Entry Level Organic Inspector Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $70,491.20 - $84,780.80 Annually
Location : City of San Diego, CA
Job Type: Varies by Position
Job Number: SI-T12025-202606
Business Area: N/A - Multiple Departments
Opening Date: 06/12/2026
Closing Date: 6/22/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
JOB INFORMATION
Hazardous Material/Pretreatment Trainee is the entry-level classification for the Hazardous Materials Inspector, Storm Water Inspector and Wastewater Pretreatment Inspector Series.
Hazardous Materials Inspector positions monitor and manage environmental areas/issues such as hazardous materials, storm water, household hazardous waste, underground tanks and hazardous waste haulers, and processing facilities; conduct or oversee site assessment and mitigation activities; perform internal inspections at City-operated facilities and work sites; attend, facilitate, and document facility inspections performed by outside regulatory agencies; identify non-compliance issues and prepare/execute a plan for compliance; determine appropriate waste sampling protocols; diagram sites; prepare permits, plans or other related documents; conduct training classes; test, identify, categorize, manifest, and package waste; work at household hazardous waste collection events and facilities; perform inspections at the Miramar Landfill to divert unacceptable wastes from landfill; investigate illegal disposal of hazardous waste and conduct appropriate enforcement actions, including issuing notices of violation to landfill customers; manage vendor and service contracts; and perform other duties as assigned.
Storm Water Inspector positions independently perform inspections and enforcement of storm water regulations; inspect, evaluate, and enforce Best Management Practices (BMPs) for industrial and commercial businesses; inspect industrial/commercial businesses and residences for proper maintenance of Permanent Structural BMPs; conduct outreach to educate business owners and citizens regarding pollution prevention, BMPs, and storm water regulations; perform enforcement actions; write technical reports; utilize databases and spreadsheets for report generation and data storage/retrieval; and perform other duties as assigned.
Wastewater Pretreatment Inspector positions inspect, classify, and evaluate industrial and commercial processes, wastewater pretreatment systems, and source control methods to determine compliance with federal, state, and local sewer discharge standards; determine appropriate waste management protocols; diagram field sites; write inspection reports, develop fact sheets, and process wastewater and treatment flow diagrams; draft discharge permits, Notices of Violation, Compliance Orders, and Penalty Orders; serve as a witness; research and interpret environmental regulations; provide outreach and education to regulated industries; perform water use audits; determine facility-specific industrial and commercial sewer billing rates; and perform other duties as assigned.
NOTES:

• Eligible benefited employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).
• The Hazardous Material/Pretreatment Trainee eligible list will be used to fill future vacancies in the Hazardous Materials Inspector, the Storm Water Inspector, and the Wastewater Pretreatment Inspector series. After gaining the requisite experience, Hazardous Material/Pretreatment Trainee employees may be eligible for career advancement to higher-level classifications.
• Hazardous Material/Pretreatment Trainee employees perform increasingly responsible professional industrial waste inspection, storm water inspection, and/or hazardous materials management activities to verify and ensure compliance with local, state, and federal laws and regulations in their respective areas of responsibility. Duties may include any or all as noted above.
• Hazardous Material/Pretreatment Trainee employees may be required to maneuver above, under, and around equipment during inspections; safely move across wet or uneven surfaces; ascend/descend ladders, stairs, elevated catwalks; and lift items weighing up to 50 pounds.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.
EDUCATION: Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry, Industrial Hygiene, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Biology, Environmental Science, or a closely related degree. Individuals applying with a closely related degree MUST have completed at least 18 semester/27 quarter units of college-level chemistry course work that MUST include lecture and laboratory classes in both organic and general chemistry.
NOTES:

• Additional qualifying professional experience may be substituted for education lacked on a year-for-year basis. One year of full-time experience = 30 semester/45 quarter college-level units.
  • Qualifying professional experience includes hazardous materials inspection, industrial waste inspection, or storm water inspection.
  • If you are using a combination of experience and education to qualify, you MUST have completed at least 18 semester/27 quarter units of college-level chemistry course work that MUST include lecture and laboratory classes in both organic and general chemistry.
• City of San Diego employees using Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) experience to qualify must submit written documentation signed by their appointing authority or payroll specialist, detailing the work performed, dates, and total number of qualifying OCA hours. OCA experience without the required documentation will NOT be considered.

LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver License is required at the time of hire.
NOTE:

• You may be required to provide your own vehicle for which mileage will be reimbursed.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (MUST SUBMIT WITH APPLICATION):

• Proof of degree/transcripts, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
• Proof of transcripts showing completion of the required course work, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
• For City of San Diego employees, proof of Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA), if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.

Required documents should be attached electronically to your application. If you are unable to attach at the time of application submittal, you must submit them as soon as possible via fax: (619) 533-3337; or to the Employee Information Center: City of San Diego Personnel Department, 1200 Third Avenue - Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101. Include your name and the title of the position for which you are applying.
SCREENING PROCESS
Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met. Successful candidates will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next six months (180 days). For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS: Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes, including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may constitute cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change in their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number, otherwise they may miss employment opportunities.
Rev. 9 - June 12, 2026 (New Recruitment Date)
City employees may be eligible to participate in a benefit program including holidays, vacations, savings and retirement plans, health programs, and other benefits.
Eligible City employees initially hired or assuming office on or after July 10, 2021, with the exception of Police Recruits participating in the City's Police Academy, will participate in the City's Defined Benefit Plan administered by the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System (SDCERS).
Benefits may change due to employer-employee contract negotiations.
or review the
01
I understand that failure to respond to the following questions in the spaces provided may result in the rejection of my application. In addition, I may miss out on employment opportunities. Resumes are NOT reviewed for assessing the minimum requirements, qualifications will be determined from the answers provided to the supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

02
Are you a current or former City of San Diego government/municipal employee?

• Current city employee
• Former city employee
• Current & former city employee
• None of the above

03
If you have previously worked or are currently working for the City of San Diego, please enter your PERNR.
04
The minimum age for this job is 18, unless you are 17 and a high school graduate. Do you meet the minimum age requirements for this job?

• Yes
• No

05
Which of the following do you possess? NOTE: Attach proof of degree to your application.

• Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry, Industrial Hygiene, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Biology, or Environmental Science.
• Bachelor's Degree in a closely related field AND the completion of at least 18 semester/27 quarter college-level units of chemistry, including lecture and laboratory classes in both organic and general chemistry.
• None of the above.

06
If you are using a combination of experience and education to qualify, which of the following best describes your level of education? NOTE: You MUST have completed at least 18 semester/27 quarter units of college-level chemistry course work that MUST include lecture and laboratory classes in both organic and general chemistry. Attach proof of transcripts showing completion of the required course work to your application.

• 0 to 29 semester/44 quarter units
• 30 semester/45 quarter units to 59 semester/89 quarter units
• 60 semester/90 quarter units to 89 semester/134 quarter units
• 90 semester/135 quarter units to 119 semester/179 quarter units
• 120 semester/180 quarter units or more

07
How many years of full-time professional experience do you have in hazardous materials inspection, industrial waste inspection, or storm water inspection?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 4 years
• 4 years to less than 5 years
• 5 years or more

08
Indicate in which of the following areas you have professional experience.

• Hazardous materials inspection
• Industrial waste inspection
• Storm water inspection
• None of the above

09
Describe your full-time professional experience in the following areas: a. Hazardous materials inspection b. industrial waste inspection; c. storm water inspection. For each area, specify from which employer the experience was gained, your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent on each area, and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience in a specific area, type "None".
Required Question