AHERA Asbestos Inspector

Overview

Nakupuna Companies is seeking to hire a full-time AHERA Asbestos Inspector to join our DoWEA Team. The candidate will be responsible for executing the on-site physical field requirements of the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) program across Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA) educational campuses. This role is essential for locating, assessing, and sampling asbestos-containing materials (ACM) to protect military-connected students and staff. This position requires significant travel to conduct triennial inspections and periodic surveillances across 45 school campuses (including administrative buildings and warehouses) located on 21 U.S. military installations throughout the Pacific Region, including Japan, Okinawa, South Korea, and Guam.

Responsibilities

The following reflects management’s definition of essential functions for this position, but management may assign additional duties and responsibilities at any time. Specific duties include:

• Inspections & Surveillance: Perform comprehensive visual initial inspections, re-inspections, and concurrent 6-month periodic surveillances of all accessible friable and non-friable known or assumed Asbestos Containing Building Material (ACBM) in accordance with AHERA (40 CFR Part 763).
• Sampling & Analysis: Assess the condition of newly friable material and conduct bulk sampling of newly discovered suspect ACBM for laboratory analysis (Polarized Light Microscopy [PLM] and Transmission Electron Microscopy [TEM]). Ensure compliance with Japan Environmental Governing Standards (JEGS) when deployed to Japan, acknowledging that any detectable amount of asbestos less than 1 percent must be reported as a "Trace" concentration.
• Hazard Assessment: Classify the hazard rank of homogeneous areas (e.g., damaged thermal system insulation, friable surfacing ACM) into one of the seven categories defined in 40 CFR 763.88 based on material condition, accessibility, and potential for disturbance.
• Labeling: Ensure that mechanical spaces containing asbestos materials are appropriately marked with bilingual placards and/or labels (English and official host nation language) conforming to U.S. EPA requirements.
• Reporting & Deliverables: Compile data to support the 30-Day AHERA Inspection Report, submitting it electronically no later than 30 days after inspection completion. Accurately record exact sample locations, descriptions of sampling methods, material types, and quantities (square feet/linear feet) on facility floor plans.
• Stakeholder Communication: Distribute results of newly discovered friable material to the DoWEA Facilities Operation Specialist, COR, DoWEA Regional Asbestos Manager (RAM), and Program Manager within 15 days of laboratory analysis. New discoveries must be informally communicated immediately to local stakeholders.

Qualifications

Skills/Qualifications: The ideal candidate is familiar and has experience with the following technical knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Extensive field experience identifying, sampling, and assessing asbestos in commercial, federal, or educational facilities.
• Knowledge of federal and host-nation environmental regulations, specifically AHERA methodology and the Japan Environmental Governing Standards (JEGS).
• Ability to strictly adhere to Site-Specific Health and Safety Plans (SSHSP) and Quality Assurance Sampling and Analysis Plans (SAP).
• Mandatory compliance with all state-specific licensing regulations, EPA region requirements, and the host nation environmental safety agreements governing the specific installation of deployment.

Education & Experience: The successful candidate must possess:

• Education & Accreditation: A High School Diploma or equivalent. The candidate must possess active credentials verifying the successful completion of initial and all subsequent annual refresher training programs for AHERA Asbestos Building Inspectors approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Title II of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) / 40 CFR Part 763, Appendix C.
• Experience: A minimum of three (3) years of documented asbestos inspection experience.

Physical Demands & Work Environment: Candidates are continually required to stand, walk, climb ladders, kneel, and utilize their hands to sample materials and inspect concealed components. Fieldwork is physically demanding, requiring the wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) and navigating above suspended ceilings, pipe chases (accessible), areas with insulated pipe work, mechanical rooms, classrooms, laboratories, and pipe tunnels (accessible and not confined space)

Clearance Requirements: Must be a U.S. Citizen. Secret clearance preferred. Must be capable of passing necessary background investigations, including an FBI Fingerprint Check and Tier 1 childcare investigation, to permit unescorted access within active school facilities.

Work Location: Work is performed at DoWEA Pacific Region military installations, requiring regular deployment to school campuses located in Japan, Okinawa, South Korea, and Guam. The ideal candidate will reside in or near one of our strategic hubs: Arlington, VA or Honolulu, HI.

The Nakupuna Companies use a market-based compensation strategy to ensure that our employees are compensated within applicable market ranges commensurate with multiple factors, including but not limited to the individual’s particular combination of education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, as well as contract-specific affordability, organizational requirements, and position location. The projected compensation range for this position is $110,000.00 to $125,000.00 (annualized USD). The salary range displayed represents the typical salary range for this position and is just one component of Nakupuna Companies total compensation package for employees