Water Quality Specialist 3 - Pollution Response and Correction

Why it's a Great Opportunity: In this role, you'll play a key part in protecting Pierce County's streams, lakes, groundwater, and Puget Sound by investigating pollution incidents, responding to spills, and helping prevent contaminants from entering the stormwater system. You'll inspect public and private facilities, identify sources of pollution, collect and analyze environmental samples, and work with property owners, businesses, and partner agencies to resolve water quality concerns. Every day brings a different challenge, combining field investigations, technical analysis, problem-solving, and collaboration to protect our community's natural resources.[LK1]

 Why it's a Great Department: PPW stewards a healthy and vibrant community by collaboratively planning and investing in our people, infrastructure, systems, and policies. PPW’s team has more than 800 members that collaborate, innovate and inspire in performing essential services to the community. The department is responsible for the County road and levee systems, sewer systems, airports, ferries, building permits, environmental review, sustainability, community planning, and code enforcement - just to name a few!

Learn more about Planning and Public Works here.

How to be Successful in the Role: Success in this role comes from combining strong technical knowledge with excellent communication and investigative skills. You'll need to analyze potential pollution sources, interpret environmental data, conduct inspections, and apply stormwater regulations while working collaboratively with colleagues, regulatory agencies, businesses, and the public. Attention to detail, conflict resolution, GIS proficiency, and the ability to work independently in both field and office environments will help you effectively support pollution prevention and environmental compliance efforts. Responsibilities also include documenting inspection results, updating storm system maps, supporting enforcement actions, and providing internal training to Pierce County personnel on IDDE procedures, source control practices, and field inspection methods.

Your Future in this Role:  A career with Pierce County means joining an organization committed to your growth and success. Through our robust online learning and variety of training opportunities, Pierce County ensures continuous professional development throughout your journey. This dedication extends beyond individual advancement, it reflects a broader mission to foster welcoming communities, maintain safe infrastructure, and promote equitable access to opportunities.  

Core daily responsibilities:

• Lead of a water quality unit or program or project; assign work to a specific work unit and ensure tasks are completed correctly and timely; may approve leave requests and work schedules; provide input on performance evaluations.
• Conduct field investigations, interview witnesses, research property information, review applicable codes, photograph site, take water quality samples and gather additional evidence as necessary to confirm or identify violations. 
• Provide direction, assistance and training to less experienced employees. 
• Correspond with citizens, engineers, contractors, and other agencies in matters of spill prevention, water quality protection, and stormwater management; respond to complex questions and information requests regarding best management practices and stormwater management regulations. 
• Oversee stream flow discharge following the USGS guidelines. 
• Conduct monitoring of publicly-owned outfalls for stormwater characterization. 
• Conduct effectiveness monitoring of specific best management practices. 
• Conduct flow monitoring. 
• Prepare quality assurance project plans (QAPPs) for monitoring programs. 
• Conduct and direct on-site inspections of sophisticated or complex stormwater management facilities associated with industrial, commercial, and multi-family land use; determine or verify the proper operation and maintenance of stormwater management facilities and implementation of stormwater Best Management Practices. 
• Meet with various entities and inform of violations; explain the intent of code and provide options on resolution through written and verbal communication. 

Work Environment: This position is a 60/40 split between office and field work, respectively. Field inspections and investigations take place outdoors in urban areas, requiring safety awareness. Work occurs near roads, rivers, streams, lakes, stormwater areas, flooded sites, and sensitive locations, often in cold, wet, or rough terrain. Tasks involve walking, bending, reaching, pushing, pulling equipment, and lifting heavy stormwater components, like catch basin lids weighing over 40 pounds.

 A classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions can be found here.

Additional education or experience may substitute equally for the recruiting requirements. 

• A resume and cover letter are required for this position. 
• Four years of college or post-high school technical training AND 
• Three or more years of progressively responsible related experience. 

As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration.

To be considered for this opportunity please:

• Complete and submit a detailed online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting "APPLY" above or go to:   www.piercecountywa.org/jobs. 
• If you have a question about this opportunity, please email the Recruitment Team at [email protected] and specify the Job Number and Title. 
• If you do not have internet access, you may visit your local public library or any WorkSource location and use their computers.
• Individuals needing accommodation in the application, testing process or need this job announcement in an alternative format may call Human Resources at (253) 798-7480, at least two days prior to the need.  

Our Recruitment Practices:

This is a competitive and meritorious selection process. Pierce County applications are reviewed by human hiring staff in accordance with the qualifications listed for the position. Pierce County understands applicants may use AI tools when preparing application materials. We recognize these tools can make the process easier; however, we ask that everything you submit genuinely reflects your own experience, skills, knowledge, and writing style.??

During the interview process, you may be asked to demonstrate your skills, including writing and subject knowledge, and to speak to your experience in your own voice. Applicants should be prepared to respond to interview questions without relying on AI-generated responses or reading prepared answers from a screen. Any misrepresentation may result in disqualification or separation.

Applicants whose qualifications most closely align with the County’s needs will be eligible for further consideration. Notification of application status typically occurs within two to three weeks after the closing date. Some applicants may receive short notice to participate in additional selection steps, which may include assessments, phone screens, or interviews.

Upon offer, compensation is based on a range of job-related factors, including the requirements of the role, your skills and experience, and internal pay equity.

Our Welcoming Workplace Commitment:

Pierce County is committed to fostering a Welcoming Workplace where employees are supported, respected, and able to thrive. We believe a strong public workforce is representative of the community it serves and that fair and just access to opportunity strengthens public service.

Guided by the County Executive’s Forward Together mission, Pierce County works to build communities that are safe, welcoming, and connected. This same commitment shapes how we recruit, develop, and retain our employees. County employees make a direct and visible impact in the lives of residents every day, and we invite you to join us in helping keep Pierce County a place people are proud to call home.