Position Description
Working for the City of Tacoma is more than a job - it is an opportunity each and every day to make a difference and leave our community better than we found it.
In the Environmental Services Department, everything we do creates a better Tacoma by promoting healthy neighborhoods and a thriving Puget Sound. It is why we exist and we are committed to partnering with all of our community members, fostering a great employee culture, and continuing to improve our award-winning operations with a clear focus on safety. We are looking for employees who embrace and live by our shared core values and commit to our shared purpose of making a difference in our community.
The position of Environmental Systems Technician is an important role in fulfilling this purpose through the performance of technical environmental monitoring, maintenance, and operation tasks at the Tacoma Recovery & Transfer Center. Environmental Systems Technicians perform relatively sophisticated tasks generally involving materials that may be considered hazardous due to their chemical nature, such as the collection and disposal of household hazardous waste materials and landfill gas collection systems. Duties are conducted in a public service work environment.
Common duties of the position include:
- Identifying, segregating, processing and packing hazardous waste for transportation to disposal/treatment facilities
- Used motor oil collection
- Operation of tools/machinery/equipment
- Forklift operations
- Inspect, maintain, calibrate, construction of landfill gas and flare station equipment
- Accurate record-keeping of operational performance records, daily status reports, log readings related to environmental projects, systems, and hazardous waste operations
This is an exciting opportunity for environmental professionals with initiative and excellent customer service skills to help us promote a healthy, clean environment in our City.
Our ideal candidate will possess the following competencies:
- Communicates effectively: delivers communication orally and in writing that conveys a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
- Collaborates: builds partnerships and works cooperatively with others to meet shared goals.
- Instills Trust: gains the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
- Decision Quality: makes good and timely decisions.
- Situational Adaptability: adapts approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.
- Manages Conflict: handles conflict situations effectively.
- Being Resilient: handles difficult situations well and rebounds from setbacks and adversity.
- Work Independently: ability to perform work independently and with initiative.
- Safety: Supports safety as a core value in all work performed by the organization.
**This recruitment will be for the purpose of establishing a Civil Service Eligible List that will be used to fill vacancies as they occur, for the period of one year. Candidates are not required to have experience with both hazardous waste programs and landfill gas collection systems; candidates with experience in either one of these areas are encouraged to apply.**Essential Duties- Handle sort and package household hazardous materials for transportation to disposal/treatment facilities.
- Perform basic qualitative testing on unknown chemical wastes.
- Keep accurate operational performance records; daily status reports; log readings related to environmental projects, systems, and hazardous waste operations.
- Inspect and provide technical assistance to businesses on hazardous waste practices and waste reduction techniques.
- Monitor and maintain oil collection facilities.
- Monitor commercial and residential loads being off-loaded at the Recovery and Transfer Center.
- Perform routine inspection, maintenance, and construction of landfill gas and gas to energy systems and flare station equipment.
- Perform daily calibration, routine maintenance, and repair of landfill gas
- monitoring instrumentation.
- Monitor and record field readings of the landfill gas migration probes, inspect and troubleshoot the landfill gas collection piping system.
- Participate in an offsite gas monitoring program, as directed.
- Coordinate the work performed by outside contractors.
- Assist with the inspections, operation and maintenance of the groundwater extraction/treatment system.
- Assist with the collection of environmental samples.
- Operation of a leachate and condensate treatment system.
- Identify and process appliances that contain refrigerants for proper disposal or recycling.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Physical Requirements & Working Conditions- Position requires standing for extended periods of time. Employees working in this classification must be in good physical condition and be able to lift heavy objects.
- Municipal solid waste facility; subject to dust, noise; other conditions typical to a solid waste handling facility; and exposure to high temperature equipment.
- Employees working in this classification will be required to respond during off-hours to plant shutdowns or other problems.
- Employees may be exposed to hazardous materials while working and must be able to wear appropriate Personal Protection Equipment.
City of Tacoma Commitment to Diversity and InclusionTacoma's diversity is its greatest asset. Tacoma embraces its multi-cultural and multi-ethnic character. Communities of color and immigrant communities are fundamental to Tacoma's entrepreneurial spirit, workforce, and long-term success. In Tacoma, equity and empowerment are top priorities, meaning that all Tacoma residents must have equitable opportunities to reach their full potential and share in the benefits of community progress. One of our goals is for the City of Tacoma workforce to reflect the community it serves. We actively work to eliminate racial and other disparities and welcome candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skill sets and experiences. Our goal is for Tacoma to be an inclusive and equitable place to live, work, and play.
Qualifications
Graduation from high school or equivalent
AND:A minimum of six (6) months of experience in the operation of a landfill gas system or hazardous waste collection and processing program
OR An Associate's degree
OR Two (2) year technical certification in hazardous materials, environmental science or environmental sciences and technology.
LICENSES, CERTIFICATES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS All candidates must have the following at the time of application:- Valid Washington State driver's license or evidence of equivalent mobility at time of application with maintenance thereafter.
If hired, all Environmental Systems Technicians must obtain the following prior to completion of probation and maintain them thereafter :
(training provided by the City of Tacoma) - 40-hour Hazwoper certificate.
- Valid First Aid/AED card
- NIMS IS-00100 and 00700 certification from FEMA
Please note:Environmental Systems Technicians assigned to the
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility must obtain the following prior to completion of probation and maintain them thereafter
in addition to the licenses, certificates and other requirements listed above:
(training provided by the City of Tacoma) - Type 1 EPA certification for refrigerant recovery
- Respiratory protection certificate
- Flagging certification
- Certification to operate bobcat, forklift and manlift
- DOT Hazmat transportation training
- Blood-borne pathogen training
- Hazardous communication training
- Explosive and reactive awareness training
Environmental Systems Technicians assigned to the
Landfill Gas Collection System will be asked to be on-call to respond to problems with the environmental systems outside of working hours; standby procedures and assignments are shared and rotated with other qualified individuals in the work unit.
Knowledge & Skills
- Perform and interpret qualitative testing on unknown hazardous materials.
- Toxicity and chemical properties of hazardous materials.
- Safety rules and procedures relating to landfill gas and hazardous wastes.
- Department of Transportation shipping and packaging requirements for hazardous wastes.
- Hazardous waste reduction techniques.
- Use respiratory and chemical protective equipment with no restrictions.
- Keep complete, legible, and accurate records and logs.
- Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
- Relate well with the public.
- Work independently.
- Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
- Record keeping procedures including some data entry on computers.
- Participate in a medical monitoring program.
- Perform heavy manual labor.
- Operate motor vehicles as assigned.
- Characteristics and proper removal of refrigerants.
- Characteristics of landfill gas.
- Operational procedures for landfill gas systems.
- Operating principles of various types of landfill gas monitoring instrumentation.
- Installation and maintenance of landfill gas and environmental system components.
- Operate small hand and power tools; monitoring and refrigerant recovery equipment.
- Mechanical and electrical equipment.
- Ability to install and maintain landfill gas and environmental system components.
Selection Process & Supplemental Information
To be considered for this challenging and rewarding career opportunity:Please
apply online through the City of Tacoma's website. Individuals
must meet the minimum qualifications to progressin the examination process
. Candidates who are eligible for Veteran's Preference scoring criteria
must attach a copy of their DD-214 member copy 4, (proof of military discharge form) at time of application , to be eligible for review for Veteran's Preference points, with redacted birth date and social security numbers.
Examination Process:This is a competitive selection process. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will have their job application and responses to
Supplemental Questions # 7-10 reviewed and scored by a committee of subject matter experts, as the
Experience and Training Test.
It is the responsibility of the applicants to adequately describe all pertinent experience and training. Candidates who pass the test will be placed on an Eligible List for potential interview and hiring consideration.
Per City of Tacoma Personnel Management Policy #170, the
City of Tacoma is a drug-free work environment. Appointment is subject to successful completion of a pre-employment background check and will include a pre-employment medical examination, physical ability test and drug and alcohol screening. Candidates will be required to possess a valid Washington State driver's license at the time of appointment with maintenance thereafter.
This position is covered by a Labor Agreement between the City of Tacoma and Local Union 483 IBEW. New employees must successfully complete a nine-month probationary period prior to obtaining permanent status in this classification.
Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every one of the qualifications listed. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one from a less traditional background. If you have transferable experience, please tell us about it! WHY WORK FOR THE CITY?The City of Tacoma offers a generous program of employee benefits:- Outstanding working conditions and an exceptional quality-of-life environment.
- Medical coverage for eligible employees, spouses and dependents, including children up to age 26.
- Vision care with VSP for employees and eligible dependents enrolled in the Regence PPO medical plan with vision benefits.
- Dental coverage for eligible employees and their elected dependents, including dependent children up to the age of 26.
- Deferred compensation allowing tax-deferred savings as authorized under Section 457 of the IRS Code.
- Personal time off.
- Paid holidays.
- A great pension plan.
Our City: When you work for the City of Tacoma, you'll have an opportunity to enjoy a healthy work/life balance, the potential for flexible schedules (with some job classifications), continuing education programs, leadership pathways, wellness incentives and a total rewards benefits program. We welcome you to take a look at our website and discover how the City of Tacoma can make your next career move part of our combined destiny:
http://www.cityoftacoma.org/
http://www.traveltacoma.com/
The City of Tacoma believes that each employee makes a significant contribution to our success. This job description is designed to outline primary duties, qualifications and job scope. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.
Communication from the City of Tacoma:We primarily communicate via e-mail during the application process. E-mails from cityoftacoma.org and/or governmentjobs.com must be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk e-mail folders.
The online application system requires you to enter a substantial amount of information. Be prepared to spend an hour or more entering the required information. In order for your application materials to be considered, all information must be submitted by the closing date and time listed on this job announcement.
If you have any additional questions regarding this position, please contact the Human Resources Department at 253.591.5400, before 4:00 pm of the closing date.
The City of Tacoma provides excellent medical, dental and vision plans for the whole family; paid holidays and paid leave; participation in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System (alternate plan for Police/Fire); continuing education and advancement opportunities and a growing variety of City-sponsored health and wellness opportunities and incentives.
Medical Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age26 or younger.
Dental Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age26 or younger.
Vision Coverage: For eligible employees and their eligible dependents.
Paid Leave: City employees are entitled to received paid holidays, sick/vacation leave or personal time off (PTO), depending upon union affiliation and appointment type.
Insurance Plans: Employees are covered by a long-term disability plan. Short-term and expanded long-term disability insurance plans are also available to employees. The State Industrial Insurance Act also covers employees.
Deferred Compensation: Income can be set aside on a pretax basis and invested for supplementation of normal retirement income.
Retirement: All employees of the City, except members of the Police and Fire services, Tacoma Rail and certain project employees, are included in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System. Information on the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System can be found at www.cityoftacoma.org or by calling (253) 502-8200.
Other Employment Information
Direct Deposit: Employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule by direct deposit.
Salary Increases: Based on satisfactory job performance, the City provides for a regular progression of salary increases for most classifications according to the salary schedule.
Union Affiliation: Many job classifications are covered by union security provisions which require union membership, dues, or payment of equivalent service fees.
Note: The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice.
Closing Date/Time: 6/10/2024 5:00 PM Pacific
