Code Specialist III

Job Announcement

Join Fairfax County and make a real difference! As a part The Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES), Wastewater Management (WWM) supports the mission and vision to create and preserve a sustainable community to protect the environment and public health of residents of Fairfax County.

The Wastewater Planning & Monitoring Division (WPMD) seeks a senior-level regulatory code specialist to lead elements of its industrial waste pretreatment program, a state and federally mandated regulatory program. This position provides expert programmatic and technical leadership to support continuous improvement of the pretreatment program to protect the publicly owned treatment works (POTW) and the environment. Duties of this position are performed under the general supervision of the pretreatment manager and include :

• Program Supervision and Leadership : Oversees the execution of the county's state-approved pretreatment program, including permitting, monitoring, inspections, compliance assessments, and enforcement. Manages specialized initiatives like fats, oils, and grease (FOG) management, hauled wastewater disposal, reclaimed water inspections, water quality monitoring, and illicit discharge investigations.
• Technical Expertise and Stakeholder Collaboration : Serves as a technical expert on pretreatment regulations, policies, and compliance, while providing guidance to stakeholders and coordinating cross-agency initiatives. Supervises, mentors and trains code specialists and interns.
• Compliance and Enforcement : Ensures adherence to state, federal, and local regulations through inspections, monitoring, legal enforcement, and compliance education. Supports enforcement actions and develops compliance strategies, policies, and cost recovery mechanisms.
• Data and Program Administration : Manages cost recovery processes and monitor program performance data to optimize pretreatment program services and identify improvements. Develops fees and surcharges aligned with wastewater characteristics and county codes.
• Safety Leadership and Emergency Preparedness : Promotes and adheres to workplace safety guidelines, while training staff on safety procedures and compliance with regulations. Acts as essential personnel during emergencies, ensuring uninterrupted sewer services. Leads emergency field responses and provide emergency operations training.

The ideal candidate will possess :

Wastewater Management is part of the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES), please visit us here to learn more about us.

DPWES is a diverse, nationally accredited and award-winning public works agency with approximately 1,000 employees providing solid waste, capital facility development, wastewater, stormwater, urban forestry, and land acquisition management services for the most populous county in Virginia. Join our team to help us protect the environment and serve the people of Fairfax County by creating and preserving a sustainable community that is an ideal place to live, work, and play for everyone.

Benefits :

Fairfax County Government is committed to our employees, and offers comprehensive benefits, including a defined-benefit retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; paid leave; tuition reimbursement; and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Through our LiveWell Program and the County Benefits Division, we endeavor to cultivate a culture of wellbeing that empowers, educates, and engages employees and retirees to make life-long choices that promote a holistic approach to their physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual, and financial wellness. Please review our awesome benefits :

Note : Wastewater Management positions are responsible for providing uninterrupted sewer service to residents during extreme inclement weather or other emergencies. This position is designated as emergency service and is subject to 24-hour on-call and may be required to report to work during extreme inclement weather or other emergencies, including after-hours and weekend work during emergency incidents to fulfill emergency service duties.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS :

Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following :

(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to") Graduation from an accredited four year college or university with a bachelor's degree in a field of study directly related to the industry being regulated such as engineering, architecture, urban planning, biological or environmental science, public administration, law enforcement, legal studies or a related field; plus four years of progressively more responsible complaint resolution and / or code enforcement experience in the industry being regulated.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED :

Valid driver's license.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS :

The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, driving record check, and a medical examination to the satisfaction of the employer prior to appointment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS :

Three or more years' experience in each of the following :

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS :

Ability to communicate clearly, both verbally and in written form, is crucial for engaging with colleagues and customers through phone calls, video conferences, and face-to-face meetings. Ability to lift / slide up to 60 lbs. with assistance. Must be able to operate keyboard driven equipment and use other automated technology to input, access and retrieve information from a laptop or desktop. Visual acuity is required to read data on computer monitors such as GIS maps. Must be able to physically negotiate rough terrain on uneven ground such as hills, wooded and marshy areas to make direct observation of work in progress including recognizing unforeseen hazards such as sharp objects, warning signs, slippery surfaces, steep depressions, tripping hazards. Must be able to push, pull, lift, bend, stoop, walk, climb / crouch, crawl, stand and reach to work in demanding and uncomfortable positions for extended durations. This is necessary to manipulate materials with manual dexterity, including sampling apparatuses and instrumentation. Must be able to recognize and avoid hazards associated with confined spaces. Must be physically fit to perform in all types of environments. This requires the ability to endure variable and extreme weather conditions such as hot, cold, during rain, noisy environments, etc., and the ability to work around and in contact with raw sewage. Visual acuity is required to effectively work on computer monitors, review documents, and read text and data for prolonged durations. The incumbent must possess the ability to operate keyboard-driven devices to input, access, and retrieve information from a computer. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE :

Panel interview and may include exercise.

Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian / Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others.) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and / or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY . EEO / AA / TTY.

#LI-JT1