Conservation Specialist – Stormwater and Water Quality
Overview
Calling all Land Conservationists!
Come grow your career with an organization that values and supports you to learn, grow, and develop. Join our collaborative, supportive, and results-driven team in a role that provides the opportunity to bring your whole self to work. Engage, lead, and drive your own learning and growth within the organization. La Crosse County leaders are committed to provide a supportive and inclusive work environment and are dedicated to your learning and development to grow in an organization that is deep in talent.
This is a professional position in the Land Conservation Department established primarily for coordinating Stormwater management, administering Non-Metallic Mining Ordinance, and assisting administration of the Erosion Control Ordinance. This is a full-time position working Monday-Friday 7:30am-5:00pm, with every other Friday off.
Salary Range: $63,736.40 – $81,946.80
Associate Experience – What’s In It For You?
Supportive, collaborative, inclusive, and diverse workforce.
Career learning, development, and growth opportunities.
Culture of respect and dignity, teamwork, honesty, and integrity.
Serving your community in a purposeful and meaningful way.
Flexibility with generous paid time-off benefits.
Excellent benefits:
••Wisconsin Retirement System – Very stable and strong
••Health Insurance with options for free care
••Dental Insurance with many services covered at 100%
••Life Insurance with short and long-term disability
We will be accepting applications until the right person is hired.
La Crosse County Respects Diversity
Essential Job Functions
Demonstrates self-leadership, seeks out opportunities for personal growth and development, accepts feedback and demonstrates ability to learn and apply.
Shares ideas and demonstrates respect, humility, honesty, and open-minded thinking.
Demonstrates flexibility, acceptance of change and emotional intelligence.
Takes initiative and demonstrates the ability to think critically and strategically.
Participates as a contributing member of the team and brings authentic self to discussions regarding all aspects of the work.
Demonstrates ability to build and maintain effective relationships.
Contributes positively to an inclusive workplace.
Urban Conservation:
Independently reviews and analyzes stormwater plans submitted by engineers and architects. Reviews submitted stormwater management plans to verify calculations meet La Crosse County Chapter 29 Stormwater Post Construction Ordinance and WI DNR Technical Standards. Provide written reports of engineered proposals.
Independently investigates construction sites, develops site evaluations, reviews and approves erosion control plans, and monitors sites for compliance with local, state or federal requirements.
Processes erosion control and storm water permit applications and coordinates the permit issuance. Maintains erosion control and stormwater records within the permit system.
Coordinates the administration of urban rules and ordinances between the Zoning/Planning Department, Department of Land Conservation Office, and the developer and landowner.
Provides enforcement action as necessary as required under the County Construction Site Erosion Control Ordinance Chapter 21, Storm Water Management Ordinance Chapter 29, and other state or federal requirements.
Provides consultative assistance regarding urban erosion control and stormwater management to individuals, developers, engineers, and units of government.
Maintains compliance and annual reports for La Crosse County’s Municipal Separate Stormwater Sewer System (MS4) permit.
Nonmetallic Mining:
Coordinates the administration of the County’s Chapter 27 Non-Metallic Mining Reclamation Ordinance.
Creates annual reclamation reports for non-metallic mines within La Crosse County.
Uses Carlson SurvCE GPS data collector software to collect data points to assess the amount of acreage being actively mined.
Generates an annual report documenting the number of Non-metallic mines, active mining acreage, and amount of reclaimed acreage for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Miscellaneous:
Uses computers with database management applications, excel spreadsheets, graphs and GIS.
Receives and responds to public inquiries and complaints regarding non-metallic mines, agricultural and urban stormwater, runoff, and state and county permits and permitting processes.
Prepares and presents oral and written reports and papers.
Assists in the collection of water quality samples.
Meets with and presents information to County committees and local municipalities.
Participates in various online and in-person training opportunities to enhance professional development as related to essential job functions.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Thorough knowledge of: storm water and construction site erosion control practices; the application of these practices to achieve pollution reduction goals; engineering design for structural and non-structural storm water and construction site erosion control practices; urban hydrology; and design and application of stormwater management practices.
Basic understanding of design, layout, technical mathematics and construction of industrial commercial and residential development site plans as submitted by engineering firms.
Working knowledge of the Department of Natural Resources Storm Water Construction and Post-Construction Technical Standards.
Familiarity with local land use regulations and state and federal requirements affecting construction site erosion control and storm water management.
Working knowledge of EPA requirements for stormwater management and implementation of state storm water discharge regulations and permits.
Familiarity with erosion control and storm water products.
Ability to interpret and review erosion control and storm water plans for plats and other site plans submitted by consulting engineers, contractors, or units of government, and suggests alternatives if necessary.
Ability to interpret aerial photos and soils maps.
Ability to work independently with minimum supervision.
Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of individuals and organizations.
Training, Experience and Other Requirements
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in physical or natural science, engineering, agriculture, water resources management, agronomy, or other related fields with knowledge of hydrology chemistry, biology and soils
Preference for individuals with computer experience using HydroCAD, Winslamm, or other Stormwater modeling.
Requires three years’ experience in urban construction site erosion control and storm water management.
There is an expectation that the person in this role either already possess Stormwater Inspector Certification and DSPS Uniform Dwelling Code Erosion Inspector Certification or strive to obtain them within the first year of employment.
May consider other relevant combinations of education and experience that provide equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Must possess a valid driver’s license.
Deadline Note: