City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

Austin Water Environmental Resource Officer

This position oversees Austin Water’s (AW) Environmental Protection and Environmental Resource programs and provides senior management leadership to ensure that environmental protection, environmental leadership, environmental resource management, and planning are embraced as priorities in AW’s various utility activities.

1. Develops and implements short- and long-range environmental protection strategies, objectives, policies, regulations, and priorities for AW related to utility service provisions and environmental resource management.
2. Advises the department Director, Assistant Directors, other department directors, the City Manager, and City Council on environmental protection and related environmental policies and issues related to utility service provisions and environmental resources management.
3. Oversees Wildland Conservation Division, Climate Protection coordination activities, Hornsby Bend Center for Environmental Research, and other related activities.
4. Serves as department principle senior management liaison for Austin’s participation in Balcones Canyonland Conservation Plan (BCCP).
5. Evaluates programs for effectiveness and accomplishment of goals and makes recommendations to changes in programs to meet departmental and City goals.
6. Interprets, explains, and provides guidance on enforcement of applicable policies, procedures, and regulations.
7. Interacts with the public and leadership of Travis County, LCRA and other BCCP participants, other City departments, and the City Manager’s Office; and makes presentations at Boards, Commissions, and Council meetings.
8. Coordinates as a liaison for interdepartmental and interagency issues, projects, and protocols.

Responsible for the full range of supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.

• Knowledge of current concepts of environmental protection, particularly those related to the environmental impacts of public and private development.
• Knowledge of development processes and regulations.
• Knowledge of Federal, State, and Local environmental regulations, rules, and procedures.
• Knowledge of fiscal planning and budget preparation.
• Knowledge of supervisory and management techniques.
• Knowledge of environmental management practices in land conservation (including water quality protection aspects, climate protection, and adaption aspects), climate protection and adaptation, and environmental research.
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
• Skill in communicating orally and in writing.
• Skill in using computers and related software applications.
• Skill in data analysis and problem solving.
• Skill in determining needs; and gathering, analyzing, and presenting data to provide accurate information for varied audiences.
• Skill in identifying and assessing potential process improvements.
• Skill in advocacy, collaboration, and conflict management.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and priorities.
• Ability to work with various groups with conflicting interests and agendas.
• Ability to demonstrate results and implement continuous improvement activities.
• Ability to determine needs and gather, analyze, and present data to provide accurate information for management’s use.
• Ability to identify and assess potential process improvements and interact as business partner and change agent.
• Ability to operate with integrity and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to be proactive and results-oriented.

• Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in a field related to the job, plus seven (7) years of environmental policy and/or protection-related experience, including two (2) years of experience in a managerial capacity.
• Graduation with a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university may substitute for experience up to a maximum of two (2) years.