Senior Wastewater Engineer

Do you embrace change and are an innovative thinker and problem solver? Then, consider this exciting opportunity. The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks' Environmental Permissions Branch seeks three (3) highly motivated professionals to join the team as Senior Wastewater Engineers.

OPS Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism:

We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.

We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.

Visit the OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.

We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's Human Rights Code. Refer to the "How to apply" section if you require a disability-related accommodation.

What can I expect to do in this role?

In this role, you will evaluate engineering designs of municipal, private and industrial wastewater systems seeking Environmental Compliance Approvals (ECAs), ensuring their compliance with legislative requirements and established standards and guidelines in order to protect public health and the environment. Examples of applications received include municipal and private sewage treatment plants, large subsurface disposal systems, industrial process, cooling and stormwater water at heavy industrial sites, including mines, refineries, food processing, etc.

In this role, you will also:
• Conduct engineering assessments, including evaluation of design calculations, process flow diagrams, hydraulic modelling results and environmental impact assessments of complex and semi-complex environmental compliance approval applications
• Develop legally binding and enforceable Environmental Compliance Approvals with input from ministry scientists and compliance professionals
• Provide internal and external advice on engineering requirements for applications, including conducting pre-application consultation meetings and responding to enquiries
• Conduct site inspections of facilities and systems, as required
• Make recommendations for approval or rejection of applications
• Represent the ministry at legal proceedings

How do I qualify?

Mandatory

• You are a Professional Engineer, licensed with Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO).

Environmental and Legislative Knowledge:

• You know and can apply the theories, principles, and practices of environmental engineering and chemical processes, and water resources engineering, as they pertain to sewage or wastewater collection systems, wastewater treatment and stormwater management.
• You know and understand the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment and Individual Environmental Assessment processes as they relate to wastewater systems.
• You know industrial and municipal sewage treatment processes and best management practices related to wastewater systems and stormwater, along with understanding of design the large subsurface disposal systems.
• You have knowledge of current government directions and strategic plans, and emerging environmental trends and issues.
• You understand engineering codes and standards, current legislation (e.g. Environmental Protection Act, Environmental Assessment Act, Ontario Water Resources Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act), regulations and Provincial design guidelines and source water protection initiatives.

Project Management, Organizational and Planning Skills:

• You have project management skills and knowledge of related methodologies and processes.
• You have planning and organizational skills to establish timelines and deliverables for an application, monitor progress, and ensure timely completion.
• You can organize workload, and prioritize and manage concurrent applications, many of which have tight deadlines.

Analytical, Issues Management and Negotiation Skills:

• You can analyze engineering designs, equipment specifications, and parameters of complex and semi-complex applications.
• You can identify and resolve issues and conflicting priorities.
• You can negotiate terms and conditions to be included in the ECAs and reach a resolution to avoid appeals.
• You can participate in formal mediation sessions, provide testimony in legal proceedings and undergo cross-examinations if appeals of ECAs occur.

Communication, Interpersonal, Relationship-Building and Computer Skills:

• You can communicate complex technical information in a clear, concise manner.
• You can prepare a variety of written materials (e.g. briefing notes, reports, Environmental Compliance Approvals).
• You know how to establish effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including clients, consulting engineers, industry associations, ministry's regional and district staff.
• You are client-focused and willing to provide excellent customer service.
• You know how to use computers and software such as word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation, etc.