Environmental Protection Officer

When you join the City of Guelph, you join a team of over 2000 employees who deliver services the community relies on every day. Together, we are bringing to life Guelph's vision of an inclusive, connected, and prosperous city where we look after each other and our environment. As a single tier municipality, we offer a variety of occupations and career specialities within our organization. Guided by the goals and objectives of the Future Guelph: Strategic Plan and committed to the Corporate Values of integrity, service, inclusion, wellness and learning, the candidate will aid in the achievement of the Community Vision for an inclusive, connected, prosperous city.

What we offer

We offer competitive wages and comprehensive benefits to meet the needs of our diverse employees. Many of our positions offer:

• Paid vacation days, increasing with years of service
• Paid personal days;
• Defined benefit pension plan with OMERS, including 100-per-cent employer matching;
• Extended health and dental benefits, including Health Care Spending Account;
• Employee and Family Assistance Program;
• Parental leave top up program;
• Learning and development opportunities including tuition assistance
• Employee recognition programs.

The successful candidate will investigate, inspect and monitor industrial, commercial and institutional facilities to ensure compliance with City of Guelph By-laws. Reporting to the Supervisor of Environmental Compliance & Laboratory Services you will work as part of an environmental protection team and be guided by the goals and objectives of the City of Guelph Corporate Strategic Plan and committed to the Corporate Values of integrity, service, inclusion, wellness and learning, the candidate will aid in the achievement of the Community Vision for an inclusive, connected, prosperous city.

Key duties and responsibilities

• Investigate, inspect and monitor industrial, commercial, and institutional facilities to ensure compliance with By-laws and Agreements.
• Collect samples during inspections or from sites under investigation and analyze acquired information.
• Compile and maintain records of all tests, inspections and other monitoring activities.
• Prepare technical summary reports as required and communicate findings.
• Review and respond to citizen complaints as related to the sewer use by-law.
• Operate, repair, calibrate and maintain sampling equipment.
• Conduct, calibrate and operate equipment for confined space entry.
• Participate and lead Emergency Spills Response to assess the impact and environmental risks; complete the clean-up of the spill or as required arrange for contractor support.
• Dispose, maintain and document wastes from spills in accordance with applicable Acts and Regulations.
• Conduct laboratory testing as required
• Conduct a variety of other sampling activities to support special studies or compliance related projects as required.
• Liaise, assist and advise various City services and government agencies and communicate with the public regarding complaints and inquiries.
• Interview witnesses, take statements for possible legal actions and in consultation with Court Services and the Manager of Technical Services, initiate legal proceedings against offenders.
• Participate in afterhours On Call/Stand-By and Sampling rotation as required
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications and requirements

• Experience related to the duties listed above, normally acquired through the completion a post-secondary education in Environmental Science or Law Enforcement and 4 years' experience in environmental or industrial monitoring. Candidates with an equivalent education and experience may be considered.
• Must possess a valid Class G driver's licence with a good driving record. Successful candidates will be required to provide a current driver's abstract prior to their start date to confirm their license is held in good standing and that it has not been suspended or revoked under the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) or Criminal Code of Canada in the last 5 years. The City of Guelph will take into consideration the number of demerit points and/or nature of the infractions to determine if it meets our requirements.
• Excellent customer service skills with sound judgment and decision making skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills with the ability to communicate with all levels of staff, stakeholders and the general public.
• Intermediate skills with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word and Outlook).
• Knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and confined space entry.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks in a demanding environment.
• Understanding of the Federal and Provincial environmental legislation such as the Environmental Protection Act, Ontario Clean Water Act, etc.
• An ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships in a team environment.
• Able to perform physical work and meet the physical demands of the position (e.g. working in a variety of weather conditions and lifting sample equipment and supplies for spills response).
• Prior experience in laboratory testing and use of sampling and flow monitoring equipment an asset.
  • Spills response training is an asset.

Hours of work
40 hours per week Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:30 am to 6:30 pm with a 30-minute paid lunch. Standby is a requirement of this position.

Pay/Salary
CUPE 973 Grade: 9 Rate: $ $47.98

How to apply
Qualified applicants are invited to apply using our online application system by January 9, 2025. Please note all applicants must complete the online questionnaire specific to this position at the time they submit their resume and cover letter in order to be considered.

The City of Guelph is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where employees feel welcome, valued and engaged. Our employment policies strictly prohibit all forms of discrimination on any of the grounds in relevant laws. All employment practices are solely based on individual merit, qualifications, and organization's needs at the time. In keeping with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, we are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals in our job application procedures. If you need an accommodation in order to participate in the hiring process, you may contact us to make your needs known in advance.

Personal information collected through the recruitment process will be used solely to determine eligibility for employment. We thank all candidates in advance; however, only those being considered for an interview will be contacted.