental Specialist in that the Associate level may act as a team leader for specific studies as assigned, whereas the Senior Environmental Specialist is responsible for providing supervision to assigned staff engaged in environmental planning or water resource planning.
Positions are typically assigned to one of two functional tracks: Track I – Watershed Protection or Track II – Regulatory and Environmental Planning. Both career Tracks require creative solutions that balance providing critical public safety infrastructure, while also protecting our waterways and the natural environment. This recruitment is specific to Track I.
Track I – Watershed Protection:
Positions assigned to the Watershed Protection Division ensure the District’s compliance with environmental laws and regulations governing the construction, operation, and maintenance of stormwater management infrastructure. Incumbents apply technical expertise related to the Clean Water Act Section 402, the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, and related state and federal water quality regulations. Incumbents in this track support three Areawide Phase I Municipal National Pollution Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) Stormwater Programs, develop and implement regional compliance strategies, conduct water quality monitoring and research, and support stakeholder engagement efforts.
Meet The Team
The Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District provides for the control and conservation of flood and storm waters and for the protection of watercourses, watersheds, public highways, life and property from damage within its boundaries.
Requirements
TRACK I: WATERSHED PROTECTION:Under supervision of the Watershed Monitoring Section Manager, the Associate Environmental Specialist coordinates the implementation of the core requirements of the monitoring and reporting programs as mandated by the Riverside County NPDES MS4 permits, and other related monitoring activities in support of these programs:
• Conduct field investigations and collect environmental samples (biotic, inorganic, and organic) from flood control channels, surface waterways, and storm drains; perform routine analyses of water, soils, sediments, and/or groundwater.
• Utilize technical knowledge of state and federal environmental laws, regulations, and stormwater management principles to support the construction, operations, and maintenance of municipal storm drain infrastructure.
• Evaluate regulatory requirements and initiatives to develop compliance monitoring strategies that will be used to collect and assess data to characterize environmental conditions of Riverside County’s streams, creeks, lakes, and rivers.
• Review common chemical, biological and physical analyses of environmental samples and assist with evaluating data for accuracy and precision.
• Draft, compile, and review of monitoring plans and Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs), annual monitoring report information, monitoring program guidance and technical studies, as well as compiling and evaluating relevant monitoring information in support of NPDES policy document development.
• Engage in technical advisory committees, regional monitoring collaboration stakeholder meetings, water quality task forces, and public meetings as necessary.
• Develop requests for proposals (RFPs) and review and compare consultant scopes of work, budgets, and schedules; assist in consultant selection.
• Support staff training and development to meet the District’s stormwater compliance monitoring objectives.
• Research and perform statistical analyses of environmental data; assess findings against environmental quality objectives and recommend management actions.
• Oversee and maintain environmental data systems, including hydrologic, water quality, meteorological, and geospatial data; assist with Geographic Information System (GIS) analyses as needed.
• Utilize Microsoft Office and ESRI GIS software applications in daily work activities.
Qualifications
Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, preferably with a major in environmental sciences, environmental engineering, urban or environmental planning, biological or ecological sciences, geography, archeology, hydrology, geology, chemistry, civil engineering, or a closely related field. (A master’s degree in one of these or a closely related field may substitute for one year of the required experience.)Experience: Two years of professional-level experience in one or more of the following areas: Stormwater quality management, water quality monitoring, watershed protection, or environmental engineering. (Experience working for or consulting to a public works agency is highly desirable.)
Desired qualifications: Certified Professional in Stormwater Quality (CPSWQ), Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC), Qualified Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan Practitioner (QSP), Qualified Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan Developer (QSD), or alternative equivalent certifications.
Knowledge of: Local, state, and federal environmental laws, regulations, and standard practices, including Clean Water Act (402), Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, California Water Code, and other applicable state and federal regulations and guidance pertaining to NPDES Permitting, Waters of the U.S. and Waters of the State and Waste Discharge Requirements; basic principles of stormwater management, water quality sampling, and social, economic and environmental conditions which affect public works planning and practices.
Ability to: Conduct environmental monitoring (e.g., water quality sampling, soil borings, and visual observations/ field reconnaissance); conduct site assessments and/or water quality investigations; research, compile, analyze, and interpret environmental and water quality data; assist with operating, calibrating, programming and troubleshooting environmental monitoring equipment including but not limited to multi-parameter meters, auto-samplers and flow meters; work with complex data sets and within proprietary databases; communicate effectively orally and in writing in a variety of situations; establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted in the course of work; analyze complex problems, technical studies and documents; develop and evaluate alternative solutions, and recommend effective courses of action pursuant to NPDES compliance.
Other Requirements:
License/Certificate: Possession of a valid California Driver's License is required. This position involves travel to various locations throughout the county to conduct field surveys and site visits.
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to walk over uneven outdoor terrain and work in a variety of environmental conditions.
- Ability to frequently lift items or equipment weighing up to 50 pounds from floor to waist height
- Candidates must be able to tolerate exposure to weather elements and local wildlife while performing field duties.
Additional Information
For questions regarding this recruitment
Contact Vanessa Diaz Beaird at VDBEAIRD@rivco.org or (951) 955-9112 with any questions regarding this recruitment. Please allow 1-2 business days for a response to general inquiries.
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