Senior Environmental Specialist (Hazardous Materials)

Salary : $64,875.20 Annually
Location : Gainesville, FL
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: FY26-16937
Department: Environmental Protection
Division: Hazardous Materials
Opening Date: 05/05/2026
Closing Date: 5/26/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree with major course work in environmental science, environmental engineering, chemistry, natural science, or a related field, and three years of professional level environmental related experience; or any equivalent combination of related training and experience. Applicants within six months of meeting the education/experience requirement may be considered for trainee status.
A Valid Florida Driver License is required and a Motor Vehicle Record that meets the requirements of Alachua County policy #6-7; Motor Vehicle Records will be reviewed prior to employment. If, in the past 24-month period, the applicants Motor Vehicle Record has more than three (3) moving traffic infractions or three (3) or more at fault motor vehicle accidents (or combination of both and /or a conviction/pending charge for driving under the influence) or is in violation of any standard mandated by Federal or State Law or Regulation, the minimum qualifications are not met for the position.
Successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen, Hazmat physical examination and successful completion of all applicable background checks pre-hire and ongoing are required.
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) 40 hour Certification is required within 6 months of hire into this classification and the 8 hour refresher course is required every year to maintain the certification.
Position Summary
This is a professional role providing oversight and coordinating inspections, testing, and enforcement of air, soil, and water pollution control ordinances, hazardous waste management or collection, as well as emergency response for hazardous material incidents and spills in Alachua County.
The employee assigned to this classification is responsible for coordinating field and laboratory activities related to water quality, air, or soil quality or other environmental monitoring, assessment and remediation, technical review and oversight of contaminated site remediation, regulatory activities regarding hazardous materials, and hazardous waste collection.
Work is performed under the direction of a higher-level supervisor and is reviewed through conferences, reports, and observation of results obtained.
Examples of Duties
This is an emergency essential classification. Upon declaration of a disaster and/or emergency, all employees in this classification are required to work.
Exudes a positive customer service focus.
Advocates building organizational culture through aligning decisions with County's core values.
Conducts and supervises field collection of samples and/or data and/or observations for environmental analysis, evaluates data, prepares reports and recommendations.

Coordinates with other regulatory agencies and municipalities on inquiries and code requirements.
Provides guidance and oversight and enforcement of federal, state and local environmental regulations.
Evaluates inspection and monitoring data from multiple sources. Examples may include solid waste management sites and hazardous materials management facilities and evaluating data from other agencies as appropriate.
Prepare reports and recommendations.
Prepares case evidence and testifies, as needed, at administrative hearings and/or court as a technical witness or enforcement officer and/or to support enforcement actions.
Performs rotational 24/7 on call and emergency response as required for hazardous materials incidents/releases within the County and coordinates remediation of spills. Interacts and coordinates with inter-agencies, state and federal agencies as needed/required.
Performs periodic compliance and enforcement inspections of regulated facilities, contaminated sites, remediation sites, and other environmental sites to ensure compliance with and enforcement of local codes, ordinances, state and federal regulatory programs; reviews permits and compliance status.
Manages remediation activities at environmental sites, including technical and/or cost oversight of engineering contractors for compliance monitoring, contamination assessments and remedial actions arising from groundwater, surface water, soil or ambient air contamination with hazardous or toxic materials and petroleum products to ensure compliance with program regulations and local ordinances.
Prepares and reviews purchase orders or work orders and reviews invoices for work performed or services or goods provided by contractors and vendors in support of county or state contracted regulatory programs or hazardous materials and waste management programs.
Performs emergency spill response as required for hazardous materials or petroleum product spills in support of county, state and federal regulations and in support of first responders and coordinates remediation of spills.
Assists in developing pollution control, air pollution and hazardous and solid waste elements of land development regulations, County Comprehensive Plan, and ordinances and regulations.
Oversees and enforces compliance with federal, state and local regulations, including the proper storage, handling, transportation and disposal of hazardous materials.

Responds to citizen and multi-agency inquiries and complaints related to hazardous materials and hazardous waste issues.
Receives complaints regarding violations of environmental regulations, codes, and ordinances and/or site-specific rules, plans, and guidelines; investigates potential civil and/or criminal enforcement situations for corrective action and resolution.
Coordinates and conducts hazardous materials outreach and education.
Prepares and revises procedures and implements staff training on various hazardous materials safety policies and procedures including proper documentation and training records.
Operates, as required, motor vehicles (including departmental motor vehicles), in order to conduct job duties that may include field tests, inspections, evaluations, emergency response and investigations to obtain data for use in determining code compliance, sources of, and methods for controlling County-wide environmental pollutants, performing on-site evaluations, emergency response operations for hazardous materials and other ecological monitoring as appropriate.
Performs the duties listed, as well as those assigned, with professionalism and a sense of urgency.
NOTE: These examples are intended only as illustrations of the various kinds of work performed in positions allocated to this class. 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.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Thorough knowledge of the technical methods and procedures involved in the administration of environmental regulations, programs and policies. This may include technical methods and procedures and general environmental programs such as solid waste management, hazardous waste disposal, and air and water quality monitoring.
Considerable knowledge of environmental sampling procedures and equipment.
Knowledge of local, state, and federal rules, regulations, and ordinances related to environmental protection.
Knowledge of applicable codes, ordinances, statutes, rules, regulations, program policies, technical guidance, and memoranda.
Knowledge of hazardous materials and hazardous waste regulations and emergency response operations.
Working knowledge of MS Office Suite, ArcMap, GIS, data management and data validation.
Knowledge of word processing and data management programs and Geographic Information Systems.
Knowledge of Incident Command, National Incident Management System and Unified Command.
Skill in the operation of motor vehicles, small equipment and machinery.
Ability to apply engineering and scientific principles and methods.
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Ability to create concise, clear and succinct technical reports.
Ability to research technical problems, formulate recommendations, and compile related reports.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, the general public and other County agencies.
Ability to clearly communicate with 911 dispatchers and emergency personnel for emergency responses.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee frequently is required to talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; and smell.
The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include color vision, close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in outside weather conditions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in various facilities, near moving mechanical parts, potential elevation with climbing and occasionally works in precarious places.
The employee may perform field work in inclement weather and harsh conditions such as wet areas and dense brush with biting insects, venomous animals or irritating plants and allergens.
The employee is occasionally exposed to vapors, fumes or airborne particles and toxic or caustic chemicals.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to low.
Supplemental Information

Experience with Aloha, Cameo and ERDSS is beneficial, but not required.
An organization is only as good as the people it employs. To attract and retain the best team possible, the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners offers a competitive benefit program. We believe that if we expect our employees to support the County, we must first support the health and financial well-being of our employees and their families, now and as they plan for their future. BoCC-Contributed Benefits

• Medical/Health Insurance
• Employee Life Insurance
• Florida Retirement System
• Employee Assistance Program

Optional Benefits

• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Supplemental & Dependent Life Insurance
• Deferred Retirement Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Roth IRA
• Tuition Assistance Program

NOTE: For detailed information regarding available benefits

You may also view regarding benefits.

• FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM (FRS) The Florida Retirement System is a retirement plan designed to provide an income to a vested employee and his/her family when the employee retires, becomes partially or totally disabled, or dies prior to retirement. A defined benefit or defined contribution option may be chosen by the employee.
• TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Permanent, full-time employees are eligible for educational assistance funds. Contact the Human Resources Office for program details.
• HOLIDAYS Holidays are as follows:

1. New Years Day
2. Martin Luther King Day
3. Memorial Day
4. Juneteenth
5. Independence Day
6. Labor Day
7. Veterans' Day
8. Thanksgiving Day
9. Friday following Thanksgiving
10. Christmas Eve (IAFF*)
11. Christmas Day
12. Additional Christmas Holiday (All non-IAFF employees)
13. 2 Floating Holidays (All non- IAFF employees)

*IAFF - International Association of Firefighters Pay periods are every two weeks, Monday through Sunday. Payday is Friday. International Association of Firefighters follow the General Contract 7k regarding holidays.

Vacation Leave - Generous vacation accrual rates with payout of unused accrued leave, with some restrictions. For more detailed information regarding vacation leave refer to .

Sick leave is earned at a rate of 4 hours per pay period by all permanent, full-time employees*. At the end of each fiscal year, eligible employees can convert up to 10 days of accrued sick leave to vacation leave on a 2:1 basis. For more detailed information regarding sick leave refer to *Accruals slightly different for IAFF employee.
01

I understand that once my application has been submitted for this specific position that I will NOT be able to make any changes to it. Any changes to my master application will only be reflected in any future positions for which I may apply.

• Yes
• No

02

If an applicant meets all minimum qualifications as posted he/she is referred to the appropriate hiring manager. The following Supplemental Questions are specific to the position for which you have applied to assist the hiring manager in screening applications for the ones with the specific experience he/she is seeking.Please be specific in answering these questions as they will be used to evaluate which applications will be given further consideration in the process. I understand and will answer the following supplemental questions completely and thoroughly.

• Yes
• No

03

I understand this position requires working mostly outdoors, in the field. It requires the employee to work with the public, various business industries and government entities to ensure compliance with all environmental, hazardous materials and hazardous waste regulations, codes and ordinances. It requires the employee to work a full-time day shift and provide after-hours coverage of emergency response calls on a rotational basis, with other field operations team members. The work will at times be physical in nature and will subject me to hot, cold, wet and /or humid conditions, as well as to possible chemicals used in various industries and/or releases.

• Yes
• No

04

Do you have any existing certifications that would apply to this position?

• Yes
• No

05

If yes, please list certifications that would apply to this position
06

I understand that this is an emergency essential position and upon declaration of a disaster and /or emergency, I am required to work.

• Yes
• No

07

Do you have experience enforcing codes, ordinances, and/or regulations, and if yes, please describe that experience?
08

Do you have experience responding to emergency calls, including hazardous materials incidents?

• Yes
• No

09

if yes, please describe your experience with emergency response calls.
10

Do you have experience reviewing, writing or implementing hazardous materials or hazardous waste contamination assessment, contamination monitoring or remedial action plans?

• Yes
• No

11

If yes, please explain your experience reviewing, writing or implementing hazardous materials or hazardous waste contamination assessment, contamination monitoring or remedial action plans
12

Do you have experience investigating complaints / codes violations?

• Yes
• No

13

If yes, please describe your experience investigating complaints and/or code violations.
14

Do you have experience with hazardous materials and /or hazardous waste programs?

• Yes
• No

15

If yes, please explain your experience with hazardous materials or hazardous waste programs?
16

Do you have a current HAZWOPER certification?

• Yes
• No

17

Do you have experience speaking and/or presenting to groups?

• Yes
• No

18

If yes, please explain your experience speaking / presenting.
19

Explain what the "RCRA - Resource Conservation and Recovery Act" is in your own words.
20

Please indicate the following software applications and work functions in which you are proficient. (Select all that apply)

• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Access
• ArcGIS
• Google Maps
• Report writing

21

Do you possess a Valid State of Florida driver's license?

• Yes
• No

Required Question