Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To undertake technical review and approve the acknowledgment of waste Generator Registration Reports (GRR), assist in developing applicable policies and procedures, and address any queries from Ministry staff, industries and the public on GRR issues. To assist the Unit Supervisor in developing and administering programs for the control of liquid industrial and hazardous waste, and the Hazardous Waste Information System and Network (HWIS/ HWIN). To provide technical expertise on GRR and manifest matters and resolve technical problems

Duties / Responsibilities :

The Ministry manages the program for the movement of hazardous waste as per Regulation 347, and that includes the requirement for hazardous waste generators to register annually, provision of generator manifests and payment of fees as per fees recovery system. This position:

1) Provides technical review on complex/ unique GRR applications and the classification of wastes based on factors such as legislation, waste characteristics and industrial processes; promotes and develops standardized review of policies/procedures; and acts as an expert in the GRR program. Approves the acknowledgment of GRR as Director, Regulation 347 and issues generator registration numbers.

2) Develops recommendations and implements standardized reporting procedures to provide management with current information on the status of Unit programs (e.g. generator manifests, activity for specified company based on information in database; trends in waste). Develops and maintains work plans for special projects, and contributes data to the Section's Customer Service plans. Provides evaluations of the Unit programs' performance.

3) With the assistance of the HWIS Information Officer, provides data quality assurance on the Hazardous Waste Information System (HWIS)/ Hazardous Waste Information Network (HWIN) database which requires selecting and extracting the data to be examined, manipulating the data in formats which are designed to permit a standardized study of the data, interpreting and analyzing what the situations the data is actually describing (e.g., unfavorable trends in the growth of certain underlying indicators), identifying and describing the identified 'problems' based on this analysis, developing possible solutions for these problems (such as flagging abnormally large waste quantities), and then preparing a summary of the analysis and any preliminary recommendations (for review by the supervisor) for enforcement and policy development purposes.

4) Assists the Supervisor in addressing issues associated with the management of liquid industrial and hazardous waste by preparing briefing notes, issue summaries, and reports based on data analyses and interpretations of legislation.

5) Provides technical/regulatory expertise and advice to staff operating the generator registration and manifest program and the HWIS/ HWIN application by providing and applying suggestions, feed-back, and clarifying procedures so that the staff will be able to maintain the registration and manifest data in a consistent manner, thereby allowing the position to perform any technical analysis more readily, and providing more reliable technical conclusions from such analysis.

6) Identifies problems and program requirements in connection with the control of the collection, handling, transportation, treatment and disposal of industrial waste, and the related system/database (HWIS/HWIN). Manages a variety of projects, including the development and implementation of these programs which includes the development of policies, procedures, and guidelines and the redesign of the related system/database. Recommends to the supervisor/manager any necessary changes to the budget to accommodate changes in circumstances.

7) Maintains close liaison with Ministry's Regional/District/Approvals and Investigation and Enforcement Branch (IEB) staff by providing specialized technical information, training them in the use of the HWIS application and the interpretation of generator registration and manifesting requirements as mandated by Regulation 347 and related legislation. Appears in court cases as a technical expert witness by providing interpretation of Regulation, opinion of classification of waste, etc.

8) Maintains close liaison with companies, industries, academia, federal and municipal governments and the public through consultation on a client-initiated basis by providing guidance on generator registration and manifesting requirements and to promote legislative compliance.

9) Provides back-up to Supervisor to assign work and provides group leadership within the Unit on technical matters (e.g. legislative requirements and program procedures).

10) Conducts technical review of notifications on importation of hazardous waste and recyclable materials and coordinates responses between Environment Canada, Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Branch (EMRB) and District Offices.

Knowledge :

Position requires formal education and training in the theory, principle and practice of environmental sciences to analyse industrial hazardous waste production processes and a good knowledge of environmental protection and industrial waste treatments to determine what technical solutions can be applied to address the environmental impact of such industrial processes. Work requires knowledge of and experience in assessing the origin, nature and toxicity of waste and the environmental impact of their various methods of treatment and disposal. Position requires in-depth knowledge of the Environmental Protection Act, Regulation 347 and related legislation on waste management to provide interpretation and guidance to clients, ensure the work of the clients is performed in a manner consistent with the applicable Acts/Regulations, and appear in court cases as a technical expert witness. Position requires planning and organizational skills to provide recommendations for the development and implementation of standardized review policies and procedures. Position requires analytical skills, creativity and innovation to adapt and revise procedures for resolving problems as related to the transportation and disposal of waste. Work requires oral and written communication skills to provide clear, concise explanations of the technical procedures required by the clients (industries, associations, public) when dealing with the program.
Work requires good interpersonal skills and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, associates, government official and the private sector in order to represent, in a capable manner, the program to the 'outside world'. The position requires office computer and database skills (e.g., Windows/MS Access/word processing) and analytical skills to extract, manipulate and analyse data, and to prepare correspondence, tables and reports.

Judgement :

Work is performed under the general supervision of the Supervisor, Hazardous Waste Information System Unit. Work requires judgement in evaluating and selecting the appropriate waste classification to ensure proper management of hazardous waste. Position requires exercising judgement in resolving problems in the absence of precedent policies and practices and in resolving conflicting positions, e.g. waste classification and waste disposal options. Work also requires judgement in providing direction to internal and external clients (e.g. industries) for compliance with legislative requirements, in particular, the generator registration and manifest program. Judgement is exercised in developing and maintaining concise and unambiguous procedures to be used by staff when accessing and using the generator registration and manifest program and the HWIS/ HWIN. Judgement is required in deriving and expressing Ministry view on hazardous waste issues when preparing briefing notes and reports. Judgement is required in developing and providing evaluations of the program's performance to management and in developing appropriate work plans and customer service objectives. Judgement is required in determining how to liaise effectively with clients and maintaining positive working relations, explaining technical issues and the challenges involved in resolving them. Position requires judgement in providing Supervisor with input on staff performance and program delivery.
Work is accepted as technically accurate and complete, but recommendations and project outcomes are reviewed for achievement of objectives and consistency impacts.

Accountability - Programs :

Accountable for approving the acknowledgement of waste Generator Registration Reports (GRR) as Director, Regulation 347 in accordance with the Ministry's standards, Customer Service objectives and consistent with the legislation, and for the accurate and technical review of GRR, waste classification, the development of standardized review policies and procedures, and acting as technical expert on Regulation 347.

Accountability – Personnel :

Provides group leadership to assigned projects and on technical matters.

Accountability - Impact of Errors :

Failure to adapt corporate policies and procedures to the needs the program would result in program deficiencies and inefficiencies, which would cause the staff to be less efficient when accessing and operating the program, with the resultant reduction in service to clients, who are primarily Operations Division and private industries. Failure to properly interpret legislation, policies and procedures could lead to inappropriate waste handling with higher risks to the environment, public welfare and health, loss of public confidence and compromised legal proceedings.

Contact - Internal :

Position regularly contacts technical and professional staff specialists in own and other branches to clarify any problematic data, discuss improved techniques for data analysis procedures, ensure more complete and accurate reporting, and provide training in program procedures, and use of HWIS application. Regular contact with Regional and other Head Office (e.g. Waste Management Policy Branch) specialists to provide program information and to interpret the application of legislation.

Contact - External :

Position is in frequent contact with companies, industries, colleges/universities, the federal government, municipalities, other jurisdictions, and the public to provide technical/legislative explanations, discuss problems, and provide general information regarding the program.