Department

Department of Environmental Management

Division

Environmental Services

Salary

$84,783.00 - $95,517.00

Job Profile

JC-02524400-13 - Oil & Hazardous Materials Specialist III (C94 L2881 DOA IT DEM)

Scheduled Work Days & Work Hours

The position may require working overtime hours and serving on an after-hours responder shift to ensure emergency response coverage for oil and hazardous materials incidents.

Job Requisition Number

JR103541 OIL & HAZ MATERIALS SPEC. III (Open)

Pay Grade

C00332 A

Classification

Oil & Hazardous Materials Specialist III

Class Definition

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES: In the Department of Environmental Management, within an Emergency Response Unit, to supervise, plan, organize, assign and direct environmental investigation of multimedia complaints; to serve as field response team leader during the investigation of cleanup involving pollutants, oil and/or hazardous material spills and other releases that may threaten public health safety and the environment; and to do related work as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Works under the general supervision of a superior from whom assignments and instructions are received with considerable latitude in the exercise of initiative and independent judgment; completed work assignments are reviewed for conformance to department rules, regulations, policies and procedures, as well as state and federal law.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: Assigns, supervises and reviews the work of a group of Oil & Hazardous Material Specialists I & II for conformance to state and federal laws and department rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED:

• In the Department of Environmental Management, within an Emergency Response Unit, to supervise, plan, organize, assign and direct environmental investigation of multimedia complaints.
• To serve as field response team leader during the initial investigation and cleanup involving pollutants, oil and/or hazardous material spills and other releases to the environment.
• To respond to, as part of a response team, incidents related to Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and other acts of terrorism.
• To assign and supervise staff in the review of technical environmental and safety oriented information and materials to provide safety and environmental advice to persons involved with pollutants, oil and hazardous materials spill.
• To investigate, assess, and evaluate complaints and to direct staff for the immediate and/or initial response to spill incidents in order to minimize environmental damage and protect the public health.
• To assess and evaluate an equipment maintenance program in order to ensure equipment is functional for field response activities.
• To train and coordinate training of personnel in order to ensure complaint investigation and pollutants, oil and/or hazardous waste incidents/responses are carried out safely.
• To perform administrative review of the fiscal activities of the program, such as time and activity reports and travel and payment vouchers and schedule the work of the staff to ensure adequate coverage and availability of personnel in the event of an incident.
• To oversee the operation of complex pollution abatement equipment and personal safety gear to ensure the effectiveness and reliability of the equipment and the safety of personnel.
• To develop sampling plans to identify unknown hazardous substances, waste and oil and to supervise the taking of samples.
• To develop and coordinate division involvement with private parties and/or oil spill cleanup cooperatives.
• To promote greater awareness of spill cleanup technology and techniques.
• To represent the office during significant pollution incidents and to provide and maintain a uniform account of the incident.
• To direct activities of field or office personnel in the absence of or under direction of the office supervisor to ensure continuity of operations.
• To evaluate, assess and direct the cleanup and proper disposal of pollutants, oil and/or hazardous materials spills in the absence of subordinate staff in order to minimize environmental damages.
• To coordinate and recover state cleanup costs from responsible parties as provided by law.
• To monitor and direct field activities during the removal of underground storage tanks in order to ensure that these activities are done in conformance with environmental rules and regulations.
• To inspect tankers, tank vessels, conveyances, and fixed storage and handling facilities that involve the use or other management of oil, hazardous materials, or other pollutants, for compliance with state regulations.
• To coordinate scheduling of facility inspections to ensure that oil, hazardous material, or other pollutants are being managed in accordance with a timely and orderly inspection program.
• To oversee the development and maintenance of the Department’s manual establishing the safety standards for field response activities.
• To review the determination of locations and methods of final disposal of pollutants/oil spill debris and make recommendations regarding hazardous waste spill debris storage and disposal to ensure disposal is accomplished in an environmentally sound manner.
• To testify in court as an expert witness on behalf of the State. To do related work as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT:

KNOWLEDGES, SKILL, AND CAPACITIES: A thorough knowledge of ecological principles, methods, techniques and practices; a thorough knowledge of safety and life support equipment necessary for protection from the effects of pollutants, oil and hazardous materials; a thorough knowledge of pollutants, oil and hazardous materials spill cleanup technology; a thorough knowledge of pollutants, oil and hazardous material sampling techniques; a thorough knowledge of federal, state and local laws and regulations concerning pollutants, oil and hazardous materials control and the ability to apply such knowledge in investigating and interviewing techniques; a thorough knowledge of the agency's pollutants, oil and hazardous material control policies; a thorough knowledge of basic soils and groundwater geology; a thorough knowledge of chemical characteristics; a working knowledge of basic mechanical skills; the ability to effectively plan, supervise and review the work of subordinate personnel under emergency response conditions; the ability to oversee and evaluate the work of contract personnel; the ability to supervise crews of pollutants, oil and hazardous materials cleanup contractors in field operation; the ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with local, state or federal agency representatives that deal in emergency response and abatement of environmental clean ups following spills or releases of pollutants, oil or hazardous materials; the ability to prepare and deliver effective oral and/or written reports and to speak publicly; the ability to operate a motor vehicle and trailer; the ability to do related work as necessary with a minimum of oversight and direction; and related capacities and abilities.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Education: Such as may have been gained through: graduation from a college of recognized standing with a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, environmental management, biology, environmental or chemical engineering, geology, or other related physical science; and

Experience: Such as may have been gained through: employment as an Oil & Hazardous Material Specialist 2 (DEM) or four (4) years employment in high level supervisory position involved in investigating, monitoring and inspecting oil and/or hazardous materials spills, releases or facility compliance.

Or, any combination of education and experience that shall be substantially equivalent to the above education and experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Conditions for appointment: Must possess a Motor Vehicle Operator’s License issued the State of Rhode Island and must maintain such licensure as a condition of employment. Must be physically qualified to perform assigned duties as evidenced by a physician’s certificate. In addition, at the time of appointment and annually thereafter, must participate in a medical monitoring program as established in accordance with state and/or federal regulations and guidelines.

Supplemental Information

Benefits

For information regarding the benefits available to State of Rhode Island employees, please visit the Office of Employee Benefits' website at http://www.employeebenefits.ri.gov/.
 

Also, be advised that a new provision in RI General Law 35-6-1 was enacted requiring direct deposit for all employees. Specific to new hires, the law requires that all employees hired after September 30, 2014 participate in direct deposit. Accordingly, any employee hired after this date will be required to participate in the direct deposit system. At the time the employee is hired, the employee shall identify a financial institution that will serve as a personal depository agency for the employee.