Description
The mission of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is to protect and enhance the Commonwealth’s natural resources – air, water, and land – to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of all people, and to ensure a clean and safe environment for future generations. In carrying out this mission MassDEP commits to address and advance environmental justice and equity for all people of the Commonwealth, provide meaningful, inclusive opportunities for people to participate in agency decisions that affect their lives; and ensure a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.
MassDEP seeks applicants for the position of Water Quality Monitoring Section Chief in the Watershed Planning Program (WPP), Division of Watershed Management, Bureau of Water Resources. WPP administers a statewide surface water monitoring program in accordance with a strategic monitoring plan (i.e., Monitoring Strategy) designed to support multiple water resource management objectives pursuant to the federal Clean Water Act (CWA). These include, but are not limited to, water quality and biological criteria development, water quality assessment, and restoration efforts to improve surface water quality, such as derivation of total maximum daily loads (TMDLs). The Water Quality Monitoring Section designs and performs surface water monitoring activities while adhering to stringent quality assurance protocols to produce credible scientific data for water quality management decision-making. Monitoring staff also manage contractor-supported projects by developing scopes of work and budgets, soliciting and reviewing proposals, and providing technical and administrative oversight throughout the projects.
The Water Quality Monitoring Section Chief will report to the WPP Director and will be based in Worcester at MassDEP’s WPP office. The position will follow a hybrid schedule (i.e., partly telework and partly on-site), which may include visits to field sites. The Section Chief will oversee the management of all Water Quality Monitoring Section activities throughout the Commonwealth consistent with the guidelines and requirements of the CWA and the terms and agreements in the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1/MassDEP Performance Partnership Agreement.
Duties for this position include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Develop, revise, and implement the Massachusetts Ten-year Monitoring Strategy to meet CWA program goals and fulfil other needs for water quality data and information;
- Manage the Water Quality Monitoring Section in accordance with the Monitoring Strategy by establishing annual goals, delegating tasks, and measuring and reporting results;
- Supervise staff in the Water Quality Monitoring Section, develop individual workplans, and conduct annual performance reviews;
- Oversee the hiring process to fill staff vacancies, including seasonal employees, and perform training and onboarding/offboarding exercises;
- Oversee the development and use of standard protocols for field and laboratory studies designed for making use attainment evaluations, 305(b) reporting, 303(d) listing determinations, developing criteria, and deriving TMDLs;
- Coordinate with staff to ensure data quality is assured using standardized quality assurance/quality control practices, including the use of SOPs, QAPPs, SAPs, and data reviews for accuracy and acceptability;
- Oversee the development and review of project documents, including reports and technical memoranda;
- Coordinate with WPP’s Surface Water Quality Standards Section and Data Management and Water Quality Assessment Section to make recommendations, where appropriate, on monitoring protocols required to assess water quality in conformance with the Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards;
- Participate in monitoring-related workgroups (e.g., EPA, USGS) and update management as appropriate on new developments;
- Coordinate and interact with sister agencies where appropriate on overlapping water monitoring issues – DFG, DMF, DCR, DPH;
- Provide technical guidance and assistance to other MassDEP programs, sister agencies, and the public; and
- Manage grants and contractor-supported projects to advance WPP and Monitoring Section objectives, including developing scopes and workplans, soliciting proposals, managing budgets, reviewing invoices for payment and reviewing and distributing project reports.
Preferred Qualifications at Hire:
- Working knowledge of all aspects of water quality monitoring (chemical, physical, biological);
- Working knowledge of aquatic ecology and watershed science;
- Working knowledge of EPA requirements pertaining to the CWA, including those associated with sections 305(b) and 303(d);
- Knowledge of the Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards and the fundamentals of water quality monitoring, assessment, and management;
- Ability to interpret complex chemical, physical, and biological datasets;
- Strong and effective writing, editing, and oral communication skills, including the ability to effectively convey complex issues to peers and management through writing, editing, and oral presentations;
- Demonstrated background in and commitment to quality assurance/quality control principles;
- Demonstrated supervisory skills (ability to plan and assign activities to others and evaluate performance);
- Ability to understand Section outputs and the steps needed to produce these outputs;
- Ability to manage grants and contracts, develop scopes of work, budgets and timelines, and oversee progress; and
- Strong organizational skills, both with data/information and time.
Qualifications
First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.
MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must have at least six years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, technical or professional experience in the field of environmental science, biology, chemistry, earth science, environmental health, meteorology, natural science, toxicology or public health, of which (B) at least four years must have been in a professional capacity, and of which (C) at least two years must have been in a supervisory, managerial or administrative capacity, or (D) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the following substitutions.
Substitutions:
I. An Associate’s degree with a major in the field of environmental science, biology, chemistry, earth science, environmental health, meteorology, natural science, toxicology or public health may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required (A) experience.*
II. A Bachelor’s degree with a major in the field of environmental science, biology, chemistry, earth science, environmental health, meteorology, natural science, toxicology or public health may be substituted for a maximum of two years of the required (A) experience.*
III. A Graduate degree with a major in environmental science, biology, chemistry, earth science, environmental health, meteorology, natural science, toxicology or public health may be substituted for a maximum of three years of the required (A) experience and one year of the required (B) experience.*
*Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually competed.
NOTE: Educational substitutions will only be permitted for a maximum of one year of the required (B) experience. No substitutions will be permitted for the required (C) experience.
Comprehensive Benefits
When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.
Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!
Executive Order #595: As a condition of employment, successful applicants will be required to have received COVID-19 vaccination or an approved exemption as of their start date. Details relating to demonstrating compliance with this requirement will be provided to applicants selected for employment. Applicants who receive an offer of employment who can provide documentation that the vaccine is medically contraindicated or who object to vaccination due to a sincerely held religious belief may make a request for exemption.
An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don’t meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.
Official Title: Environmental Analyst V
Primary Location: United States-Massachusetts-Worcester – 8 New Bond St
Job: Science
Agency: Department of Environmental Protection
Schedule: Full-time
Shift: Day
Job Posting: Feb 23, 2023, 5:25:10 PM
Number of Openings: 1
Salary: 80,471.56 – 118,539.98 Yearly
If you have Diversity, Affirmative Action or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator: MELIXZA ESENYIE – 6176261282
Bargaining Unit: 09-MOSES – Engineers/Scientists
Confidential: No
Hybrid Work Eligible: Yes
