Environmental Specialist II (Storm Water)

Environmental Specialist II (Storm Water)

Salary

$54,190.94 - $90,788.72 Annually

Location

2233 McKann Avenue, Norfolk, VA

Job Type

Permanent Full-time

Job Number

14488

Department

Public Works

Division

Storm Water Management

Opening Date

11/02/2026

Closing Date

11/14/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Description

CITY OF NORFOLK: The Department of Public Works builds, maintains, and operates the physical facilities that support and enhance the lives of Norfolk's citizens, businesses, and visitors, including the City's Street Network, Traffic Management System, Storm Water System, Waste Management, and Recycling.

The Division of Environmental Storm Water Management is responsible for reducing the threat of flooding and improving water quality throughout the City of Norfolk. The division's crews maintain and operate the city's stormwater infrastructure, including underground pipes, drainage structures, roadside and off-road ditches, Best Management Practices (BMPs), and pump stations. By performing routine maintenance, system inspections, and emergency response during rain and tidal events, the division works to minimize flooding impacts, protect public safety, and ensure the continued function and reliability of Norfolk's stormwater system.

The Storm Water Division protects and enhances the community's water resources by leading the Citys environmental regulatory compliance and stormwater engineering efforts. The division ensures adherence to federal, state, and local water quality regulations, including MS4 permit requirements, while designing and implementing sustainable stormwater infrastructure and management practices. Through monitoring, planning, engineering, and public outreach, the division works to reduce pollution, improve drainage systems, mitigate flooding, and support long-term environmental stewardship.

The Division is seeking to fill the mission-critical Environmental Specialist II position. This position is responsible for inspecting stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) before, during, and after construction to ensure compliance with approved plans, engineering standards, and environmental regulations. The position also provides spill response support by assessing environmental incidents, coordinating cleanup actions, and ensuring proper notification and documentation. Additionally, the individual will perform environmental code enforcement by investigating complaints, identifying violations of stormwater and water quality ordinances, issuing notices and corrective actions, and educating the public and contractors on compliance requirements. Through consistent inspections, enforcement, and environmental stewardship, this position helps protect local waterways, reduce pollution, and support the City's stormwater environmental regulatory management goals.

Departmental Hiring Salary Range: $54,190-$58,050

Essential Functions

Essential functions include but are not limited to:

• Responsible for inspecting stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) before, during, and after construction to ensure compliance with approved plans, engineering standards, and environmental regulations. The role conducts field evaluations of structural and non-structural BMPs, verifies proper installation and functionality, and documents construction activities to support regulatory reporting and permit requirements.
• Conducts illicit discharge investigations by responding to reports of potential pollution, tracing sources of unauthorized discharges, documenting findings, and coordinating corrective actions to protect water quality and ensure compliance with stormwater regulations.
• Provides spill response support by assessing environmental incidents, coordinating containment and cleanup actions, and ensuring proper notification and documentation in accordance with local, state, and federal guidelines.
• Performs environmental code enforcement by investigating complaints, identifying violations of stormwater and water quality ordinances, educating the public and contractors on compliance requirements, issuing notices of violations or summonses, and representing the City on court proceeding providing expert, sworn testimony.
• Inspect commercial and industrial properties to ensure compliance with environmental and water quality regulations. These inspections verify proper site practices, pollution prevention measures, and stormwater controls, while identifying any activities that may impact local waterways.
• Collects environmental and stormwater data through field inspections and monitoring activities, then analyzing that information to identify trends, assess compliance, and support informed decision-making for regulatory and engineering programs. This data will be utilized in supporting documentation for annual MS4 reporting.
• Represents the City during regulatory audits conducted by state and federal agencies, providing documentation, answering technical questions, and demonstrating compliance with stormwater and environmental requirements to ensure accurate evaluation and continued regulatory standing.
• Assists with monitoring evolving local, state, and federal laws and regulations related to stormwater and environmental compliance, ensuring the City stays informed of new requirements and proactively updates practices, procedures, and policies to maintain regulatory alignment.
• Conducts stormwater monitoring and sampling to evaluate water quality, assess BMP performance, and ensure compliance with environmental regulations. This includes collecting field data, obtaining representative samples, and documenting results to support regulatory reporting and informed management decisions.
• Conduct presentations and training sessions for staff, contractors, and community groups to explain stormwater requirements, promote best practices, and support consistent understanding of environmental compliance obligations.
• Functions as a representative on various internal and external committees, providing technical expertise, supporting interdepartmental coordination, and contributing to regional and regulatory initiatives related to stormwater management and environmental compliance.
• Provides responsive and professional customer service by assisting residents, businesses, and contractors with stormwater questions, addressing concerns, and offering guidance on regulations, best practices, and compliance requirements.
• Prepares and writes professional letters, correspondence, reports, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and memos to document activities, communicate regulatory requirements, and support consistent stormwater and environmental program operations.
• Takes initiative and works independently to provide analytical and evaluative judgment.
• Reads and interprets environmental regulations, laws and permits, construction specifications, contracts, city codes, and technical reports.
• Performs general math calculations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, algebra, and engineering calculations.
• The position requires performing physical tasks, including lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds, lifting equipment and gear, including lifting manhole covers. Work is performed both indoors and outdoors. May work in varying weather conditions and around heavy equipment and active job sites, including construction sites.
• Requires sufficient hearing to detect equipment alarms, communicate with others, and remain aware of job site hazards. Must have adequate vision and depth perception to safely work around heavy equipment, judge distances, and perform detailed inspections of stormwater structures and tools.
• Work in adverse weather conditions, including extreme hot and cold temperatures and wet / rainy environments during both emergency and non-emergency conditions.
• Ability to work in and around water bodies.

Education/Experience

Work requires broad knowledge in a general profession or technical field. Knowledge is normally acquired through four years of college resulting in a Bachelors degree or equivalent. Concentrations in environmental science, engineering, construction, biology, chemistry, geography, geology, or a closely related field are preferred.

Two years experience in environmental or construction inspection or maintenance.

Additional Information & Requirements

Preferred License(s) and/or Certification(s): Must possess valid Driver's License. Must provide a copy of Division of Motor Vehicle driving record (obtained within last 30 days) during the interview.

Must obtain within 6 months of employment and maintain annual Hazwoper-Awareness Level Certification.

Must obtain a Special Police Commission within 6 months of employment.

Must obtain an Erosion and Sediment Control Inspector certification within 1 year of employment.

Must obtain a Storm Water Inspector certification within 1 year of employment.

Work Hours: Monday - Friday 7:00 am to 3:30 pm; 40 hours per week every week; This position will be required to respond to after-hour emergencies.

• Regular full-time and permanent part-time employees may receive paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, employer paid pension plan, basic life insurance, voluntary participation in medical and dental, Section 457 deferred compensation, long-term disability, optional life insurance for self, spouse and children, medical and dependent care reimbursement plans, access to membership in credit union and employer provided parking.

• Special project/grant employees are generally eligible for the same benefits of regular full-time employees; however, retirement, life insurance and participation in health plans vary depending upon funding and authorization.

• Temporary/seasonal and part-time employees are generally only eligible for employer provided parking and access to membership in credit union.

• Retirement

If you are hired October 5, 2010, or after to a position with City of Norfolk Retirement System benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.

If you are hired January 1, 2022, or after to a position with Virginia Retirement System (VRS) benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.

• The Tuition Assistance Program is established to encourage employees toward continued self-development and education. Permanent full-time and permanent part-time classified, unclassified permanent, full-time special projects, and constitutional employees who have completed six months continuous service will be eligible to apply. The applicant's school of enrollment must be an accredited institution.

NOTE:

The benefits described above are broad generalizations. The specific benefits that an employee may be eligible for are governed by City regulations, as applicable to job type.

Non-City

Positions listed with a job type designation of "Non-City" are not subject to the benefits descriptions above. Refer to the content of the job posting for information regarding these positions.

01

The following Supplemental Questions are specific to the position for which you have applied to assist the hiring manager in screening applications for specific experience being sought. Please be specific in answering these questions as they will be used to evaluate which applications will be given further consideration in the process. Do not answer "see resume" or "see application" as these are not valid answers. Please note that if you are invited to be interviewed by the department, your responses to the following questions may be subject to verification.

• I understand and will answer the following supplemental questions completely and thoroughly.

02

Are you a current or previous City of Norfolk employee?

• Yes - I am a current City of Norfolk Employee
• Yes - I am a previous City of Norfolk Employee
• No - I am not a previous or current City of Norfolk employee

03

If you were referred for this position by a current City of Norfolk employee, please provide the employees full name, department, and job title, and your relationship to the employee. If not, please indicate by typing "N/A."

04

Please provide an explanation of any periods of unemployment that are 30 days or longer. Indicate N/A if you have not experienced any periods of unemployment.

05

Please select the highest level of education you have completed.

• High School Diploma/GED
• Some College (6 months or more)
• Vocational/Technical Degree
• Associates Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree or higher

06

Do you have a valid drivers license?

• Yes
• No

07

How many years of experience do you have working in the environmental inspection/investigation field?

• Less than 2 years
• 2-3 years
• 3-5 years
• More than 5 years

08

Do you have experience reading and interpreting construction specifications and site plans?

• Yes
• No

09

Do you have a Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) Storm Water Management Inspector, Site Plan Review, or Combined Administrator Certification?

• Yes
• No

10

In this position, you will be required to obtain a Special Police Commission within 6 months of employment. Training will be provided by the City to complete this certification; however, a criminal background check will be required. Will you be able to complete this requirement?

• Yes
• No

11

A conviction (felony or misdemeanor) does not necessarily eliminate you from employment consideration. A criminal background check is conducted on all new hires. Failure to disclose all criminal convictions may result in disqualification from employment consideration or may result in dismissal from City of Norfolk employment if you have been hired. The nature of the offense; the time that has passed since the offense, conduct and/or completion of the sentence; and the nature of the job sought may be taken into consideration. Have you ever been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor?

• I have been convicted of a felony
• I have been convicted of a misdemeanor
• I have been convicted of a felony and a misdemeanor
• I have not been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor

12

If you answered, that you have been convicted of a felony and/or a misdemeanor, please provide an explanation including the city, state and date of the conviction. This excludes minor traffic violations such as speeding tickets.

13

I understand this position will be required to work on and around open water. I am comfortable working under these conditions.

• Yes
• No

14

I understand that all Storm Water positions are defined as essential staff. Essential employees must be available to continue to perform their assigned duties in existing severe inclement weather or emergency conditions.

• Yes
• No

15

I understand that this position may be required to respond to after-hour emergencies and extended shifts during emergencies or weather events. I can meet these requirements.

• Yes
• No

16

The expected hiring salary range for this position is $54,190 - $58,050. Are you willing to accept a salary within this range?

• Yes
• No

17

Please indicate your veteran status. (A copy of your long form DD-214 may be required)

• I am not a Veteran
• I am a Veteran
• I am a Disabled Veteran

Required Question

Employer City of Norfolk