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 Quality Assurance Analyst (Environmental Analyst IV) in the Watershed Planning Program (WPP), Division of Watershed Management, Bureau of Water Resources. WPP is a statewide program with five Sections that each have a different technical focus under the federal Clean Water Act (CWA), such as the Data Management and Water Quality Assessment Section, which manages key data systems to ensure that QA goals and requirements are met for multiple water resource management objectives. For example, WPP collects chemical, physical, and biological data to determine the health status of surface waters throughout the Commonwealth pursuant to CWA s. 305(b) and s. 303(d), which are reported biennially to EPA.
Under the supervision of the Data Management and Water Quality Assessment Section Chief or designee, the Quality Assurance Analyst will oversee the quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) system for WPP’s monitoring program, which is based on critical and foundational planning, including MassDEP’s Quality Management Plan (QMP), 10-year monitoring strategies, 5-year Quality Assurance Program Plans (QAPPs), annual Sampling & Analysis Plans (SAPs), and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Additional duties include ensuring data produced by WPP are of known and documented quality and suitable for intended purposes. The Quality Assurance Analyst will develop and maintain WPP’s quality system, including, but not limited to, preparing program and project-specific QAPPs as needed, representing WPP on QA/QC related issues, coordinating with EPA Region 1 QA staff, providing critical review and validation of WPP data, and performing QC audits of field sampling and laboratory analyses. The position will also review external monitoring plans, QAPPs, SOPs, and data submittals to MassDEP and coordinate with external groups to ensure data of sufficient quality and quantity are available to WPP.
The Quality Assurance Analyst will additionally be responsible for coordinating QA activities for MassDEP’s Bureau of Water Resources. These efforts include staff training, facilitating implementation and updates to MassDEP’s QMP, and coordinating with bureau and EPA QA staff on periodic quality system audits and annual assessments.
The position will be subject to a hybrid work environment (i.e., partly telework and partly on-site), with a minimum of one day per week in Worcester at the Watershed Planning Program’s office: 8 New Bond Street.
Duties for this position include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Oversee WPP’s QA/QC program, including the development and maintenance of WPP’s QAPPs and SOPs
- Review and approve WPP’s annual SAPs, in coordination with WPP monitoring staff
- Analyze and interpret QA/QC data, including the preparation of WPP technical memoranda and reports related to QA/QC
- Manage documentation of QA/QC activities, including the identification of data quality deficiencies and recommendation of corrective actions
- Review and validate WPP’s monitoring data, in coordination with WPP database management staff
- Manage the WPP database for formal, controlled documents
- Perform instrument calibrations and programming, and laboratory analyses as required
- Provide training to WPP staff on various aspects of the quality system
- Conduct field and laboratory audits for WPP and external monitoring activities, and coordinate the planning and implementation of data comparison studies between WPP and external groups
- Develop and maintain close working relationships with, and understanding of, WPP’s monitoring program and procedures in order to provide backup support, including participation in field surveys and related work
- Establish contacts and coordinate with external data groups that generate environmental data/information, communicate WPP’s data needs, attend group meetings, and update WPP’s directory of potential external data sources
- Review and approve non-MassDEP QAPPs and SOPs for proposed data collections
- Provide training to monitoring groups in appropriate techniques and QA/QC practices, update QA guidance documents for external groups, including informational materials and MassDEP’s online content, and coordinate and attend statewide and/or regional volunteer monitoring summits
- Coordinate the solicitation, receipt, and review of external data submittals with respect to overall quality and usefulness to WPP and search for existing external data online
- Coordinate the management of an existing WPP database for external data submitted to MassDEP for use in waterbody health assessments
- Oversee QA activities within MassDEP’s Bureau of Water Resources, including staff training, QMP implementation and updates, preparation for QA audits, completion of annual assessments, and participation on MassDEP’s QA team
Preferred Qualifications at Hire:
- Knowledge of state and federal requirements and guidelines related to QA/QC
- Working knowledge of QA/QC measures associated with environmental sampling and analysis
- Experience with environmental sampling, field and laboratory quality control methodologies, laboratory analyses, and use of laboratory equipment for water quality testing
· Experience working with environmental datasets, including basic database development, data analysis, and interpretation of chemical, physical, and biological data and their relationship to water quality regulations
- Working knowledge of watershed management principles and practices
· Knowledge of aquatic chemistry, ecology, and water pollution biology
· Knowledge of the federal CWA, Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards, additional regulations, and environmental policy
- Experience related to CWA compliance, including Sections 303(d) and 305(b)
- Ability to prepare technical reports/memos and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, the results of scientific investigations
- Ability to work independently, as well as with other environmental professionals, occasionally on irregular schedules
- Knowledge of and proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Access, etc.), including the preparation of charts, graphs and tables
- Strong and effective writing, editing, and oral communication skills, including the ability to successfully convey complex issues to technical and non-technical audiences
- Ability to exercise considerable tact and diplomacy
· Effective leadership and management skills, including the ability to collaborate with, direct, and motivate others
All applicants are requested to provide a position-specific cover letter and resume with their application.
Qualifications
First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.
MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must have at least (A) five 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 three years must have been in a professional capacity, and of which (C) at least one year 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 one year 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 completed.
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.
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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 IV
Primary Location: United States-Massachusetts-Worcester – 8 New Bond St
Job: Science
Agency: Department of Environmental Protection
Schedule: Full-time
Shift: Day
Job Posting: Sep 11, 2023, 4:12:02 PM
Number of Openings: 1
Salary: 74,573.46 – 109,775.12 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
