County - Environmental Services Department Director
Environmental services department directors work to ensure that all safety and environmental regulations and requirements at local, state and federal levels are followed within the county. This includes managing all waste material in the county including solid, liquid and hazardous wastes. The environmental services department director oversees the management and supervision of these various sites and locations through regular meeting with managers and monitoring of the reports and data provided on the various locations.
The director for environmental services sits on many different government committees including zoning committees, new development committees and even growth and development projects. Since new developments or changes to existing areas may lead to non-compliance with environmental regulations their input is very important in the planning stages of these projects. The environmental services department director is also responsible for participating in emergency preparedness committees and planning groups. In the event of an environmental hazard or accident the department will play a huge role in managing the issues and coordinating outside services.
When the director finds non-compliance issues with regards to environmental policies he or she will often manage and coordinate the clean-up operation at the site. This may involve media and press conferences to explain the process as well as factual information on the problem and its resolution. Excellent communication and management skills are required for a department director.
Common work activities include:
- Hiring, training and supervision of staff within the department, especially those in supervisory or management roles.
- Ongoing contact with managers of the various facilities to ensure compliance with local, state and federal laws and regulations.
- Coordinating environmental services with other departments.
- Attending meetings to represent the environmental department and providing information to committee members as requested.
- Meeting with the press and other media outlets to notify them of any issues that have occurred with regards to the environment.
- Monitoring other counties policies, keeping abreast of changes in state or federal regulations and reflecting those changes in policy and practice.