Compliance Officer

Compliance Officers help protect public health and Hawaiʻi’s fragile ecosystems by ensuring water and wastewater systems meet all local, state, and federal regulatory requirements. They monitor operations, review data, file reports, and help systems stay in compliance with permits, environmental laws, and safety standards.

In Hawaiʻi, Compliance Officers often work with municipal departments, private utilities, environmental consulting firms, or state regulatory agencies. They are crucial in interpreting and applying complex rules (e.g., NPDES permits, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act) in the context of island-specific challenges like nonpoint source pollution, cesspools, or shoreline development. They also play a key role in liaising with regulatory bodies such as the Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Education & Training

This position typically requires:

  • A Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Public Health, Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, or a related field.

  • Familiarity with regulatory processes, monitoring protocols, and enforcement procedures.

  • Experience working with drinking water or wastewater systems, either in operations, lab analysis, or permitting, is often required.

  • Continuing education or certification in regulatory compliance, hazardous waste management, or environmental law can be an asset.

  • Some roles may prefer or require a Certified Environmental Compliance Manager (CECM) credential or similar.

In Hawaiʻi, you can study at:

  • University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

    • Bachelor’s in Environmental Science, Natural Resources and Environmental Management, Public Health, or Civil/Environmental Engineering.

    • Graduate programs in Public Health and Urban & Regional Planning (with environmental focus).

    • Website: https://manoa.hawaii.edu

  • Hawaiʻi Pacific University (HPU)

    • Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Environmental Science and Environmental Policy.

    • Website: https://www.hpu.edu

  • Kapiʻolani Community College

  • UH Community Colleges + HRWA

    • Hawaiʻi Rural Water Association and several UH campuses offer CEUs on water quality standards, permitting, and operations.

    • Website: https://hawaiirwa.org

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Knowledge of:

  • Federal and state environmental regulations (e.g., SDWA, CWA, NPDES, RCRA),

  • Hawaiʻi DOH regulatory frameworks and permitting processes,

  • Drinking water and wastewater treatment processes,

  • Monitoring protocols, laboratory testing requirements, and reporting systems,

  • Environmental management systems (EMS),

  • Permit application and renewal processes,

  • Culturally sensitive environmental policy and land use in Hawaiʻi.

Skill in:

  • Reviewing and interpreting technical data and laboratory results,

  • Auditing utility operations and writing detailed compliance reports,

  • Working across teams, agencies, and communities,

  • Communicating complex regulations clearly to operators and the public,

  • Tracking and implementing regulatory changes,

  • Developing corrective action plans for noncompliance.

Ability to:

  • Identify compliance risks and resolve violations effectively,

  • Stay organized and detail-oriented across multiple permits or facilities,

  • Coordinate with engineers, operators, and regulators,

  • Build trust with communities while ensuring environmental protection,

  • Integrate sustainability and equity into compliance planning.

Scholarships & Opportunities

Hawaiʻi Environmental Education Alliance (HEEA) provides learning resources and connections to environmental career pathways.
Website: https://heea.org

HWEA & AWWA-Hawaiʻi Scholarships for students and professionals in environmental regulation and operations.
Website: https://hwea.org | https://hawaiiawwa.org

U.S. EPA Water Workforce Grants may support training and advancement in regulatory and compliance careers.
Website: https://www.epa.gov/safewater

Pacific Center for Environmental Studies (PaCES at Windward CC) for students pursuing careers in environmental science and compliance.
Website: https://windward.hawaii.edu/paces