Environmental Specialist

Environmental Specialist At the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, we deliver reliable water to a region with 19 million people-and to accomplish this,we rely onateam of talented employees: innovators, problem-solvers, andcollaboratorswho make it all possible. This recruitment may result in an Eligibility List*. The Environmental Specialist serves as an advanced, journey-level technical expert responsible for planning, conducting, coordinating, and monitoring complex environmental studies and projects for the Metropolitan Water District. At this recognized specialist level, you will be responsible for ensuring compliance with source and treated water regulations with a strong focus on invasive mussel control and emerging regulations. You will spearhead the agency's strategic response to invasive mussels in source waters and ensure compliance with relevant environmental and water quality regulations, California Department of Fish and Wildlife mandates, and invasive species frameworks. You will also be responsible for tracking and ensuring compliance with environmental permitting and pesticide regulations, considerations for raw water releases, contributing to agency responses to federal and state regulatory developments, hazardous waste management, various aspects of source water protection, and preparing reports, response plans, and research proposals. Daily duties include monitoring pertinent environmental laws, codes, regulations, and pending litigation that impact operations, as well as drafting actionable, high-level strategies and responses to address operational requirements and regulatory developments. Candidates must possess a bachelor's degree in environmental science, biology, chemistry, or a related field, supplemented by six years of progressive, professional environmental compliance experience that demonstrates mastery over multi-agency coordination and permitting and complex project management. What You’ll Do: Lead agency response to invasive mussels in source water infrastructure. Develop control strategies to prevent and mitigate infrastructure and biological impacts. Coordinate monitoring programs for invasive species. Ensure compliance with state and federal water quality, environmental, and invasive species regulations. Coordinate complex studies regarding environmental planning and regulatory compliance. Track pertinent laws, regulations, codes, and pending litigation. Analyze operational impacts of emerging environmental policies and regulations on Metropolitan. Represent the agency in meetings with stakeholders and serve as point-of-contact with regulators and outside agencies. Communicate and coordinate with member agencies on relevant environmental and water quality issues. Travel to Metropolitan and other agencies' field facilities may also be required for observation, planning, scoping, and sample collection. Schedule 9/80: Monday through Friday /Every other Friday off. Monday through Thursday 9 hours per day, 8 hours per day every other Friday. Start times are no earlier than 6 am and ending times are no later than 6 pm. Hybrid: Metropolitan's current practice in this position is a hybrid work schedule. This typically includes two days a week in person and the other days remote. This is subject to change dependent on organizational needs. In addition, a telework policy is scheduled for negotiations and once completed and implemented, will provide final direction on the hybrid schedule. This job announcement has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work being performed by employees in this classification / job. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a related field and six years of relevant experience. OR two years in a MWD Associate Environmental Specialist classification. OR master's degree from an accredited college or university in a related field and four years of relevant experience. Relevant Experience is defined as: experience with environmental planning analysis, preparation of relevant documentation, invasive species management and control, source water protection, project management, communication and coordination with regulatory and other external agencies. CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, AND REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS License(s): Valid California Class C Driver's License or equivalent (required at time of application) that allows you to drive during your employment. Benefits: Competitive compensation Excellent medical, dental, life, vision plans. Deferred compensation in the form of a 401(k) plan (with matching contribution) and a 457 plan. Retirement benefits under the California Public Employees' Retirement System Tuition reimbursement Training and advancement opportunities Excellent working environment Public transportation reimbursements Hub of public transportation: rail, subway, buses, and taxis On-site fitness center For more information on MWD benefits, please use the following link: Benefits Regular FT PT Employees (Represented) ABOUT MWD The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a state-established cooperative that, along with its 26 cities and retail suppliers, provides water for 19 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Qualified individuals with disabilities, who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process, please call View phone number on click.appcast.io or email: View email address on click.appcast.io. Metropolitan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected characteristic(s). Application Filing Period: Closes at 4:30 pm PST on the date stated in the job announcement. However, it may close prior to the filing end date if sufficient applications have been received. If sufficient applications have not been received, then the filing period end date may be extended. Eligibility List*: An eligibility list is a list of qualified candidates created when a job posting states that one will be established. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications listed in the original posting and successfully pass all stages of the recruitment process-but are not selected for the initial vacancy-may be placed on this list for future openings. The list may be used to invite candidates to participate in a selection interview for a future vacancy in the same classification / title (if there is one). The duration of the list depends on the applicable bargaining unit. Qualifying Experience: Your resume must at a minimum include the month and year you began and ended employment, name of the organization, your title, and a brief description of your experience. If your employment was part-time, make sure you identify it on your resume next to the month/year. Sponsorship: Applicants for employment with The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States (i.e., H1-B or other employment-based immigration case). Job Locations US-CA-La Verne Job ID 2026-3417 Posted Date 13 hours ago (8/27/2026 3:42 PM) Application Filing Period August 27, 2026 - September 18, 2026 @ 11:59 p.m. PST # of Openings 1 Min USD $65.51/Hr. Max USD $85.82/Hr. Work Schedule 9/80 Fulltime Group TREATMENT&WATER QUALITY GROUP Section WATER QUALITY SECTION Unit OFF OF WATER QUALITY SECT MGR Bargaining Unit Name / Code 02 - AFSCME #J-18808-Ljbffr