Coastal Habitat & Water Quality Specialist – (23000AF8)
Description
The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs seeks to protect, preserve, and enhance the Commonwealth’s environmental resources while ensuring and promoting a clean energy future for the state’s residents. Through the stewardship of open space, protection of environmental resources, and enhancement of clean energy, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs works tirelessly to make Massachusetts a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family.
Who We Serve:
Massachusetts was the first state in the nation to combine energy and environmental agencies under one Cabinet secretary. The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) serves Commonwealth residents interested in outdoor recreational activities, clean energy solutions and those who work with animals and livestock. Equally, EOEEA works with energy consumers, power companies, clean energy providers and farmers to delicately balance the interaction with environmental protection laws and regulations while being a cornerstone for our economic prosperity.
Secretariat Overview:
The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretariat (EOEEA) provides oversight of the Commonwealth’s energy and environmental agencies, namely, the Division of Energy Resources (DOER), Department of Public Utilities (DPU), Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), Department of Fish and Game (DFG), and Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR). EOEEA also has divisions within the Secretariat, including the Office of Law Enforcement (OLE or Massachusetts Environmental Police), Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office, Coastal Zone Management (CZM) office, and Division of Conservation Services (DCS). All agencies and divisions promote the environmental or energy related goals and initiatives of the Administration and the Secretary of EOEEA.
The Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Specialist provides critical technical, planning, and project management support for the Office of Coastal Zone Management’s (CZM) programmatic work in coastal water quality and habitat. The position responsibilities generally include technical support for CZM’s Coastal Non-point Source Water Quality Program,
technical support for Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Program grant-funded projects and programs, support for outreach and engagement with communities and partners to develop priority projects, technical assistance on nonpoint source and water quality issues, and assistance with long-term biological monitoring of wetlands, volunteer monitoring networks, and habitat resiliency as needed.
DETAILED STATEMENT OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Technical support for CZM’s Coastal Non-point Source Water Quality Program
- Stay current with and coordinate closely with MassDEP, EPA, and other agency efforts to manage non-point source pollution in coastal waters.
- Provide technical assistance to coastal municipalities on stormwater issues, including federal and state requirements and regulations.
- Support the federal consistency review process to ensure proposed projects align with CZM Coastal Policies relevant to water quality.
- Develop technical assistance products to communicate coastal water quality topics to a wide audience in close coordination with the CZM communications team.
- Participate in regional and local professional society and other meetings with a coastal water quality focus.
- Technical support for the Coastal Habitat and Water Quality (CHWQ) Grants Program
- Support overall management in close coordination with CHWQ Team, including:
i. Development, revision, and release of request for proposals; review of proposals for technical merit, applicability, and other factors; and facilitation of review teams for proposal selection.
ii. Development of scopes for funded projects, oversee project progress, track performance of funded projects, review interim and final deliverables, and process invoices and reimbursements.
- Support outreach and engagement with municipalities and other partners on the Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Grant opportunity to identify and prioritize future projects in coordination with CZM regional staff.
- Technical support for Coastal Habitat Initiatives
- Provide technical support for CZM’s programmatic work in coastal habitat as needed, including occasional field support for the marine invasive species program and sentinel site salt marsh monitoring program.
- Coordinate with CZM staff on projects or initiatives which may require technical assistance from coastal habitat and water quality staff.
- Participate in regional and local professional society and other meetings with a coastal habitat focus.
- Support the development of communication products to promote understanding and provide technical assistance on issues related to coastal habitat in close coordination with the CHWQ and CZM communications team.
- Teamwork – Cooperate with CZM staff, management, and other agencies on joint projects, willing accepting appropriate share of workload. Comply with established policies, accept changes, and work to ensure that both the letter and the spirit of requirements are carried out. Manage time effectively, keep supervisors informed, and support policies and practices of CZM/EOEEA
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
The preferred candidate will have experience in project management, including time-limited grant funded projects, and have excellent attention to detail. The preferred candidate will demonstrate strong technical skills in coastal water quality and non-point remediation, including stormwater best management practices and stormwater green infrastructure with experience reviewing engineering design plans. The preferred candidate will have a master’s degree in marine sciences, management, biology, or engineering with familiarity and/or direct experience with biological monitoring and/or water quality monitoring in the marine and estuarine environment. The preferred candidate will have familiarity with the science and practice of watershed and coastal restoration and coastal resilience. The preferred candidate will also demonstrate strong technical and problem-solving skills and be proficient in both written and oral communications with experience communicating with a wide variety of audiences. The preferred candidate will be a team player with ability to work successfully both independently and as part of a team. The preferred candidate will work effectively in a hybrid work environment.
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) four 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 two years must have been in a professional capacity, or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.
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 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 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.
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!
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 III
Primary Location: United States-Massachusetts-Boston-100 Cambridge Street
Job: Science
Agency: Exec Office Of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Schedule: Full-time
Shift: Day
Job Posting: Oct 2, 2023, 5:06:32 PM
Number of Openings: 1
Salary: 68,564.34 – 100,370.14 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
