Battery Stewardship Recycling Specialist

ABOUT CDPHE:

At the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, we are charged with protecting Colorado’s health and environment – a responsibility that affects every person and every community in the state. CDPHE is distinctive because we bring public health and environmental protection together under one agency, recognizing that healthy people depend on healthy places. Our teams prevent diseases and injury, respond to emergencies ranging from E.coli outbreaks to global pandemics, reduce air pollution, protect water quality, regulate health facilities, manage environmental hazards, perform advanced laboratory testing, provide birth and death records, and implement health promoting programs. We turn science and data into action, set statewide standards, and work alongside local public health agencies and community partners to meet Colorado’s most pressing health and environmental challenges. Working at CDPHE means applying your expertise to complex, consequential work that can improve lives across the state. 

Our mission captures this broad portfolio of work: to advance Colorado’s health and protect the places we live, learn, work, and play. Our vision is a healthy and sustainable Colorado where current and future generations can thrive. Achieving the mission and vision takes bold action, talented people, broad partnerships, and a commitment to serving every Coloradan.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• Hybrid work options may be available at the supervisor’s discretion and based on business needs. The position will be based at 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South Denver, CO 80246.

CDPHE Offers: 

CDPHE offers a comprehensive benefits package and the opportunity to build a meaningful career in public service. Benefits include:

• Medical and dental plans.

• Colorado PERA retirement options, including defined benefit plan or defined contribution plan. 

• Optional 401(K) and 457 retirement plans. 

• Employer-paid life insurance.

• Short- and long-term disability coverage.

• Potential flexible working arrangements

• 11 paid holidays per year and generous paid time off.

• Free parking and access to RTD bus lines.

• Tuition assistance. 

• Employee wellness programs.

• Professional development opportunities.

• Career opportunities throughout Colorado state government. 

Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. 

The Work Unit:
This work unit exists to protect human health and the environment by assuring the safe management of solid wastes at solid waste disposal sites and facilities through: ensuring proper storage, treatment and disposal of solid wastes; remediating contaminated facilities and sites; conducting inspections; and providing outreach to industry, governmental entities, and interested stakeholders via guidance development, training and technical and regulatory assistance. In addition, the unit collects, analyzes and reports on data associated with solid waste flow, materials management, recycling, and beneficial use within Colorado and administers producer responsibility and product stewardship programs. The unit works with stakeholders to institute best practices to involve disproportionately impacted communities.

What You Will Do:
This position exists to become a fully functional environmental protection specialist specializing in product stewardship programs for hard to recycle materials. Under supervision and support of other recycling and producer responsibility specialist in the unit, the position oversees compliance with program plan(s) and conduct inspections for the Battery Stewardship Programs, conducts inspections of other solid waste recycling facilities, provides compliance assistance and technical outreach to the regulated community, collects analyzes, and evaluates recycling data and annual reports submitted for authorized product stewardship programs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Reviews and updates stewardship program annual reports, recycling data, environmental monitoring data, recycling facility design and operations plans; complex scientific data.

• Reviews facility design and operations plan modifications to determine the technical and regulatory adequacy of the information or application.

• Under supervision, interprets and integrates Colorado Solid Waste Regulations with specific emphasis on the battery stewardship, recycling sections of the solid waste regulations, appropriate testing procedures, and relevant technical guidance materials to formulate practical working solutions related to battery recycling, collection site standards and recycling facility design and operations plans.

• Under supervision, performs comprehensive inspections, including complaint follow-up inspections, of battery recycling facilities and other solid waste recycling facilities, household hazardous waste collection facilities and retail collection sites to ensure compliance with solid waste statutes, regulations, waivers,
  approved stewardship plans.

• Performs records review inspections of approved program plans to verify compliance with geographic coverage and other requirements from the Act.

• Conducts appropriate follow-up activities, including initiating enforcement working with approval from senior inspectors and management.

Residency Requirement:

This posting is open to current and non-current residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application. However, 

Class Code & Classification Description:

I3A2T* Environmental Protection Specialist I

Minimum Qualifications:

NOTE: An applicant may meet the minimum qualifications for this job in one of two ways: They may qualify through their work experience alone or through a combination of education and work experience.

Experience Only:

5 years of relevant experience in extended producer responsibly, solid waste or hazardous waste regulatory compliance, recycling technical assistance, or an occupation related to the work assigned.

Or

Education and Experience:

A combination of related education in Science, Environmental Science, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Policy and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to five (5) years

**You must substantiate that you meet the minimum qualifications when filling out the Work Experience section of the application. Failure to do so will result in the application not moving forward in the hiring process.  “See resume” will not be accepted. Resumes are considered supplemental information and are not considered in the initial evaluation.  In addition, part-time work will be prorated when determining whether minimum qualifications are met.**

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

In addition to the minimum requirements, the successful candidate in this position will have the following highly desirable experience and competencies:  

1. Knowledge or experience with state solid waste or hazardous waste regulations, conducting site inspections, and/or direct experience with waste diversion/recycling, operations knowledge or experience with product stewardship or producer responsibility program. 

2. Knowledge or experience with product stewardship or producer responsibility programs

3. Background or experience with RCRA compliance requirements such as universal waste management, household hazardous waste and familiarity with battery chemistry. 

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: 

• Residency Requirement:

  • This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application. 

• A pre-employment background check will be conducted as part of the selection process.

• Valid Colorado Driver License

• Ability to operate a personal for fleet vehicle is required to preform job duties

• Travel: Periodic overnight travel and working from the CDPHE office at least one day per week

• PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

  • Must be able to lift 20 lbs

As an applicant who has been removed from consideration during the selection or comparative analysis process, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board and/or request a review by the State Personnel Director. A standard appeal form is available on the State Personnel Board website, https://spb.colorado.gov/forms-and-filing. If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within ten (10) days of your receipt of this notice: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203. Fax: 303-866-5038. Phone: 303-866-3300. Email address: [email protected]. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination. Refer to Chapters 4 and 8 of the State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, 4 CCR 801, for information about the appeals process. The State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures are available at spb.colorado.gov.

A complete application packet must include:

• Completed State of Colorado application.

• COVER LETTER: describing how your professional experience aligns with the preferred qualifications of this position.

• If using education to qualify for this position a copy of your transcripts (unofficial acceptable) or diploma must be provided with application. Transcripts must be attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.

• If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214 must be attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.

The Selection Process:

• All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications proceed to the next step.

• Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process. Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position may be a structured application review, which involves a review of the information you submit in your application materials by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) against the preferred qualifications.

• A top group, up to six candidates, will be invited to schedule an interview with the hiring manager.

CDPHE does not provide visa sponsorship at this time. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. 

E-Verify: 

CDPHE uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

ADAAA Accommodations:

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator at [email protected] or call 303-692-2060, option 5.