Environmental Compliance Inspector Jobs
Environmental Compliance Inspector jobs are open across government agencies, manufacturing, energy, construction, and environmental consulting, from entry-level field inspector to senior and supervisory roles, with specializations in air quality, hazardous waste, and stormwater compliance. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.
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Position Description
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) Drainage and Wastewater Line of Business is seeking a dedicated Stormwater Environmental Compliance Inspector under the cities job classification (Civil Engineering Specialist, Associate) to join our environmental protection team. This position plays a critical role in safeguarding Seattle's waterways and the Puget Sound by ensuring businesses and property owners comply with stormwater regulations. You'll work directly in the community, providing technical assistance and enforcement support while contributing to the cleanup efforts at the Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund site.
As a Stormwater Environmental Compliance Inspector, you'll be on the front lines of environmental protection, conducting field inspections, investigating pollution sources, and responding to water quality emergencies. This role offers the opportunity to make a tangible impact on Seattle's environmental health while working with diverse communities and stakeholders throughout the city.
About Seattle Public Utilities: Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is a community-centered utility that delivers vital services to Seattle residents and businesses including drinking water, drainage and wastewater, and garbage/recycling/compost.
If you feel this may be the perfect job for you, please continue reading ...and APPLY!
About Seattle Public Utilities (SPU): Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is a Community Centered Utility whose mission is to foster healthy people, environment, and economy by partnering with our community to equitably manage water and waste resources for today and future generations. We deliver high quality, vital services, across four major lines of business: providing water, solid waste, drainage and wastewater services for Seattle residents and businesses. In addition, SPU provides drinking water for 1.5 million regional customers in Seattle and other municipalities. Our customers depend on us to deliver high quality, reliable, and cost-conscious utility services and to achieve the highest benefits possible for every investment we make.
For more information about Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), please visit:
- SPU Workplace Expectations (Download PDF reader) (Download PDF reader)
- Strategic Business Plan
- Shape Our Water Plan
SPU commits to Our City Values and Race and Social Justice as core principles that guide our work. We actively take steps to dismantle systemic racism and increase service equity. We value diverse life experiences and strive to create a workplace that is welcoming to all. We take steps to be inclusive and equitable in our recruiting, hiring, and promotional opportunities.
Why join us?
We know work isn’t only about what you do, it’s also about who you work for and with! SPU provides a fun and family-friendly work environment that supports a work life balance, including:
- Hybrid work schedule opportunities.
- Family-friendly and multicultural work environment.
- Generous benefits package.
- Free public transportation options.
- City pension plan with employer/employee contributions.
- Growth potential and advancement opportunities.
Job Responsibilities
- Inspect businesses throughout the City to provide technical assistance regarding stormwater best management practices and enforce compliance with the City's Stormwater Code. A major emphasis of the work is the Lower Duwamish Waterway (LOW) Superfund site.
- Inspect privately owned stormwater flow control and treatment systems to ensure compliance with City maintenance requirements.
- Communicate with property owners and businesses; write letters, inspection reports, and enforcement actions, and input data into a mobile database.
- Investigate and identify pollutants entering the City drainage system, both from current home and business activities and other sources. These investigations may involve collecting sediment and stormwater samples to determine pollutant sources, as well as investigation of pollution into the stormwater drainage system during dry weather.
- Respond to water quality complaints and provide technical assistance to businesses and residents.
- Respond to spills and routinely perform week-long after hours/weekend on-call assignments.
- Coordinate with other City, State and Federal and other agencies on pollutant source control issues.
- Manage consultant contracts and take on special projects as needed.
Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Qualifications
Education: Associate Degree in Civil Engineering Technology, or two years of college level coursework in engineering and construction technology.
Experience: Requires two years’ civil engineering experience.
Experience and Education Equivalency: A combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class).
Certification/License: Current Washington State driver's license or evidence of equivalent mobility.
Desired Qualifications:
- Environmental and Regulatory Experience: Experience with stormwater management practices, environmental regulations, water quality standards, field inspections, environmental compliance monitoring, and stormwater treatment systems.
- Technical and Investigation Skills: Experience with water quality sampling, pollutant source identification, mobile data collection systems, engineering principles related to drainage systems, and spill response procedures.
- Communication and Stakeholder Engagement: Strong written and verbal communication skills for technical report writing and public interaction. Experience providing technical assistance to businesses, explaining complex concepts to diverse audiences, and coordinating with regulatory agencies.
- Field Work and Project Management: Ability to work independently in various weather conditions, manage contracts and special projects, work flexible hours including on-call assignments, and perform physical field work.
- Ability to respond to spills within 90 minutes after hours and on weekends when acting as a spill responder.
Work Environment/ Physical Demands:
- Most work is performed in a normal City work/office environment.
- Field assignments entail exposure to all types of weather, traffic, hazardous/toxic substances and work in or near construction sites.
- May be required to lift over 50 pounds.
- May be required to stand, walk, or bend for extended periods of time.
- Overnight travel may be required.
Additional Information
Workplace Environment: This position requires four days on-site. Individual schedules will be agreed upon by the employee and their supervisor. It is a requirement that Stormwater Environmental Compliance Inspectors become 40-hour Hazmat certified within the first year of employment in order to fulfil the stormwater spill response duties.
How to Apply: In addition to fully completing the online application, please attach your resume and cover letter addressing the Desired Qualifications, and respond to all supplemental questions. These are required to be considered for this position. Your cover letter should also include your general knowledge and experience related to the position.
The salary range for this position is $53.60 - $62.40 hourly.
This hiring process involves a background check of conviction and arrest records incompliance with Seattle's Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SME 14.17. Applicants will be provided with an opportunity to explain or correct background information.
Benefits: The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits
For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact: Zachary Brown at zach.brown@seattle.gov.
Website http://www.seattle.gov/jobs| Learn more about Seattle Public Utilities atwww.seattle.gov/util/and check us out on social media.
The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.
Position Description
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) Drainage and Wastewater Line of Business is seeking a dedicated Stormwater Environmental Compliance Inspector under the cities job classification (Civil Engineering Specialist, Associate) to join our environmental protection team. This position plays a critical role in safeguarding Seattle's waterways and the Puget Sound by ensuring businesses and property owners comply with stormwater regulations. You'll work directly in the community, providing technical assistance and enforcement support while contributing to the cleanup efforts at the Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund site.
As a Stormwater Environmental Compliance Inspector, you'll be on the front lines of environmental protection, conducting field inspections, investigating pollution sources, and responding to water quality emergencies. This role offers the opportunity to make a tangible impact on Seattle's environmental health while working with diverse communities and stakeholders throughout the city.
About Seattle Public Utilities: Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is a community-centered utility that delivers vital services to Seattle residents and businesses including drinking water, drainage and wastewater, and garbage/recycling/compost.
If you feel this may be the perfect job for you, please continue reading ...and APPLY!
About Seattle Public Utilities (SPU): Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is a Community Centered Utility whose mission is to foster healthy people, environment, and economy by partnering with our community to equitably manage water and waste resources for today and future generations. We deliver high quality, vital services, across four major lines of business: providing water, solid waste, drainage and wastewater services for Seattle residents and businesses. In addition, SPU provides drinking water for 1.5 million regional customers in Seattle and other municipalities. Our customers depend on us to deliver high quality, reliable, and cost-conscious utility services and to achieve the highest benefits possible for every investment we make.
For more information about Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), please visit:
- SPU Workplace Expectations (Download PDF reader) (Download PDF reader)
- Strategic Business Plan
- Shape Our Water Plan
SPU commits to Our City Values and Race and Social Justice as core principles that guide our work. We actively take steps to dismantle systemic racism and increase service equity. We value diverse life experiences and strive to create a workplace that is welcoming to all. We take steps to be inclusive and equitable in our recruiting, hiring, and promotional opportunities.
Why join us?
We know work isn’t only about what you do, it’s also about who you work for and with! SPU provides a fun and family-friendly work environment that supports a work life balance, including:
- Hybrid work schedule opportunities.
- Family-friendly and multicultural work environment.
- Generous benefits package.
- Free public transportation options.
- City pension plan with employer/employee contributions.
- Growth potential and advancement opportunities.
Job Responsibilities
- Inspect businesses throughout the City to provide technical assistance regarding stormwater best management practices and enforce compliance with the City's Stormwater Code. A major emphasis of the work is the Lower Duwamish Waterway (LOW) Superfund site.
- Inspect privately owned stormwater flow control and treatment systems to ensure compliance with City maintenance requirements.
- Communicate with property owners and businesses; write letters, inspection reports, and enforcement actions, and input data into a mobile database.
- Investigate and identify pollutants entering the City drainage system, both from current home and business activities and other sources. These investigations may involve collecting sediment and stormwater samples to determine pollutant sources, as well as investigation of pollution into the stormwater drainage system during dry weather.
- Respond to water quality complaints and provide technical assistance to businesses and residents.
- Respond to spills and routinely perform week-long after hours/weekend on-call assignments.
- Coordinate with other City, State and Federal and other agencies on pollutant source control issues.
- Manage consultant contracts and take on special projects as needed.
Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Qualifications
Education: Associate Degree in Civil Engineering Technology, or two years of college level coursework in engineering and construction technology.
Experience: Requires two years’ civil engineering experience.
Experience and Education Equivalency: A combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class).
Certification/License: Current Washington State driver's license or evidence of equivalent mobility.
Desired Qualifications:
- Environmental and Regulatory Experience: Experience with stormwater management practices, environmental regulations, water quality standards, field inspections, environmental compliance monitoring, and stormwater treatment systems.
- Technical and Investigation Skills: Experience with water quality sampling, pollutant source identification, mobile data collection systems, engineering principles related to drainage systems, and spill response procedures.
- Communication and Stakeholder Engagement: Strong written and verbal communication skills for technical report writing and public interaction. Experience providing technical assistance to businesses, explaining complex concepts to diverse audiences, and coordinating with regulatory agencies.
- Field Work and Project Management: Ability to work independently in various weather conditions, manage contracts and special projects, work flexible hours including on-call assignments, and perform physical field work.
- Ability to respond to spills within 90 minutes after hours and on weekends when acting as a spill responder.
Work Environment/ Physical Demands:
- Most work is performed in a normal City work/office environment.
- Field assignments entail exposure to all types of weather, traffic, hazardous/toxic substances and work in or near construction sites.
- May be required to lift over 50 pounds.
- May be required to stand, walk, or bend for extended periods of time.
- Overnight travel may be required.
Additional Information
Workplace Environment: This position requires four days on-site. Individual schedules will be agreed upon by the employee and their supervisor. It is a requirement that Stormwater Environmental Compliance Inspectors become 40-hour Hazmat certified within the first year of employment in order to fulfil the stormwater spill response duties.
How to Apply: In addition to fully completing the online application, please attach your resume and cover letter addressing the Desired Qualifications, and respond to all supplemental questions. These are required to be considered for this position. Your cover letter should also include your general knowledge and experience related to the position.
The salary range for this position is $53.60 - $62.40 hourly.
This hiring process involves a background check of conviction and arrest records incompliance with Seattle's Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SME 14.17. Applicants will be provided with an opportunity to explain or correct background information.
Benefits: The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits
For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact: Zachary Brown at zach.brown@seattle.gov.
Website http://www.seattle.gov/jobs| Learn more about Seattle Public Utilities atwww.seattle.gov/util/and check us out on social media.
The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.
Environmental Compliance Inspector Jobs by Experience Level
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Find JobsEnvironmental Compliance Inspector Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in environmental compliance inspector jobs.
- Bachelor's degree in environmental science, biology, chemistry, or a related field
- Knowledge of federal environmental regulations including Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and RCRA
- Experience conducting field inspections and preparing detailed compliance inspection reports
- HAZWOPER 40-hour certification or willingness to obtain it upon hire
- Proficiency with environmental data management systems and GIS mapping tools
- Valid driver's license and ability to work in outdoor field conditions year-round
Tips for Your Environmental Compliance Inspector Job Search
Tailor your resume to inspection types
Highlight the specific regulatory programs you've worked under, whether Clean Air Act, RCRA, Clean Water Act, or CERCLA. Inspectors who list permit types, violation categories, and enforcement actions they've documented get far more callbacks than those who write generic compliance summaries.
Certify before your competition does
Certifications like the Certified Environmental Auditor or HAZWOPER 40-hour training distinguish you on applications where dozens of candidates share similar fieldwork backgrounds. Check whether your target employers require state-specific licenses and complete those before applying.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists environmental compliance inspector openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Search by regulatory program not just title
Many postings use titles like Environmental Specialist, Compliance Analyst, or Regulatory Inspector rather than the exact phrase. Search for the specific programs you know, such as NPDES, Title V, or Superfund, to surface openings that match your actual expertise.
Prepare scenario answers using real inspection cases
Interviewers ask how you've handled a regulated entity's refusal to cooperate, a complex multi-media inspection, or a discrepancy between self-reported data and field observations. Walk through a specific case with the actual regulation involved and how you resolved it.
Negotiate beyond base pay using fieldwork costs
Offers for field-heavy roles often have flexibility on vehicle allowances, per diem rates, and equipment reimbursements that don't appear in the initial offer letter. Ask explicitly about how travel, PPE, and sampling equipment costs are covered before you accept.
Environmental Compliance Inspector Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most environmental compliance inspectors?
The companies hiring the most environmental compliance inspectors right now include Infrastructure Consulting & Engineering, Quanta Services, and Wright Service, with the largest share of openings in South Carolina, Arizona, and Oregon, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Government agencies and environmental consulting firms consistently account for the largest volume of postings in this field.
How many environmental compliance inspector jobs are remote?
About 25% of environmental compliance inspector openings are fully remote or hybrid as of August 2026, since most positions require on-site facility inspections and field sampling. Roles most likely to offer remote flexibility include positions focused on reviewing self-monitoring reports, data analysis, or regulatory document preparation rather than physical site visits.
How do you become an environmental compliance inspector?
Start by completing a bachelor's degree in environmental science, biology, chemistry, or a closely related field. Gain field experience through internships with state environmental agencies, consulting firms, or industrial facilities. Obtain foundational certifications like HAZWOPER training. Apply for entry-level inspector or environmental specialist roles with local, state, or federal agencies, where on-the-job training in specific regulatory programs like Clean Water Act or RCRA typically follows hiring.
Can you get hired as an environmental compliance inspector with little experience?
Yes, entry-level environmental compliance inspector roles exist, particularly at state environmental agencies and smaller consulting firms. Employers hiring candidates with limited experience look for relevant coursework in environmental law or regulatory science, internship or volunteer fieldwork, and familiarity with the specific regulations the agency enforces. Emphasizing any experience completing field logs, collecting samples, or drafting technical reports, even from academic projects, strengthens an application significantly.
What does the environmental compliance inspector interview process look like?
Most processes begin with a phone or video screening focused on your regulatory background and inspection experience. A technical interview follows, often including scenario-based questions where you walk through how you'd handle a facility inspection, a potential violation, or an uncooperative regulated entity. Government agency interviews frequently include a structured oral board panel. Some employers add a written exercise requiring you to draft a mock inspection report or violation notice from a field scenario.
Where can I find and apply to environmental compliance inspector jobs?
You can find and apply to environmental compliance inspector jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Find roles that match your regulatory background, seniority level, and preferred sector, whether government, consulting, or industry, and apply directly to each listing without leaving the platform.
See All 21 Environmental Compliance Inspector Jobs
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