Stormwater Inspector na City of Bellingham, WA

About the Department

Are you interested in using your expertise in stormwater systems and customer service to assist local property owners in minimizing pollution? Do you enjoy tackling challenges and supporting the community in their efforts to reduce the impacts of their development? Apply to join the Stormwater team with the City of Bellingham Public Works Natural Resources division.

Performs field inspections of privately owned stormwater systems to ensure compliance with applicable local, state and federal regulations, statutes, codes and permits. Responds to complaints and reports of stormwater violations such as illicit discharges, work without permits and work in critical areas. Provides information and technical assistance to property owners, contractors and property management firms regarding stormwater systems and related regulations, statutes, codes and permit requirements.

This position will start at Step 1 ($32.32/hour). Employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937 Collective Bargaining Agreement and City policy. The full hourly range for this position is $32.32 - $39.52. For internal candidates, placement within the range is based on City Pay Placement Procedures. 

At the City of Bellingham, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that helps you thrive in both your career and personal life. Join our team and enjoy the peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are well cared for. Here’s a closer look at the outstanding benefits that come with being part of our team. You can find more details on our employment benefits page and labor agreements page.

• 10 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time
• 12 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday per year
• 8 hours sick leave accrued monthly
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families
• Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security
• Optional 457 deferred compensation (Retirement Savings Plan) with employer match

 

Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals are pro-rated if part-time and require employees to be in paid status at least 120 hours/month.

Closing Date/Time: Friday, October 3, 2025, 4:30 PM Pacific Time

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB:

1. Plans and conducts inspections of privately owned and maintained stormwater systems. Evaluates stormwater system performance to ensure compliance with local, state and federal regulations, statutes, codes, permits and engineering standards. Identifies maintenance needs or corrective action, provides notice to property owner of non-compliance as needed and follows up to ensure resolution.

2. Maintains SSWU databases and records for compliance with the City’s National Pollution Discharge Elimination Systems requirements and for other uses.

3. Consults with City and private engineers to verify cause when stormwater systems are determined to be non-compliant following construction.

4. Provides information and technical assistance; collects and analyzes data from private stormwater facility files and the City's Geographical Information System and information from Department of Ecology's Stormwater Management Manual to provide information regarding maintenance standards and corrective measures to property owners, contractors, property management firms and others.

5. Responds to stormwater complaints and violations submitted through the Stormwater Hotline and the Department of Ecology Emergency Response Tracking System (ERTS). Provides guidance and recommends a course of action to the responsible party related to stormwater resources and critical areas. Provides information to other City departments and county, state and federal agencies as needed and completes reports.

6. Conducts water quality sampling, monitoring and testing using standard methods and practices. Coordinates stormwater related water quality testing with City and private laboratories.

7. Coordinates with Public Works, City Code Enforcement, Planning and Community Development and Legal staff and other state and federal agencies to provide documentation for enforcement actions as needed.

ADDITIONAL WORK PERFORMED:

1. Performs other duties within the scope of the classification, as assigned.

2. Perform inspection services for the Inspection section of Public Works, as assigned.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

Work is performed in an office setting and outdoors, exposing employee to inclement weather, noise, fumes, construction environments, slippery or uneven surfaces and traffic hazards. Employees are required to use appropriate safety equipment and follow standard safety practices.

Physical ability to perform the essential functions of the job, including:

• Frequently required to walk over uneven terrain;

• Frequently lift objects up to 80 pounds, such as manhole covers and stormwater grates;

• Frequently communicate verbally;

• Frequently operate a computer and read a computer screen or typewritten page;

• Occasionally Squat, crawl, stoop and bend in close spaces to perform inspections

• Correctible visual acuity, hearing and manual dexterity sufficient to operate a motor vehicle.

Position Duties

• Associate's degree in engineering or related field and two years of technical experience in engineering inspection. OR

• One year of vocational training in engineering technology and three years of technical experience in engineering inspection.

• Experience in a stormwater related field preferred.

• Additional coursework or experience in geographic information systems (GIS) preferred.

• An equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities will be considered.

Minimum Qualifications

• Valid Washington State driver's license and good driving record. A three-year driving abstract must be submitted at time of hire.

• Employment contingent upon passing a criminal background check (see Fair Hiring Practices below).

• Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Lead (CESCL) certification required within six months of hire.

• Verification of ability to work in the United States by date of hire.

Other Qualifications

**You are encouraged to print a copy of this job announcement for your reference as the process moves along**
 
Please ensure your application is complete and all required information has been provided. Standard completeness means all application fields (contact information, personal information, education, work experience, references, and supplemental questions). Application materials should comprehensively document your experience and skills related to the position responsibilities and experience/training requirements. As part of the City’s commitment to reducing bias in the hiring process, Human Resources redacts personally identifiable information for reviewers. Only the documents listed as required will be reviewed.
 
Application Review Process:

1. Minimum Qualifications: Applicants must provide specific, detailed information so an initial determination can be made regarding your level of qualifications for this position. Applicant status will be updated on or around October 6, 2025. 
2. Experience and Training Rating: Applicants that meet minimum qualifications will go through an Experience and Training Rating.  Applicant status will be updated on or around October 15, 2025.  
3. The top seven (7) scoring applicants from the Experience and Training Rating will be invited to participate in an Oral Board Interview, tentatively scheduled for the week of October 20, 2025.  Applicants must have a passing score of 60% or higher to be placed on the eligibility register.
4. Applicants will be notified via email of Final Scores & Ranks. The final ranking of the register will be based on total scores for the following Experience and Training Rating (40%) and Oral Board Interview (60%).

Final candidates will be referred to the department for additional examination, assessment, or test.

This recruitment process will create a Civil Service eligibility register that will be used to fill current and future vacancies as they become available. There is currently 1 full-time vacancy in Public Works - Natural Resources. This position is represented by a union.  

If you wish to claim Veterans’ Preference Points, please complete the Veterans Scoring Criteria Declaration Form and upload it to your application with your DD214. 

Please Note: Candidates will receive updates regarding application status via email. Please be sure to check your email frequently, including your spam folders for messages filtered by your email providers.

Equal Opportunity:

The City of Bellingham is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not make decisions on the basis of an individual's race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age (40+), disability, retaliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. All are encouraged to apply for employment.

 
Fair Hiring Practices

• The City provides individuals who have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense an equal and fair opportunity to obtain employment. 
• The City will not inquire about an applicant's criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made. 
• The City will disregard the prior arrest and conviction record of an otherwise qualified individual unless the offense is directly related to the job position for which the individual has applied. 
• The City will notify an otherwise qualified applicant about a potentially disqualifying conviction and give the applicant an opportunity to submit information regarding the accuracy of the criminal records as well as evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation, as appropriate.

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