About this role
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 city blends a rich industrial history with a tech-forward future—famously powered by the nation’s first community-wide "Gig" fiber-optic network. The City of Chattanooga was also recently designated as a "National Park City,” the first of its kind in the United States.
Our Organization
As a City, we are powered by a dedicated workforce of approximately 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: $27.10- $32.63 per hour (GS.10)
Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 A.M - 4:30 P.M. (EST)
*Hours may vary due to work assignments and projects.*
Work Location: 1250 Market Street, Chattanooga, TN
FLSA Status: This is an Exempt Position.
Department: Public Works
CLASSIFICATION SUMMARY:
Incumbents in this classification are responsible for performing technical duties in support of the storm water management program. Duties include: monitoring watershed activities such as stream inspections, detecting and eliminating illicit discharge, analyzing a variety of watershed data, enforcing applicable ordinances and regulations, conducting investigations, preparing enforcement letters, and participating in community outreach activities. Works under limited supervision.
SERIES LEVEL:
The Water Quality Specialist 1 is the second level of a three-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.)
Monitors watershed operations, which includes: implementing stream inspections and monitoring to assess general physical and biological water quality conditions; collecting and documenting related data/findings.
Conducting ambient, wet weather, and benthic macroinvertebrate sampling and hydrologic monitoring; assisting in planning, installing, maintaining, and programming automatic samplers and flow meters; implementing stream assessment protocols; and identifying and documenting erosion problems.
Detects and eliminates illicit discharge, which includes: preparing and conducting field screening sampling of watershed outfall points to identify and eliminate sources of pollutants; conducting complaint investigations of illicit discharge.
Preparing and conducting pesticide, herbicide, and fertilizer sampling to identify sources of problem areas; identifying sources of sanitary discharge from sanitary infrastructures (private service laterals and public trunk lines).
Analyzes data related to watershed characteristics for the development of illicit discharge scoring; maintains logs and computerized records of inspection activities and interprets, reviews and completes a variety of forms, invoices, sampling labels, reports, correspondence, applications, plans, drawings, ordinances, regulations, and maps.
Enforces storm water ordinances and regulations and initiates enforcement actions to include but not limited to: written warnings, notices of violation letters and civil penalties, and court citations.
Maintains related records for potential judicial review and testifies in court on water quality enforcement cases.
Performs community outreach and education, which includes: planning and attending community meetings to raise awareness of water quality and storm water issues.
Assisting in planning and conducting school presentations and watershed awareness programs to inform the public of watershed problems, conditions, concerns, and constructive actions for watershed management.
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, storm water fee reduction requests and sanitary sewer overflows.
Uses, carries, and answers their cell phone for business purposes as determined by the assigned job duties and the department head.
On-call Spill Response (24/7) required Haz-Mat training.
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):
Manage the Water Quality fee credits program, manage Water Quality Fee Appeals, receive and evaluate annual Storm Water Inspection Reports
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor Degree in Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Science or related field and two (2) years water quality experience. Must have at least six (6) months GIS experience.
LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS:
Valid Driver’s License
Must be able to obtain Erosion and Sediment Control and HazMat Certifications within 6 months of hire.
Must be able to obtain a Special Police Commission.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
Knowledge of water quality sampling techniques and concepts; applicable Federal, State, and Local laws, ordinances, codes, rules, and regulations associated with storm water management; stream assessment protocols; customer service principles; and community outreach and education techniques.
Skill in collecting water samples; 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.
Primary focus of this position will be to manage, and expand as allowed, the Single Family Residential Ponds program and the Green Grants program.
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 50 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