Public Works Regulatory Specialist (Planner III)*

San Bernardino County Department of Public Works is recruiting for Public Works Regulatory Specialist (Planner III)* who are responsible for a wide range of environmental planning duties in support of capital improvement projects and maintenance of existing public works facilities.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

The Department of Public Works is an innovative, forward-looking department that provides a wide variety of environmental and regulatory compliance services including California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Compliance Services as well as other regulatory and environmental planning activities for a multitude of County Departments/Divisions including but not limited to Flood Control, Transportation, Solid Waste, and Special Districts.  As such, the position requires an understanding of the planning, operating, and engineering characteristics of stormwater/flood projects and systems, transportation roadway and bridge projects, long term capital improvement projects and more.  The Department of Public Works is responsible for preparing Federal and State regulatory applications and obtaining 404 permits, 401 certifications, and 1602 streambed alteration agreements for the construction and maintenance of public works facilities throughout the county by working closely with federal, state, and local resource agencies.

The Department of Public Works is seeking to hire Public Works Regulatory Specialists (Planner III) to support its Environmental Management Division (EMD) – Maintenance Section.   The Maintenance Section is responsible for all environmental clearance efforts in support of ongoing maintenance activities of Public Works facilities. The Maintenance section works with multiple divisions within Public Works but primarily supports Operations Divisions.

• Prepare and manage the CEQA environmental review process for projects.  The majority of CEQA documents are at the Categorical Exemption or Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration level.  The Regulatory Specialist will coordinate with technical support staff internally to provide preliminary analysis of impacts and/or procure a consultant will prepare the CEQA documents with the required environmental technical reports.
• Prepare and manage the federal and state routine maintenance permit applications and provide oversight leading to successful receipt of permits.  Management involves consultation (permit application) and reporting (permit implementation) with federal and state agencies including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regional Water Quality Control Boards, U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
• Prepare emergency permit applications and supporting documents/maps in support of emergency operations work during storm season.
• Create or review GIS maps or data in support of permit applications and reporting.
• Review encroachment permit applications to determine if an applicant’s proposed project will have environmental impact(s) to a public works owned/maintained facility.
• Schedule and lead project meetings as needed.
• Procure environmental consulting services, manage contracts, process invoices, oversee project schedule.
• Provide planning support to Operations and other DPW staff on an as needed basis.

EXCELLENT BENEFITS

To review job-specific benefits, refer to: Summary of Benefits and the General Unit MOU

The County also offers an alternative Modified Benefits Option (MBO) that provides a wage differential.

Pre-Employment Process: Applicants must pass a background investigation, which includes fingerprinting and physical exam prior to appointment.

Travel: Travel throughout the County is required. A valid California Class C driver's license is required at time of appointment and must be maintained during employment. Employees in this class may be required to use personal vehicles and show proof of automobile liability insurance. Mileage reimbursement is available.

The Ideal candidate will:

• Possess a strong knowledge base and demonstrated ability in preparing regulatory permits and applications in accordance with local, state, and federal environmental permitting laws, regulations, and best practices, including:
  • California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
  • Clean Water Act (Sections 404 and 401), including an understanding of USACE NEPA environmental review requirements
  • Endangered Species Act (ESA) and California Endangered Species Act (CESA)
  • California Fish and Game Code
  • Federal and State Habitat Restoration and Conservation Plans
  • Other applicable environmental regulations and guidance

• Demonstrate the  ability to interpret and apply regulatory requirements to environmental planning, permitting, and compliance projects.
• Highly Desired: Possess professional experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), including ArcGIS Pro desktop application and/or online GIS platforms, for analyzing, managing, and presenting environmental data.