Water Quality Specialist 2

Join the City of Chattanooga Team

Chattanooga, a vibrant and growing community of over 190,000 residents within a metropolitan area of nearly 600,000 is known as the "Scenic City" for a reason. Nestled along the Tennessee River and surrounded by the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, we are a hub of outdoor adventure and innovation. Home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and Chattanooga State Community College

Our Organization

2,600 employees committed to excellence in public service and making Chattanooga the best community in the country. Our team ensures our city thrives through a wide range of municipal services, including:

• Public Safety: Chattanooga Police and Fire Departments.
• Infrastructure & Utilities: Public Works, Waste Resources, and specialized Stormwater management.
• Quality of Life: Award-winning Parks and Outdoors and Community Development systems and the Chattanooga Public Library.
• Transportation: The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) and citywide transit and pedestrian friendly initiatives.
• Innovation: Leading-edge  smart-city programs with a commitment to cutting edge workforce development policies to ensure all our residents can get ahead.

Why Choose Chattanooga?

The City of Chattanooga’s workforce is the heartbeat of our community. We don't just offer jobs; we offer careers with purpose: making Chattanooga the best city in America. We are committed to being the premier employer of choice in Southeast Tennessee by providing:

• Competitive Compensation: Robust pay scales that reflect our commitment to our staff.
• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off and flexible scheduling where possible.
• Exceptional Wellness: Comprehensive health benefits and wellness programs designed for you and your family that deliver savings to you beyond your paycheck, featuring a centralized health clinic and pharmacy for all City employees. .
• Growth: A focus on professional development and upward mobility within the organization.
• ​The Great Outdoors: Your Backyard Playground:  Chattanooga isn't just near nature, it's immersed in it.  As one of the most biodiverse cities in North America, the "Scenic City" offers an ecological richness that few places on earth can claim.  Whether you are an adrenaline junkie or a weekend wanderer, world-class adventure is always less than an hour away.
• ​Vertical Adventures: Scale legendary sandstone cliffs in what is widely considered the premier rock climbing hub of the Southeast.
• Water & Rapids: From the high-octane whitewater kayaking of the Ocoee River to world-class bass fishing and peaceful paddling on the Tennessee River.
• Trails for Miles: Explore a massive network of mountain biking and hiking trails that wind through lush ridges, hidden waterfalls, and deep river gorges.

In Chattanooga, "work-life balance" means you can finish your shift and be at a trailhead or on the water before the sun sets.

Our mission is to work together to build a safe, vibrant, and sustainable city for all Chattanoogans. To do that, it takes a team of skilled and passionate individuals. So, if you’d like to call Chattanooga home – or maybe you already do! – and want to further your career through meaningful work that makes a true impact where you live, we’d love to talk to you.

Salary: $28.33 - $34.22 (GS.11)

Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. (EST)
*Hours may vary due to work assignments or projects.*

Work Location: 1250 Market Street, Chattanooga, TN

FLSA Status: This is a Non- Exempt position.

Department: Public Works

CLASSIFICATION SUMMARY:  

Incumbents in this classification are responsible for performing analytical and technical duties in support of the storm water management program and may serve as a lead worker to assigned staff.  Duties include: participating in water quality/storm water management compliance, monitoring, enforcement, site inspections, investigations, and special projects/studies; providing consultative, technical or educational services to industry, contractors, and the community; analyzing and maintaining a variety of watershed and water quality data; and training assigned staff. Works under limited supervision.

SERIES LEVEL: 

The Water Quality Specialist 2 is the fourth level of a four-level water quality series.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
(The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.)

May serve as a lead worker for complex projects and may assist in the training of assigned staff. Train and supervise volunteers, interns, and students in the field. Responsible for safety, recruiting, building, and maintaining these relationships.

Participates in monitoring watershed operations, which may include: collecting and documenting related data/findings; and identifying and documenting erosion problems. 

Protecting watershed health through strategic land management activities such as: protecting tree canopy, managing vegetation health in riparian buffers, managing all of the City's vegetated green infrastructure practices to reduce flooding and filter storm water, and reducing nonpoint source water pollution through improved horticultural practices on City owned lands like stabilizing eroding slopes, using native plants, improving water infiltration through soil health improvements, conserving irrigation waters, and reducing reliance on PHF or practicing proper application and therefore runoff reduction.

Participates in the detection and elimination of illicit discharge by teaching citizens and other City staff how to recognize and report water pollution and reporting illicit discharges to the proper channels whenever observed on the job.

Uses various computer software programs and field instrumentation to analyze watershed data; maintenance of logs and computerized databases/records of water quality programs.

Interprets/reviews/completes a variety of forms, reports, invoices, reports, correspondence, applications, plans, drawings, ordinances, regulations, and maps.

Enforces storm water ordinances and regulations insuring City lands and storm water control measures are in compliance through inspection and maintenance performed personally or through the management of contracted vendors volunteers, by engaging and educating citizens, professionals, and co-workers about water pollution prevention, by consulting on development policy, by creating citizen programs that incentivize tree planting or ecological landscaping, by creating standards and certifications that will reform deleterious landscaping industry practices, by restoring and managing habitat and increasing biodiversity on City-owned lands, by consulting about everything relating to vegetation with inspectors determining the functionality of SCMs.

Provides consultative, technical or educational services to industry, contractors, and the community. Delivers presentations to large crowds at professional or public events.

Conducts and documents investigations and inspections relative to storm water and watershed management to include but not limited to inspection of post-development best management practices. 

Participates in watershed data analysis and planning.  

Uses, carries, and answers their cell phone for business purposes as determined by the assigned job duties and the department head.

Must meet regular attendance requirements.

Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers and citizens.

Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner.

Performs other duties as assigned.

DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC DUTIES (if any):

Determine the necessary equipment and materials to conduct projects and purchase the needed equipment and materials. 

Coordinate with co-workers to get their assistance in completing the work.

Assists with plans review for new in-house City projects that involve SCMs or native planting that impact waterways.

Records and responds to damages to City assets. I report unsafe conditions or potential improvement to the safety committee. 

Invasive management and ecological restoration is not mentioned anywhere. Plant identification, weeding, pruning, planting, mulching, seeding, basics of design and plant selection are all critical skills that are not mentioned here. Proficiency with hand tools, blowers, hedge trimmers, string trimmers, chainsaws, and various other equipment is essential.

Collaborate with the Trust for Public Land, Green Spaces, Lyndhurst, TN-Invasive Plant Council, TN Wildlife Resources Agency and other organizations outside of the City. 

Work with community groups and the general public to address complaints and questions about the City’s green infrastructure and SCMs.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 

Bachelor Degree with coursework in Chemistry, Biology, Horticulture or a related area and four years water quality/storm water management and water quality/storm water data analysis experience to include water quality modeling or pollutant loading experience.  

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS: 

Valid Driver’s License
Must be able to obtain Erosion and Sediment Control UTK’s SCM Inspection and Maintenance Certification.

Certifications in native plant horticulture, green infrastructure management, or a related field preferred. 

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

Knowledge of water pollution control and site inspection applicable Federal, State, and Local laws, ordinances, codes, rules, and regulations associated with water quality and pollution prevention; stream assessment protocols; customer service principles; and community outreach and education techniques. Knowledge of operating water quality instrumentation for compliance and watershed analysis.

Skill in preparing and maintaining a variety of forms, records, and documentation; operating GIS systems, interpreting and applying applicable laws, ordinances, codes, rules, and regulations, assessing stream protocols; providing customer service; preparing community outreach and educational materials; using a computer and related software applications; and, communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, and the general public, sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.  Skills in water quality instrumentation maintenance and calibration and maintaining Quality Assurance/Quality Control protocols.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

Positions in this class typically require:  climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, and seeing.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

Medium Work: Exerting up to 60 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Incumbents may be subjected to odors, dusts, poor ventilation, chemicals, extreme temperatures, and infectious diseases.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Safety Sensitive:  N
Department of Transportation - CDL: N
Child Sensitive: N

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

This position requires pre-employment screening(s) that include: background check /lift test 

The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

JES 3.27.25

KJF 260303