THE JOB: Under direction, plan, assign, and supervise the work of public works maintenance personnel in an assigned program/division (Solid Waste Disposal, Roads / Drainage, Sanitation / Wastewater, or Household Hazardous Waste); assure the quality of the work performed; may perform the more difficult and technical work of the assigned division; and perform other duties as required. There is currently one vacancy in Solid Waste. The list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future vacancies in any Public Works Division during the life of the eligible list.

Specialized assignments include:

• Solid Waste Disposal Assignment: Supervise operations at the County's solid waste disposal sites including staff who operate heavy equipment, collect fees and perform maintenance and repair; follow engineering specifications and plans to develop the disposal sites; ensure that land is properly utilized and streams are not contaminated; assure that disposal site operations comply with State standards for solid waste management, water and air quality and environmental health; oversee the maintenance and monitoring of environmental testing systems; and may install environmental testing systems.
• Road / Drainage Assignment: Patrol roads and drainage channels to determine areas requiring maintenance and repair; supervise crews who prepare, grade, pave, resurface and reshape old roads, cut and spray weeds and brush, and patch and repair road surfaces; and install revetments for bank and levee protection; clear river and stream channels; build culvert head-walls; install storm drain culverts; spray herbicides; maintain access and levee roads, plant vegetation for bank protection; perform maintenance and repair on stationary pumps; and install flood gates and barricades; and investigate public complaints regarding poor or hazardous road and drainage conditions and take action to improve the situation.
• Sanitation / Wastewater Assignment: Supervise crews performing maintenance, monitoring and repair of wastewater pumping stations and transmission facilities, transmission lines and access entries, and those staffing the office facility.
• Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Assignment: Supervise operations at the HHW program by supervising and assisting the Solid Waste Inspectors who operate the facilities, including inspecting and assessing incoming waste material for identification and separation; identifying, assessing and categorizing hazardous material for disposal; arranging for proper storage and transportation of materials; and monitoring and maintaining various records. Assure HHW facilities’ operations comply with State and Federal regulations. Assist Environmental Program Coordinator with ensuring that environmental monitoring and reporting program activities for landfill gas, ground water, storm water, leachate and surface water are completed. Assist with and assign staff to perform maintenance to assure properly functioning leachate collection and landfill gas collection and conveyance systems.

THE REQUIREMENTS: Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Four years of maintenance experience in any one of the following areas: Roads, Sanitation, Solid Waste Disposal, or Drainage divisions, environmental monitoring / handling hazardous materials or a comparable assignment, including two years at the journey level and one year in a lead capacity, which would demonstrate possession of the knowledge and abilities required in the applicable program area.   

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS, CONDITIONS:

License Requirements: Possession of a valid California Class C driver license at time of hire; and for some positions, within six months from hire, possession of a valid class B driver license with Tank Endorsement (Sanitation assignment) or a valid class A driver license with Tank Endorsement. (Household Hazardous Waste assignment requires class C license at time of hire, but no A or B commercial driver license.)

Certificate: Some positions require possession of a Qualified Applicators Certificate issued by the State of California Department of Pesticide Regulation or of an OSHA 40 Hour HAZWOPER (hazardous waste operations) Certificate. For Sanitation Assignment, within one year of appointment, must obtain either a Grade I or higher Wastewater Collection System Maintenance certificate, a Grade I or higher Mechanical Technologist certificate, or equivalent certificates issued by the California Water Environment Association.

Special Working Conditions: Exposure to: Variable temperatures and other conditions; cramped work spaces; heights, such as on equipment, on cliffs or in the bucket of a bucket truck; high levels of noise; strong, unpleasant odors; vibration; dust and silica dust; potentially hostile or violent individuals; electrical hazards; allergens, such as poison oak and stinging insects; the possibility of experiencing burns, bodily injury, and contact with toxic substances and chemical irritants; working alone in isolated areas; and, for some assignments, possible exposure to needles or blood which could possibly result in chronic disease or death.

Other Special Requirements: Alcohol and drug tests: will be administered to all candidates prior to final selection for positions requiring class A or B driver licenses upon entry and to employees in positions requiring these licenses, as mandated by Department of Transportation federal regulations. In addition, all candidates must provide specific employment history for up to the past ten years for all jobs they have held which required operation of a commercial motor vehicle.

Availability: Incumbents may be required to work irregular hours, including responding to 24-hour emergency calls.

Knowledge: Thorough knowledge of methods, equipment, and materials used in the program assignment; occupational hazards and safety standards and practices of the program assignment; the capabilities, operation, and maintenance of light and heavy construction equipment required for most positions. Working knowledge of methods of estimating costs of projects and of supervision and training. Some knowledge of laws, ordinances and regulations governing the program assignment, and the application of data processing to program assignment.

For the Sanitation / Wastewater Assignment: working knowledge of the capabilities, operation, and maintenance of light and heavy construction equipment, required for some positions.

For Household Hazardous Waste Assignment: working knowledge of safe handling and management of HHW materials (including lab packing and bulking of hazardous materials). Some knowledge of chemistry, biology, and physics related to hazardous materials management in a solid waste landfill facility.

Ability to: Supervise, plan, assign, direct, and coordinate the work of subordinates; schedule work and determine priorities; train subordinates in proper work procedures, safety practices, and equipment operation; prepare work schedules, reports, procedures, and cost estimates; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; read and understand maps, engineering blueprints and drawings, instruction manuals, technical manuals, computer-generated reports, and surveys; read and understand surveyors’ location and grade stakes; understand, explain, and apply applicable laws, rules, and regulations; input, access, and analyze data using a computer terminal; assist in budget preparation and administration; use hand and power tools which may cause body vibration; lift items up to 75 pounds; perform tasks requiring strength, such as lifting equipment onto trucks, climbing over rough terrain, and pulling hoses up embankments; drive and operate vehicles such as automobiles, utility and pick-up trucks, and construction equipment, such as tractors, graders, compactors, bulldozers, loaders, and scrapers; distinguish colors, such as color-coded wires, fluid colors, or chemical test guides; put on, wear, and use a respirator; perform tasks which require manual dexterity, such as gas and electrical welding, assembling small parts and pouring liquids into receptacles; and hear and distinguish various sounds, such as voices of workers in noisy environments and sounds of operating equipment.

For Household Hazardous Waste assignment: Ability to identify and respond safely to hazardous materials contained in waste loads; lift and move five (5) gallon cans (equivalent to 50 pounds) in adverse environmental conditions and move fifty-five (55) gallons drums (equivalent to 600 pounds) using a drum dolly.

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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 at www.santacruzcountyjobs.com or mail/bring an application and supplemental questionnaire 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: 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.   

Women, minorities and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. If you have a disability that requires test accommodation, please call (831) 454-2600.

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.

Some positions may require Fingerprinting and/or Background Investigation.