Senior Environmental Technician (Industrial Pretreatment)

Senior Environmental Technician (Industrial Pretreatment)

Our Industrial Pretreatment team at Colorado Springs Utilities emphasizes environmental stewardship, ensuring the quality of water re-entering the environment and the protection of publicly-owned treatment works (POTWs). We are hiring a Senior Environmental Technician who is knowledgeable in compliance programs related to water and wastewater regulations. This role will be involved with industrial user permitting; providing support to sector control programs (e.g., fat, oil, grease); water and wastewater sampling; and evaluating industrial user surveys. You'll help to ensure safe drinking water for Colorado Springs residents by assisting with the Backflow Prevention and Cross-connection Control Program. You'll have the opportunity to work closely with leadership and various POTWs at the state and local levels. If you are passionate about water quality in Colorado Springs, we want to hear from you!

What Else Will You be Doing?

• Performing industrial permitting activities, including permit drafting, issuance and management, facility inspections, reporting, sampling, identification of non-compliance, enforcement, and providing support to permitted industrial customers
• Performing sector control program support (e.g., requiring users to install sector-specific control systems or make changes to methods of waste disposal)
• Performing investigative fieldwork to pinpoint sources of wastewater pollutants
• Evaluating non-domestic users to characterize industrial activities and waste streams; verifying information provided by industrial users; documenting findings and communicating with facilities
• Recommending and completing program compliance enforcement under the direction of the supervisor
• Interfacing with various constituents and providing answers and information regarding program requirements and specifications
• Installing, programming, maintaining, and troubleshooting IPTs monitoring, data recording, and automatic sampling equipment
• Collecting and preserving industrial effluent, wastewater treatment plant, and POTW samples for the evaluation of wastewater disposal activities within the collection system, including standard IPT monitoring and investigating abnormal discharges
• Interpreting data, reviewing, preparing, and analyzing technical reports; maintaining required reports, files, and databases, including data entry and evaluation as well as report management
• Implementing quality assurance procedures
• Assisting with the administrative efforts of the Backflow Prevention and Cross-connection Control Program

Who You Are

• Demonstrated experience in industrial pretreatment, wastewater compliance, and/or other environmental compliance capacities
• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Chemistry, Biology, or a related field is valued
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes as sources of industrial waste and/or wastewater treatment
• Strong technical writing capabilities
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing
• Ability to apply strong attention to detail through reading and comprehending complex information (e.g., applicable legislation and regulations)
• Possession of valid, unrestricted driver's license is required - this job requires operating Colorado Springs Utilities' vehicles while performing fieldwork

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

Please note that an essential function of this position is handling equipment and containers (e.g., small sample bottles, 5-gallon carboys, large autosamplers) as well as moving iron manhole covers as a result of sampling from water and wastewater sources. Exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Light work. Positions in this class typically require climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions. Incumbents may be subjected to moving mechanical parts, vibrations, fumes, odors, dusts, gases, poor ventilation, chemicals, oils, extreme temperatures, workspace restrictions and intense noises.

Our Commitment to Our Employees

Our people are the heart and soul of Colorado Springs Utilities.  They keep the lights on, gas flowing, water coming in, and wastewater leaving.  We don't just say people are important – we prove it!  That’s why we are honored to invest in protecting the health and financial security of our employees and their families through our rich benefits program.

Time Off to Recharge

• Vacation – Start with 13 days annually, increasing to 24 days with tenure
• Personal Leave –3 days per year
• Paid Holidays –12 paid holidays per year
• Sick Leave – 12 days per year for personal or family health needs
• Vacation Buy – Option to purchase up to 40 additional hours annually

Health & Wellness – Benefits elected are effective the first of the following month

• Medical Plans: Three comprehensive options, including a $0 premium High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with Health Savings Account (HSA) eligibility
• Zero Health: Access to hundreds of medical services at no cost
• Dental & Vision: Two dental plans and one vision plan
• Family Building-Benefits: Support for fertility, preservation, adoption, and surrogacy
• Wellness Program: A voluntary program that rewards you for prioritizing self-care! If you're enrolled in a our medical plan, you and your spouse can earn up to $600 in HRA or HSA contributions by completing healthy activities
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Pre-tax contributions for healthcare and dependent care expenses
• Health Savings Account (HSA): Available with HDHP

Financial & Retirement Security

• Pension Plan: Colorado PERA provides retirement benefits and peace of mind
• Supplemental Retirement Plans: PERAPlus 401(k), MissionSquare Roth IRA, and 457 plans
• Disability Coverage: Short-Term and Long-Term Disability insurance available
• Life Insurance: Employer-paid coverage with optional supplemental plans

Additional Support

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential support for mental health, stress, legal, financial, and work-life balance
• Tuition Reimbursement: Up to $5,250  annually to support continued education
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness: As a qualifying employer, your student loan payments may be eligible for loan forgiveness