Environmental Plan Reviewer

In the wake of Hurricane Helene our community continues to recover and rebuild. This position plays a vital role in that recovery by ensuring environmental standards and public safety are upheld while supporting the resilience and future of Buncombe County.

If you are driven by purpose skilled in environmental planning and permitting and want your work to serve a greater good we invite you to join us.

Buncombe County Government offers a comprehensive benefits package. From day one youll contribute to the NC Local Government Retirement System access the Employee Assistance Program receive two days of PTO and begin accruing sick and annual leave. Medical dental and vision coverage start the first day of the following month. After six months youll be eligible for additional benefits including supplemental life insurance short-term disability and 401(k) enrollment. Full benefit details are provided during New Employee Orientation.

Purpose of the position:

The primary purpose of this position is to work within one or more planning specialties (housing economic development land use transportation environmental and legal aspects) and to perform duties and responsibilities for specific programs related to planning and development within the Countys Planning Department with a primary focus on environmental permitting programs administered by Engineering and Environmental Services Division.

Minimum Education Training and/or Experience (required at time of hire):

Bachelors degree in environmental science engineering or a related field and two (2) years of experience in environmental/floodplain development permitting stormwater/hydraulic design or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Associates degree in engineering (or related field) and two (2) years of direct hydrologic and hydraulic design work or plan/calculation review experience will be considered in lieu of a Bachelors degree.

Additional Training and Experience: Knowledge of North Carolina floodplain development stormwater erosion control and water supply watershed regulations and environmental permitting enabling legislation preferred. Engineer Intern (EI/EIT) and/or Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) certification preferred. Experience in technical review of engineering plans for floodplain development or stormwater regulatory compliance in review of floodplain hydrologic and hydraulic analyses or in design of stormwater management or erosion control plans is preferred.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily medium work requiring exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Additionally the following physical abilities are required: balancing climbing crawling crouching grasping lifting mental acuity repetitive motion speaking talking visual acuity and walking

License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation: None

Essential Functions of the position:

• Complete technical review of floodplain development stormwater erosion control and water supply watershed permits for residential and commercial developments; maintain data to track permits and cases.
• Complete plat reviews and approvals inclusive of applicable requirements.
• Assist in the administration of ordinances enforced by the Engineering and Environmental Services Division including the Flood Damage Prevention Stormwater Management Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control and Water Supply Watershed Ordinances.
• Inspect construction and development projects to ensure adherence to permitted plans and design specifications pertaining to County ordinances enforced by the Engineering and Environmental Services Division.
• Support insurance and banking professionals regarding required performance sureties and assist legal professionals in the creation of operation and maintenance agreements under the guidance of the Stormwater Administrator.
• Provide assistance to the general public by communicating information relative to the ordinances implemented by the Engineering and Environmental Services Division and addressing inquiries and complaints which may involve visiting and evaluating sites contacting and assisting property owners in gaining compliance and enforcing legal requirements of non-compliant locations.
• Assist with updating County ordinances and environmental permitting programs to advance County strategic and long-range goals and comply with legislative requirements.
• Provide technical support to other County departments and to local officials with incorporated municipalities within which the County provides permitting services.
• Maintain records and prepare periodic and special reports; prepare charts maps graphs and other illustrative material for presentation to elected officials appointed boards community groups and concerned citizens.
• Operate and maintain County vehicle.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge Skills Abilities:

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of civil engineering as applied to floodplain management stormwater management and erosion control.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of hydrology hydraulics water quality erosion and sedimentation control and related stormwater structures and devices;
• Knowledge of the practices methods and equipment applied in building construction landscaping grading and related construction activities;
• Knowledge of governmental programs laws grants and services pertinent to floodplain management stormwater management erosion control and water quality.
• Knowledge of engineering hydraulics and hydrology calculations.
• Knowledge of state and local ordinances as they relate to floodplain management stormwater runoff controls water quality watershed protection and riparian buffers.
• Knowledge of management techniques as applied to local government administration.
• Knowledge of research techniques and reporting methods.
• Knowledge of the current literature trends and developments in the field of environmental regulations.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering plans and drawings.
• Ability to work with GIS CAD and other similar mapping and design software; Proficiency in computer programs (i.e. Microsoft Office suite)
• Ability to use civil engineering instruments and equipment.
• Skill in the collection analysis and presentation of technical data and recommendations.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with engineers architects contractors property owners and state and local agencies.
• Ability to express ideas effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to maintain accurate and complete records.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
• Skill in conflict resolution and tact.
• Ability to work with the public and articulate environmental permitting and planning issues and requirements to a wide variety of audiences.

In order to uphold internal pay parity and equity salaries are non-negotiable for new and current Buncombe County employees. All new employees are paid according to their years of relevant education and experience above minimum requirements for the position and employees have the opportunity to obtain pay increases via cost of living increases and promotions.

Buncombe County Government realizes the importance of a diverse professional workforce and the need to foster a responsive and innovative organizational culture one that fully engages all of our employees honoring and building on each employees unique experiences opinions and perspective.

It is the policy of Buncombe County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race natural hair or hairstyles ethnicity creed color sex sexual orientation gender identity or expression national origin or ancestry marital or familial status pregnancy veteran status religious belief or non-belief age or disability or any other legally protected class under federal or NC State law. EEO practices and employment decisions regarding recruitment hiring assignment promotion and compensation shall not be based on any of these protected addition the County expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment or discrimination.