HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TECHNICIAN I

LAST DATE TO APPLY: CONTINUOUS - Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. This recruitment may close once a sufficient number of qualifying applications have been received.

THE JOB: Under general supervision, inspects refuse being discharged at County landfill sites for unacceptable, hazardous, or toxic materials; unloads, sorts, accepts and stores solid wastes from the public at the County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility; maintains all storage and disposal records; informs the general public of the County, State, and Federal laws and regulations concerning the disposal of hazardous materials; controls traffic in the active disposal area; conducts general environmental monitoring; performs manual labor that includes repetitive lifting, gripping and grasping, walking on uneven ground, and standing for long periods of time; and performs other duties as required. Possession of a HAZWOPER certificate is highly desirable. 

The list established from this recruitment will be used to fill current and future vacancies for full time, part time, substitute, and extra help (temporary) positions during the life of the eligible list. *The official title of this position is Solid Waste Inspector I, which is the trainee and first working level in the Solid Waste Inspector series.

THE REQUIREMENTS: Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be to have completed lower division college-level coursework in chemistry, biology, environmental studies, social ecology or hazardous materials OR certification of training that meets the California State standard for training required for hazardous waste workers.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Possess and maintain a valid California Class C Driver License (upon hire.)

Knowledge: Some knowledge of material identification and their effects on the environment; health and safety procedures for hazardous materials handling; and basic environmental sampling methods.

Ability to: Learn County, State, and Federal laws and regulations concerning the identification, handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials; establish and maintain cooperative relationships with the public, co-workers, and others contacted in the course of work; react quickly, efficiently, and calmly and adopt an effective course of action in the event of a hazardous materials incident; maintain accurate and legible records; prepare written reports, records, and inventories; direct and control traffic in a safe manner around active disposal areas; determine what types of materials are hazardous; determine what materials may be disposed of directly at the landfill, and which hazardous materials may be stored or packaged together; lift and move five (5) gallon cans (equivalent to 50 pounds) in adverse environmental conditions; and move fifty-five (55) gallon drums (equivalent to 600 pounds) using a drum dolly.

Some positions may require fingerprinting and/or background investigation.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:
ANNUAL LEAVE - 22 days first year, increasing to 37 days after 15 years of service. Available for vacation and/or sick leave.
HOLIDAYS - 13 paid holidays per year.
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE – 3 days paid in California, 5 days paid out-of-state.
MEDICAL PLAN - The County contracts with CalPERS for a variety of medical plans. For most plans, County contributions pay a majority of the premiums for employees and eligible dependents.
DENTAL PLAN - County pays for employee and eligible dependent coverage.
VISION PLAN - County pays for employee coverage. Employee may purchase eligible dependent coverage.
RETIREMENT - Pension formula 2% at age 60 or 2% at age 62 as determined based on provisions of the CA Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA). Pension benefit determined by final average compensation of three years. County participates in Social Security. 
LIFE INSURANCE - County paid $20,000 term policy. Employee may purchase additional life insurance.
DISABILITY INSURANCE - Employees in the General Representation Unit participate in the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program. This program is funded 100% by employee payroll deductions.
DEPENDENT-CARE PLAN - Employees who make contributions for child or dependent care may elect to have their contributions made utilizing “pre-tax dollars.”
H-CARE PLAN - Employees who pay a County medical premium may elect this pre-tax program.
HEALTH CARE FLEXIBLE SPENDING ALLOWANCE (HCFSA) - Employees may elect this pre-tax program to cover qualifying health care expenses.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION - A deferred compensation plan is available to employees.

THE EXAMINATION: Your application and supplemental questionnaire will be reviewed to determine if you have met the education, experience, training and/or licensing requirements as stated on the job announcement. If you meet these criteria and are one of the best qualified, you may be required to compete in any combination of written, oral and/or performance examinations or a competitive evaluation of training and experience as described on your application and supplemental questionnaire. You must pass all components of the examination to be placed on the eligible list. The examination may be eliminated if there are ten or fewer qualified applicants. If the eligible list is established without the administration of the announced examination, the life of the eligible list will be six months and your overall score will be based upon an evaluation of your application and supplemental questionnaire. If during those six months it is necessary to administer another examination for this job class, you will be invited to take the examination to remain on the eligible list.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply Online Now! Click on the link below; or print out an application and supplemental questionnaire and mail/bring them to: Santa Cruz County Personnel Department, 701 Ocean Street, Room 510, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060. For information, call (831) 454-2600. Hearing Impaired TDD/TTY: 711. Applications will meet the final filing date if received in one of the following ways: 1) in the Personnel Department by 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date, 2) submitted online before midnight of the final filing date. 

IF YOU HAVE A DISABILITY THAT WOULD REQUIRE TEST ACCOMMODATION, CALL (831) 454-2600. WOMEN, MINORITIES AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.

To comply with the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, Santa Cruz County verifies that all new employees are either U.S. citizens or persons authorized to work in the U.S.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

NOTE: The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.