Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To conduct engineering assessments of semi-complex and complex applications by reviewing and evaluating engineering designs, specifications and accompanying reports for industrial, municipal and private wastewater and stormwater systems to ensure their compliance with environmental legislation as well as established Ministry standards, guidelines, other criteria and sound engineering practice, in order to protect public health and the environment.
To make recommendations on the approval or rejection of applications to the Director under the Ontario Water Resources Act and prepare legally binding and enforceable Certificates of Approval, with the necessary terms and conditions, or Notices of Refusal when recommending rejection.
To provide engineering expertise and technical support, guidance and advice pertaining to industrial, municipal and private wastewater and storm water systems to other programs and sections within the Ministry, municipal and non-municipal clients, and other stakeholders.

Duties / Responsibilities :

1. Reviews, analyzes and evaluates of semi-complex and complex applications, including engineering designs, studies, reports, calculations and other supporting data information, for the construction, installation or modification of industrial, municipal and private wastewater and stormwater systems. Assesses applications for compliance with the Environmental Protection Act (EPA), Environmental Assessment Act (EAA), Ontario Water Resources Act (OWRA), the Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR), and other applicable requirements, including regulations, Ministry guidelines and policies, and other government requirements, as well as sound engineering practice.
2. Manages each application as a project by identifying submission requirements, planning and developing delivery schedules and making revisions, as appropriate, and tracking and monitoring the progress of each application to ensure completion of all deliverables. Solicits input and coordinates comments of Ministry staff, various stakeholders and multi-discipline experts, ensuring their consideration in the review process. Identifies, assesses and analyzes issues associated with applications, and develops responses, approaches and/or courses of action to ensure their resolution. Coordinates supplementary reviews, when required. Ascertains the need for and negotiates specific terms and conditions that are protective of the public's health and the environment with the proponent or designate. Verifies calculations of applicable fees, and calculates new fees when adjustments are required, in accordance with applicable schedules. Evaluates financial assurance requirements for private sector wastewater and stormwater systems, in accordance with applicable regulations, policies and guidelines. Conducts site visits for inspection of facilities and systems, as part of assessment of submissions, as required.
3. Based on technical reviews, makes recommendations for approval or rejection of applications to the Director under the A~, by preparing supporting engineering assessment reports, technical review reports and draft Certificates of Approval and Notices of Amendments for industrial , municipal and private wastewater and stormwater systems, with legally enforceable terms and conditions that serve as key tools for compliance, inspection , abatement and enforcement activities throughout Ontario; ensures that all documentation complies with applicable regulations , policies and guidelines. Prepares legally binding Notices of Refusal when recommending rejection of the application .
4. Facilitates posting of proposals on the EBR registry. Ensures that EBR requirements for public participation are met in relation to proposals for instruments and applications for reviews ; considers public comments received and may add/amend applicable terms and conditions to draft Certificates of Approval ; prepares and posts decisions on the EBR Registry including explanation on how public comments were considered in the approval decision based on the EBR process , or to provide clarification and response to enquiries from the EBR Office on approvals issues . Prepares leave to appeal submissions, as required .
5. Reviews, evaluates and provides comments on the technical acceptability of engineering components of environmental assessment reports/reviews and associated terms of reference, assessing consistency with the Certificate of Approval application requirements, in support of the Environmental Assessment process.
6. Develops and maintains effective working relationships with consultants, industry and municipal representatives, First Nations groups and other external stakeholders. Provides technical guidance, advice , information and regulatory interpretation to proponents , consultants, the public, special interest groups, municipalities and government agencies regarding requirements of the Approvals Program, applications and related matters . Prepares and recommends responses to enquiries from the Office of the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, EBR Office, Freedom of Information (FOI) Office as well as other organizations and groups.
7. Provides engineering support to staff in other sections in the Branch and in other Ministry branches/offices including district and regional offices , other ministries, and to legal counsel of the Legal Services Branch by providing technical guidance , advice and/or information on the approvals process, related requirements , etc. Provides issues management support to the Branch, and participates in internal meetings to address issues/matters related to applications, approvals and appeals. Provides briefings to senior management on contentious , complex issues , as required.
8. Participates in the development of training programs for Ministry staff, including preparing course content , assisting in the selection process for training providers, and delivering aspects of courses by presenting material as an instructor.
9. As a representative of the Ministry/Branch, chairs and/or participates in meetings with proponents, consultants, staff from other Ministry branches, government and non-government agencies and other stakeholders. Attends municipal council meetings and other public meetings. Makes presentations to senior management, supervisors, colleagues, clients and regulatory authorities on environmental, technical and scientific issues as well as technical and process matters related to the Approvals Program.
10. Acts as an expert witness on the approvals process at public hearings, prosecutions, appeals and other legal proceedings. ' Undergoes cross-examination by legal counsel of proponents and their consultants. Participates in pre-hearing negotiations and formal mediation sessions to resolve issues, as required . Represents the Ministry at tribunal hearings. Prepares required supporting documentation.
11. Participates on committees and working groups for the preparation of guidelines, policies, standards and regulations related to the Approvals Program, and for the development and implementation of improved approval processes and procedures. Leads, coordinates and/or participates on Branch/Unit working groups to develop and recommend internal operational guidance documents to support approvals decisions in the absence of regulations and Ministry policies, for use by other review engineers. Provides input into draft policy, regulations and other guidance documents developed by the Land and Water Policy Branch, Standards Development Branch and Strategic Policy Branch.
12. Prepares and edits correspondence, briefing notes (or a portion thereof), Minister's letters, cancellation letters, presentation materials and other program-related documents.
13. Acts as a duty officer on a rotational basis on behalf of the Wastewater Unit to assist the general public, District Office and any other Ministry staff on enquiries related to the approvals process.
14. Performs other duties, which may include the following:
-Undertaking special environment/process engineering assignments;
- Occasionally presenting technical papers at conferences.

Knowledge :

-Advanced knowledge of the theories, principles and practices of chemical processes, water resources, sanitary or environmental engineering, especially as they pertain to sewage or wastewater collection, transmission, treatment and disposal systems/equipment and stormwater management as well as new/emerging environmental trends and issues to evaluate engineering designs and new technologies; and to provide technical guidance and advice to proponents and consultants.
-Thorough knowledge and interpretive understanding of engineering codes and standards, current relevant legislation / regulations, including the Ontario Water Resources Act, Environmental Protection Act, Environmental Assessment Act, Occupational Healtand Safety legislation and the Environmental Bill of Rights, related regulations, applicable national/international standards and relevant Ministry policies and guidelines to provide technical guidance, advice and regulatory interpretation; and to assess compliance of proponents' applications.
-Thorough knowledge of the Financial Assurance Guideline and applicable regulations as well as the costs related to construction and remediation as they pertain to wastewater and stormwater systems , to evaluate financial assurance proposals required by the EPA, applicable regulations and other requirements for private sector applications.
-General knowledge of the sciences and concepts related to environmental protection, such as chemistry, hydrology, hydrogeology
-Strong project management skills and related methodologies and processes, and superior planning and organizational skills to establish timelines and deliverables for an application , monitor progress, and ensure timely completion ; to identify and coordinate comments and manage the multitude of associated activities; to organize workload, and prioritize and manage concurrent applications, many of which have tight deadlines.
-Strong analytical skills and related analytical/evaluative methods and techniques to evaluate and assess engineering proposals, including performing root-cause analysis; assessing validity, relevance and completeness of data; making logical connections between a hypothesis and supporting data; and formulating Plans based on proposed technical solutions.
-Thorough knowledge of issues management methods and techniques to identify, address and resolve, or participate in resolving, contentious issues.
-Strong negotiation skills to negotiate terms and conditions with proponents, abatement staff, municipal governments and interest groups; and to participate in negotiating resolution of appeals .
-Strong mediation skills to participate in formal mediation sessions.
-Strong interpersonal skills to establish effective working relationships and liaise with proponents , consultants, industry and government officials, the public and stakeholder groups ; to deal with hostile, angry and/or upset public involving contentious issues in public forums; to resolve conflicts or differences between/among various stakeholders with conflicting . interests/positions/opinions; to collaborate with individuals/groups involved in submissions, projects, guideline development, etc., and elicit cooperation; and to provide technical guidance , advice and information to staff, consultants and stakeholders.
-Well-develop written communication skill t prepare briefing notes (or a portion thereof),correspondence, reports, Certificates of Approval , presentations, training materials and other program-related documentation.
-Superior oral communication skills to communicate complex technical information; to make presentations; to provide briefings; to provide training and instruction; and to represent the Ministry in court, at hearings and public meetings.
-Strong computer skills and related knowledge of applicable software for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, Intern et technology research and database applications.

Judgement :

Work is performed independently and within limitations imposed by legislation, Ministry policies and standards as well as administrative/business policies, guidelines and practices. The position uses engineering judgement in interpreting and clarifying existing guidelines; in ascertaining the need to deviate from established practices; and in making related engineering recommendations to the Supervisor. Judgement is applied in performing analyses and making engineering decisions to solve unusual problems or address new situations where no established Ministry guidelines and/or standards exist, e.g. use of a novel, innovative technology, in order to make recommendations to the Supervisor. Completed work is normally accepted as technically sound and is reviewed for achievement of objectives, however, guidance and direction is sought from the Supervisor on unusual/major issues or problems of significance, e.g., applications involving highly contentious issues, when necessary.

Judgement is exercised in:
- Analyzingengineeringdesigns,equipmentspecifications,operatingpractices/parametersofcomplexandsemi-complex applications; identifying critical missing data/information; identifying, analyzing and resolving issues as well as conflicting priorities; assessing the adequacy of the proponent's methodology, testing, models, etc.; assessing the environmental impact and balancing environmental protection and risk to the environment/human health against economic considerations; assessing compliance with : applicable legislation, guidelines, policies and precedents; and making recommendations for the acceptance, rejection or modification of applications;
- Evaluating comments from municipalities, the public, site liaison committees, interest groups and/or First Nations;
- Performing analyses and evaluations and ascertaining whether additional research , assessment , supplementary review(s), investigation or on-site inspection is required;
- Evaluating financial assurance amounts to ensure that sufficient funds are available, in accordance with applicable regulations/guidelines;
- Identifying, negotiating and recommending specific terms and conditions in Certificates of Approval to ensure compliance with legislation/Ministry requirements , including situations of deviation from established policies/guidelines ;
- Preparing documentation and providing expert testimonies at public hearings and other legal proceedings, and preparing and recommending responses to enquiries from elected public officials, senior Ministry staff, media, Office of the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, industry representatives, special interest groups , First Nations representatives and the public on issues related to Ministry policies, guidelines and approval applications;
- Developing, or participating in the development of, operational guidance documents and recommending new and revised process/procedural changes as they pertain to the approvals process.

Accountability - Programs :

The Senior Wastewater Engineer has latitude to plan, prioritize and/or schedule own time within assigned workload, based on environmental significance, to achieve objectives of the position and contribute to the objectives of the Approvals Program.
The position is accountable for:
Planning and managing the technical aspects of reviews of semi-complex and complex applications for industrial, municipal and private wastewater and stormwater systems , including conducting engineering assessments , ensuring compliance with applicable Ministry regulations, guidelines and policies, other requirements and sound engineering practice; soliciting input and coordinating comments; establishing requisite terms and conditions; making recommendations for approval, modification or refusal of applications; developing legally binding and enforceable Certificates of Approval ; and coordinating supplementary reviews , as required ;
- Reviewing, evaluating and commenting on the technical acceptability of the engineering components of environmental assessment reports to ensure consistency with the Certificate of Approval application requirements;
- Ensuring that EBR requirements with respect to the proposal/decision postings are met;
- Providing technical/professional guidance, advice and information to Ministry staff, proponents, special interest groups , the public, and other stakeholders regarding requirements of the Approvals Program, applications and related matters , and to other programs within the Ministry;
- Representing the Ministry in legal proceedings and at hearings and meetings ;
- Ensuring that financial assurance requirements for private sector wastewater and stormwater systems are sufficient, and calculating application fees for adjustments to proposals, ensuring legislative/policy/guideline compliance

Accountability – Personnel :

The position provides training, technical guidance and advice to Air and Water Review Engineers in the Streamlined Review Unit and to Applications Processors in the Applications Processing Unit. The position also provides on-the-job training and mentoring to new Senior Wastewater Engineers in the Unit.

Accountability - Impact of Errors :

Inappropriate assessment of applications, recommendations, coordination of work, guidance and advice as well as delay s in processing applications can result in adverse impacts to the environment such as new or continued environmental/property degradation and/or damage; public health and safety hazards or problems; enforceability problems on the Ministry's part; unnecessary financial hardship to the proponent; loss of credibility to the Ministry and its staff, public or proponent dissatisfaction; potential loss of revenue for applications; embarrassment of the Ministry; appeals and possible legal liability. Inappropriate assessment of required application fees or financial assurance amounts can result in financial loss to the Crown .

Contact - Internal :

The position provides technical guidance and advice; provides, obtains and exchanges information; and/or collaborates on applications, appeals and/or compliance matters with Ministry district and regional staff, technical staff, engineers and scientists and administrative staff, employees in the Legal Services Branch, EA Coordination Section, Investigations and Enforcement Branch, Standards Development Branch, Land and Water Policy Branch, Strategic Policy Branch, FOI Office, EBR Office, Office of the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, and management/staff in other branches and ministries. There is occasional contact with senior Ministry officials and senior management to provide information or for briefings regarding approvals issues. The position participates on working groups or committees.

Contact - External :

The position provides program-related technical guidance and advice, regulatory interpretation and/or information to the public, proponents , consultants, industry representatives, First Nations , government and non-government agencies and municipalities. The position has contact with external lawyers and court officials when attending legal proceedings and hearings. The position has contact with suppliers and technical support personnel to discuss and obtain information or support on products, services and technology.