Public Works Regulatory Specialist (Planner III)*

The Job

San Bernardino County Department of Public Works is recruiting for Public Works Regulatory Specialist (Planner III) who are responsible for a wide range of environmental planning duties in support of capital improvement projects and maintenance of existing public works facilities.

The Department of Public Works is an innovative, forward-looking department that provides a wide variety of environmental and regulatory compliance services including California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Compliance Services as well as other regulatory and environmental planning activities for a multitude of County Departments/Divisions including but not limited to Flood Control, Transportation, Solid Waste, and Special Districts. As such, the position requires an understanding of the planning, operating, and engineering characteristics of stormwater/flood projects and systems, transportation roadway and bridge projects, long term capital improvement projects and more. The Department of Public Works is responsible for preparing Federal and State regulatory applications and obtaining 404 permits, 401 certifications, and 1602 streambed alteration agreements for the construction and maintenance of public works facilities throughout the county by working closely with federal, state, and local resource agencies.

The Department of Public Works is seeking to hire Public Works Regulatory Specialists (Planner III) to support its Environmental Management Division (EMD) Maintenance Section. The Maintenance Section is responsible for all environmental clearance efforts in support of ongoing maintenance activities of Public Works facilities. The Maintenance section works with multiple divisions within Public Works but primarily supports Operations Divisions.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Prepare and manage the CEQA environmental review process for projects. The majority of CEQA documents are at the Categorical Exemption or Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration level. The Regulatory Specialist will coordinate with technical support staff internally to provide preliminary analysis of impacts and/or procure a consultant will prepare the CEQA documents with the required environmental technical reports.
• Prepare and manage the federal and state routine maintenance permit applications and provide oversight leading to successful receipt of permits. Management involves consultation (permit application) and reporting (permit implementation) with federal and state agencies including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regional Water Quality Control Boards, U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
• Prepare emergency permit applications and supporting documents/maps in support of emergency operations work during storm season.
• Create or review GIS maps or data in support of permit applications and reporting.
• Review encroachment permit applications to determine if an applicant's proposed project will have environmental impact(s) to a public works owned/maintained facility.
• Schedule and lead project meetings as needed.
• Procure environmental consulting services, manage contracts, process invoices, oversee project schedule.
• Provide planning support to Operations and other DPW staff on an as needed basis.

*Official Title: Planner III

EXCELLENT BENEFITS

To review job-specific benefits, refer to: Summary of Benefits and the General Unit MOU

The County also offers an alternative Modified Benefits Option (MBO) that provides a wage differential.

Minimum Requirements

Applicants must meet the required experience and ONE (1) of the required education options listed below:

EXPERIENCE

Two (2) years of professional-level planning and project management experience in regulatory permitting and compliance, environmental review/analysis, or land use planning.

AND

EDUCATION

Option 1: A Bachelor's Degree or higher in Planning, Environmental Science, Biology, Botany, Geographic Information Systems, Landscape Architecture, Geography, Engineering, or a closely related field.

Option 2: An Associate Degree in Planning, Environmental Science, Biology, Botany, Geographic Information Systems, Landscape Architecture, Geography, Engineering, or closely related field AND One (1) year of planning-related experience which may include experience as an Engineering/ Land Use/Survey Technician or assisting with preparation/review of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) applications for 404 permits/401 certifications (Clean Water Act), or Lake and Streambed Alteration Act (LSA) permits.

Substitution: A Master's Degree in one of the areas listed above or in Public/Business Administration or Project Management may substitute for one (1) year of the required experience.

Desired Qualifications

The Ideal candidate will:

• Possess a strong knowledge base and demonstrated ability in preparing regulatory permits and applications in accordance with local, state, and federal environmental permitting laws, regulations, and best practices, including:
• California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
• Clean Water Act (Sections 404 and 401), including an understanding of USACE NEPA environmental review requirements
• Endangered Species Act (ESA) and California Endangered Species Act (CESA)
• California Fish and Game Code
• Federal and State Habitat Restoration and Conservation Plans
• Other applicable environmental regulations and guidance
• Demonstrate the ability to interpret and apply regulatory requirements to environmental planning, permitting, and compliance projects.
• Highly Desired: Possess professional experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), including ArcGIS Pro desktop application and/or online GIS platforms, for analyzing, managing, and presenting environmental data.

Selection Process

Application Procedure: Please complete and submit the online employment application and supplemental questionnaire. Applications will be accepted until further notice; recruitment may close at any time once sufficient applications are received. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the application and/or supplemental questionnaires. There will be a competitive evaluation of qualifications based on the information provided in the Application and the Supplemental Questionnaire. You are encouraged to include detailed descriptions of your qualifying experience and skills, as only the most highly qualified applicants will be referred to the Department. To ensure timely and successful submission of your online application, please allow ample time to complete and submit your application before the posted filing deadline. Applicants will be automatically logged-out if they have not submitted the application and all required materials prior to the posted deadline. Once your application has been successfully submitted you will receive an onscreen confirmation and an email. We recommend that you save and/or print these for your records. Please note: if you do not receive an onscreen confirmation and an email acknowledging our receipt of your application, we have not received your application. All communications regarding the selection process will be via email. Applicants are encouraged to check their e-mails frequently to obtain any correspondence associated with this recruitment. Please be sure the email provided on this application is always current; it is your responsibility to update your personal information. Update your Spam, Junk, Bulk and Firewall settings as needed to ensure that you receive all information pertaining to this recruitment. EEO/ADA: San Bernardino County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant employer, dedicated to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants. ADA Accommodation: If you have a disability and need accommodations during the testing process, please submit the Special Testing Accommodations Request Form within one week of a recruitment filing deadline. Veterans' Preference: Eligible veterans and their spouses or widows/widowers who are not current County employees may receive additional Veterans' Preference points. For details and instructions on how to request these points, please refer to the Veterans' Preference Policy. For more important details, review the links below: Guide to Completing a County Job Application Applicant Information and the County Employment Process