DUTIES
ANNUAL SALARY
$106,842 to $156,224
Note
Annual salary is at the start of the pay range. The current salary range is subject to change. Please confirm the starting salary with the hiring department before accepting a job offer.
A Hazardous Materials Specialist identifies, researches, and resolves environmental issues in the areas of regulatory compliance, environmental health, public health, and environmental protection; interprets, implements, and enforces local, state, and federal laws and regulations governing the Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) and spill release or abandonment of hazardous materials and hazardous waste; makes recommendations in accordance with environmental policy and relevant technical information; performs field inspections and research to gather, organize, and analyze environmental data; conducts studies to evaluate the environmental health impacts of community businesses and activities to ensure business and community compliance with environmental laws and regulations; and other related duties.
REQUIREMENT(S)/MINIMUM QUALIFICATION(S)
- Bachelor's Degree from an accredited four-year college or university with a major in health science, public health, natural science, physical science, environmental science, or a related field with at least 30 semester or 45 quarter units of basic biological, physical, or environmental science courses; or
- Possession of a valid Registered Environmental Health Specialist certificate issued by the State of California Department of Public Health; or
- Possession of a Master's Degree from an accredited college or university in health science, public health, natural science, physical science, environmental science, or a related field.
Incumbents must possess or acquire the following State of California mandated certifications prior to completion of the probationary period:
- A valid Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) 40-Hour course certification;
- A valid Aboveground Petroleum Storage Act (APSA) Tank Inspector certification;
- Any registration or certification required of a Unified Program Agency Inspector or the duties assigned to this position.
PROCESS NOTES
- As a condition of employment, a valid Class C driver’s license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is required. Applicants will be disqualified and candidates will not be eligible for hire if their DMV record within the last 36 months reflects three or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents, or a conviction of a major moving violation such as DUI or DWI in any state or jurisdiction. Notice of disqualification or ineligibility for hire may be issued by the City of Los Angeles at any time before a final job offer is extended.
- For Internal Use Only : Licensing verification will occur at the time of filing.
- Applicants filing under Requirement #1 or Requirement #3 must list their school name, location, type of degree earned, and major in the Education Section of the City Application. Applicants who fail to provide the information on their application will not be considered further in this examination and their applications will not be processed.
- Applicants filing under Requirement #1 that have completed basic biological, physical, or environmental science courses as stated in the requirement, must list the course titles with the number of semester or quarter units, school attended and completion dates in the Supplemental Questions section of the City application. Applicants who fail to provide this information on their application will not be considered further in this examination and their applications will not be processed.
- Please note that qualifying education must be from a college or university accredited by a City of Los Angeles recognized agency. A list of approved accrediting agencies can be found at https://personnel.lacity.gov/Accredited%20Institutions%2008-21-08.pdf .
- Candidates completing the examination process may be contacted by the Personnel Department to provide required proof of qualifying degree and coursework. Applicants who wish to expedite this process may attach a copy of their degree and transcripts (annotated with college coursework, credit earned, and grade received) in the Attachments section of the on-line application at the time of filing.
- Applicants filing under Requirement #2 must submit their Registered Environmental Health Specialist certificate at the time of filing. The copy of the certificate must be attached to the on-line application in the Attachments section BEFORE the application is submitted. If the certificate is attached AFTER the on-line application has been submitted, it will not be available to the City and applicants WILL NOT be credited with having submitted it. Applicants who fail to submit their certificate at the time of filing by not attaching it to the on-line application will not be considered further in this examination.
WHERE TO APPLY & APPLICATION DEADLINE
Applications will only be accepted on-line.
When you are viewing the on-line job bulletin of your choice, simply scroll to the top of the page and select the “Apply” icon. On-line job bulletins are also available at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacity .
Note
Applicants are urged to apply early to ensure you have time to resolve any technical issues you may encounter.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Applications must be received by THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2026.
In accordance with Civil Service Rule 4.2, all applicants who apply may not be tested in this examination. To meet anticipated hiring needs, only a limited number of qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the selection process in the following order: 1) Applicants currently employed by the City of Los Angeles who meet the minimum requirements, or are on a reserve list; 2) Remaining applicants who meet the minimum requirements in sufficient numbers to meet hiring needs based on a random sampling of those qualified candidates. Applications submitted during the filing period may be kept on file in the event that additional applicants need to be tested to meet hiring needs.
SELECTION PROCESS
Examination Weight
Interview: 100%
The examination will consist entirely of an evaluation of professional and personal qualifications by interview. In the interview, the following competencies may be evaluated: Analytical Ability; Developmental Orientation; Technology Application; Teamwork; Resolves Conflict; Oral Communication; Shares Knowledge and Information; Industry Knowledge; Job Knowledge, including knowledge of: local, state, and federal laws and regulations related to hazardous materials, hazardous waste management, environmental health, and public health, such as the Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) and Unified Program compliance requirements; principles and practices related to environmental protection, occupational health and safety, and risk assessment; the nature of hazardous materials, their behavior, and risks to human health and the environment; field inspection procedures, including the collection and analysis of environmental data; emergency response procedures for hazardous materials incidents; developments in environmental regulations, advancements in hazardous materials management techniques, and emerging issues in environmental protection and public safety; and other necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Additional job analysis information can be obtained by going to https://per.lacity.org/jobs/job-analyses.cfm and clicking on Competencies under Hazardous Materials Specialist.
Candidates will be notified later by e-mail of the date, time, and location of the interview, which may be held in Los Angeles or on-line. It is anticipated that interviews will begin during the period of
MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2026 to FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2026.
Notes
- This examination is based on a validation study.
- As a covered entity under the Fair Employment and Housing Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request, will provide reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. To request a disability accommodation, please complete the Disability Accommodation Form within 14 calendar days of the submittal of the City application. The Disability Accommodation Form can be obtained at http://per.lacity.org/exams/verify_disability.pdf .
- Applications are accepted subject to review to ensure that minimum qualifications are met. Candidates may be disqualified at any time if it is determined that they do not possess the minimum qualifications stated on this bulletin.
- A final average score of 70% or higher is required to be placed on the eligible list.
- If in accordance with the Rule of Three Whole Scores all candidates are eligible for appointment consideration, the examination will consist entirely of an evaluation of the candidate’s City employment application by Personnel Department staff to ensure that the minimum qualifications have been met.
- In accordance with Civil Service Rule, Sec. 4.24, review periods may be combined. Candidates in the examination process may file protests as provided in Sec. 4.20, 4.22 and 4.23 as applicable and within the required time frame; however, the Personnel Department may respond to and resolve protests prior to the establishment of the eligible list.
Notice
If you receive and accept an offer of employment to a regular position with the City of Los Angeles, your employee benefit coverage (including health and dental coverage as well as life insurance) will commence approximately six weeks after your original regular appointment. Not all positions in the City receive benefit coverage; you should inquire regarding the availability of employee benefits prior to accepting a position. All City employees are required to be Disaster Service Workers.
THIS EXAMINATION IS TO BE GIVEN ONLY
ON AN OPEN COMPETITIVE BASIS
The City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, creed, color, ancestry, medical condition (cancer), or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
For additional information and FAQs regarding the City's hiring process, please go to: https://per.lacity.org/faqs/employment-testing-process.html
