Supervising Emergency Response Coordinator

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is seeking to hire a Supervising Emergency Response Coordinator in the Emergency Response and Spill Prevention Division's Emergency Response Unit (ERU).
Nearly every day, despite preventive measures, there are incidents that threaten the environment. The Emergency Response and Spill Prevention Division is prepared to limit the risks and handle incidents ranging from a spill of a few gallons to a tanker full of petroleum liquids, from an abandoned or unknown drum of chemicals to anthrax or a chemical fire. Releases, even small ones, can endanger public health or the environment by making the water or air unsafe. Releases of hazardous materials can contaminate surface water, groundwater or soil, impact plants, fish and wildlife and their habitat or create unsafe exposure for the general public or emergency responders.

The Emergency Response Unit is responsible for representing the state at hazardous materials emergency incidents. The ERU responds as a Type 1 hazardous materials team to characterize, remove and mitigate hazardous materials releases. Additionally, the ERU coordinates with local, state and federal agencies as well as with responsible parties and environmental contractors. There is currently a team of 12 highly trained personnel to respond 24 hours a day, seven days a week to a wide variety of environmental emergencies including those that result from releases and threats of releases involving chemicals, hazardous wastes, petroleum products and other hazardous materials into the air, onto the ground, or into surface waters. Sources of such releases include transportation accidents on rails, roadways, waterways, and from aircraft, as well as from industrial processes, failed tanks or pipes, abandoned drums, storm damage to electrical equipment, along with biological and chemical agents and weapons, and other many other sources.

This full time position is based in Hartford, Connecticut but does not typically require reporting to this location on a daily basis. Rather the position is field-based with an assigned geographical area to cover. This position requires the employee to be on-call and to work evenings, weekends and holidays on a rotational basis.

During the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation supporting their qualification(s).  These documents may include: references, educational transcripts, etc. at the discretion of the agency.

Please ensure that your application is complete.  You will be unable to make revisions once it is submitted.  Applications that are untimely, incomplete or inaccurate will not be considered. Questions can be sent to Emily.Kennedy@ct.gov.

In the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection this class is accountable for supervising emergency response personnel engaged in controlling hazardous spills, discharges, and releases.

Schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews the work of staff engaged in hazardous materials spills and releases mitigation containment and clean-up; provides staff training and assistance; conducts performance evaluations; determines priorities and plans unit work; establishes and maintains unit procedures; develops or makes recommendations for policies and standards; acts as liaison with other operating units, agencies, and outside officials regarding unit policies and procedures; prepares reports and correspondence; oversees the development and application of safe clean-up and containment procedures; develops and implements hazardous spills management training programs for Department and local and private organizations; coordinates on scene spill clean-up efforts with Federal, State and municipal agencies; supervises activities of contractors on scene; monitors threat to public health and safety; acts as site safety officer; responds to questions of general public and media; prepares detailed reports; testifies at hearings; in the field, assumes primary responsibility for all on-site activities; authorizes expenditures; assigns clean-up contracts; monitors field operations and coordinates activities of all on-site Departmental employees of lesser rank; performs related duties as required.

Considerable knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures; considerable knowledge of relevant State and Federal laws, statutes, and regulations regarding storage and transportation of hazardous materials; considerable knowledge of methods and techniques used for the mitigation, containment and clean-up of hazardous material spills; considerable knowledge of chemicals and other hazardous materials; considerable knowledge of methods and procedures for the control of water, soil, and air pollution; considerable knowledge of industrial safety practices and procedures; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communications skills; ability to prepare detailed reports; ability to use and interpret technical, chemical, and safety manuals; ability to interpret blueprints and schematics and related engineering plans; ability to utilize computer software; supervisory ability.

Eight (8) years of experience in hazardous materials management or responding to chemical spill emergencies.

College training in biological science, chemistry, physics, earth sciences, physical sciences, public health, or engineering may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.

• Ability to lead hazmat, technician level, entry teams to monitor, remove and mitigate releases from a variety of sources such as tanker trucks, rail cars, storage tanks, industrial process and suspected WMD events.
• Strong leadership ability in incident management of hazardous materials emergencies in residential, transportation, industrial, WMD, and waterborne oil spills to rivers and Long Island Sound.
  
• Strong background in hazardous materials response working with advanced metering packages, plug and patch leak-stop equipment, chemistry, and evidence collection.
  
• Knowledge and experience of methods and techniques used for containment and cleanup of petroleum and hazardous material releases.
  
• Knowledge of State and Federal regulations and laws regarding the cleanup of spills to soil, groundwater and surface water.
  
• Knowledge and experience in hazardous waste management, storage, treatment and disposal.
• Experience in environmental emergency response operations and incident command system (ICS) protocols relating to oil spills and releases of hazardous materials.
  
• Knowledge of methods used to investigate soil and groundwater contamination.
  
• Experience working in an organization that requires 24/7 operation.

1. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
2. Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.

Incumbents in this class must have adequate physical strength, stamina, physical agility and visual and auditory acuity, and must maintain such physical fitness as to be able to perform the duties.

Incumbents must be able to work under difficult and dangerous conditions including wearing cumbersome protective equipment and handling materials of unknown toxicity.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.