Hazardous Waste Specialist I

General Description Herndon Solutions Group (HSG) is seeking a Hazardous Waste Specialist I to support environmental services at NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC). Based primarily at Lewis Field in Brook Park, Ohio, the Specialist administers assigned elements of the regulated and controlled waste, petroleum, oil, and lubricant (POL) and tank inspection, and spill-readiness programs.

The position evaluates regulatory obligations, assesses compliance risks, and recommends corrective actions and program improvements within assigned areas of responsibility. The position evaluates compliance conditions, coordinates waste-management activities, reviews records and field findings, recommends corrective actions, and maintains program documentation.

The Specialist also supports the Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility (GRC-ATF) when operational needs require cross-site coverage, and reports to the designated HSG Project Manager/Site Lead. The Specialist also evaluates alternative compliance approaches, assesses the significance of identified deficiencies, and provides technical recommendations to management concerning regulatory compliance and operational risk.

How You Will Fulfill Your Mission Evaluate waste characterization information, process knowledge, analytical results, and generator information; identify data gaps and evaluate regulatory requirements, compliance risks, and opportunities for program improvement. Administer assigned regulated and controlled waste-management activities, including waste determinations, profiles, accumulation-area compliance, shipment planning, manifest documentation, and cradle-to-grave record tracking.

Plan and coordinate waste pickups, onsite movement, packaging, consolidation, lab packs, storage, and offsite disposal, ensuring execution is consistent with approved procedures and regulatory requirements, and evaluate potential compliance issues, operational risks, and opportunities to improve waste-management practices.

Review manifests, shipping papers, land disposal restriction (LDR) forms, return copies, exception conditions, and related records; determine required follow-up and draft reports or notifications for Government review and action, including assessment of regulatory significance, potential compliance exposure, and recommended corrective actions.

Conduct and document central accumulation area (CAA), satellite accumulation area (SAA), universal waste, used oil, and other regulated-waste inspections; evaluate findings, recommend corrective actions, and track deficiencies through closure, prioritizing recommendations based on regulatory significance, environmental risk, and operational impact.

Support POL/tank compliance inspections and spill-related field assessments; document conditions and recommend corrective actions to the appropriate functional lead. Administer assigned spill-readiness functions, including supply readiness, spill response guides, training support, response coordination, post-event documentation, and lessons learned, evaluating program effectiveness and recommending improvements to preparedness, response procedures, and compliance controls.

Provide technical direction during small spill responses and consult on containment, containerization, sampling, waste handling, disposal, and reporting requirements within delegated authority, evaluating response alternatives and recommending appropriate approaches based on environmental risk, regulatory obligations, and site conditions.

Analyze recurring inspection findings, manifest discrepancies, waste-generation patterns, and spill conditions, and recommend procedural, training, or operational improvements, including evaluation of underlying compliance risks and development of recommendations to strengthen program effectiveness and regulatory compliance.

Maintain the Hazardous Materials Management System (HMMS) and other Government systems, prepare status inputs and compliance metrics, and support audits, regulatory inspections, investigations, and corrective-action responses. Develop or revise work instructions, checklists, training content, and other compliance tools for assigned waste and spill functions, incorporating regulatory changes, recurring findings, and identified opportunities for process improvement.

Coordinate routinely with the Hazardous Waste Specialist II and Environmental Compliance Specialist I to provide consistent coverage, records, and practices across Lewis Field and GRC-ATF. Independently evaluate compliance information and compare alternative courses of action within established authority, recommending corrective actions and escalation based on regulatory significance, safety, schedule, and operational impact.

Own assigned compliance records and outcomes through closure, and refer policy decisions, reportable events, commitments of Government resources, and matters outside delegated authority to the Project Manager or Government program lead. Why We Value You You are able to work independently and show a high level of initiative and attention to detail.

You have a consistent character and do not yield to pressure to compromise or cut corners. You have a strong ability to communicate effectively with superiors, colleagues, and customers by clearly expressing your intent and understanding the focus and purpose of the conversation while allowing each person to get their point across.

You are open to new ideas and innovations and can create modifications or changes in yourself to adapt to or suit a new environment/situation. You have faith in your own ideas and ability to be successful. You hold yourself to the highest standard and work to inspire your team to produce quality work. Specific Knolwedge/Certification Requirements Minimum Qualifications High school diploma or GED equivalent.

Experience supporting hazardous waste management, environmental compliance, regulatory documentation, or related technical activities, including the ability to evaluate compliance information and identify potential regulatory concerns. RCRA Hazardous Waste Management training and required refreshers. DOT Hazardous Materials Ground Shipper training and required refreshers.

OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER training and required refreshers. Applicable NASA SATERN and site-specific environmental, safety, spill response, stormwater, POL, and waste-management training based on assigned duties. Valid driver’s license and ability to obtain and maintain required NASA facility access.

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in an environmental or scientific discipline. Three or more years of hazardous waste compliance experience in a government, research, aerospace, industrial, or similarly regulated setting. Experience with HMMS or comparable hazardous material and waste information systems, self-lab-pack operations, treatment, storage, and disposal facility (TSDF) coordination, and multi-site waste operations.

Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) awareness or experience supporting POL/tank inspections and spill response. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time Working Conditions This is primarily an on-site position at the designated reporting location, with routine support at the other GRC location as operational needs require, including local travel between Lewis Field and GRC-ATF.

Supports GRC core business hours. Work may be performed in office, laboratory, industrial, warehouse, utility, construction, outdoor, and active facility environments. Must be able to lift, carry, or move 30 pounds or more; climb stairs; bend, stoop, twist, and reach; and stand or walk for two hours or more at one time.

Must be able to wear required personal protective equipment and work in varying weather and site conditions. Participates in field inspections and limited hands-on response activities. Such manual work is incidental to the position’s primary compliance-administration duties. May participate in assigned emergency readiness and response coverage, including after- hours support when required .