Water Resources Planner

GN Salary Grade: GN11
Recruitment Range: $42,780 – $51,700
Location: Raleigh, NC 

Department Information 
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is the lead stewardship agency for the protection of North Carolina’s environmental resources. The organization, which has offices from the mountains to the coast, administers regulatory programs designed to protect air quality, water quality, and the public’s health, and also works to advance an all-of-the-above energy strategy that fits North Carolina’s needs. DEQ also offers technical assistance to businesses, farmers, local governments, and the public and encourages responsible behavior with respect to the environment through education programs provided at DEQ facilities and through the state’s school system. DEQ touches the lives of all North Carolinians in many ways to enhance and ensure our quality of life. To learn more about the Department of Environmental Quality please visit our website at https://deq.nc.gov/. 

Division Information  
The Division of Water Resources’ mission is to protect the state’s water supplies and foster stewardship of this natural resource for use by current and future generations of citizens. The Division comprises six Sections: Water Quality Regional Operations; Water Sciences; Public Water Supply; Water Quality Permitting; Groundwater Protection, Animal and Coal Ash Operations; and Water Planning. This goal is achieved through providing technical assistance and consultative services; establishing water quality standards and classifications; permitting regulated entities; certifying water treatment plant operators and wastewater operators; performing inspections and compliance activities; performing laboratory analysis and testing; and providing educational outreach and training.  

 
Branch Information:
The Basin Planning Branch (BPB) is located within the DWR Water Planning Section and is responsible for several key division responsibilities. The branch staff focuses on developing comprehensive water resources management plans (basin plans) that evaluate water quality and water quantity conditions for each of the state’s major river basins. Basin plans integrate the results of water quality monitoring with water use and availability in each river basin. The branch provides support for, and interpretation of, departmental programs addressing water resource modeling, water supply watershed protection, water quality assessment, groundwater management, public water supply, planning and development, drought monitoring and response, point and nonpoint source pollution control, and other water resource focused programs.
 
Key responsibilities of the branch include:

• Preparation of comprehensive water resource management plans (basin plans) for the state’s 17 major river basins that collectively describe the overall state of water resource planning efforts;
• Coordination with other Division and Departmental water resource programs to assure proper integration of all relevant programs in the development of the basin plans;
• Obtain modeling and data analysis support to assure water quality and water quantity data are available for timely basin plan development;
• Coordinate basin plan objectives and activities with the Regional Offices; Coordinate and update the Use Restoration Waters (URW) program;
• Provide technical review and comments on environmental documents; Coordinate, evaluate, and conduct site specific instream flow evaluations;
• Evaluate impacts to ecological and biological integrity resulting from changes in water quality and water flows;
• Provide input to the Division on program and policy development involving complex environmental issues identified through the comprehensive water resources planning process and
• Provide support for the implementation of Environment Management Commission approved recommendations in the basin plans to increase water resource protection, water security and reliability, protect and improve ecological integrity, and ensure fishable, swimmable, and drinkable waters.

Position Information:
This position is physically located at 512 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC.The purpose of this position is to serve as a water resources basin planner to identify and report on water quality and water quantity issues and help develop recommendations for improving and protecting water resources for each of the state’s river basins. The position will support the development of basinwide water resources management plans (basin plans) through a basinwide planning approach that provides guidance for protecting and improving water resources while addressing the needs of the public. This includes: 

• Data collection, analysis, and interpretation for inclusion in basin plans and presentations,
• Coordinating and implementing recommendations included in a basin plan and approved by the Environmental Management Commission,
• Reviewing and providing comments on environmental review documents, environmental sensitivity analysis, 9-element watershed restoration plans and grant proposals,
• Identifying where policies need to be updated to address water resource concerns,
• Coordinating input and feedback between state and federal agencies, local governments, stakeholders and the public,  
• Identifying water quality issues (i.e., chemical, physical and biological) and recommendations to include in basin plans,
• Assisting with NPDES (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System) permit related concerns, assessment and recommendations,
• Presenting basin plans to local officials, consultants, natural resource agencies and the public using written documents and oral presentations, and
• Communicating, engaging and soliciting stakeholders (including the public) to review and provide comments on the basin plans and the basin planning process.

This position also provides support to other programs inside and outside DEQ including point and nonpoint source pollution management, Division of Mitigation Services (DMS), drought management, water quality and quantity modeling, local water supply planning, and environmental sensitivity analysis.

**To receive credit for your work history and credentials, you must list the information on the application. Any information omitted from the application, listed under the text resume section, or on an attachment will not be considered for qualifying credit** 
 
Qualified applicants must possess, and the application must clearly reflect, the minimum education and experience requirements and work experience that demonstrates the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

1. Experience applying water quality standards for water quality assessment purposes;
2. Knowledge of physical, chemical, and biological principles as they relate to water quality and water quantity assessments and planning;
3. Knowledge of statistical and analytical techniques applied in water quality and trend analysis used in the preparation of planning reports and maps;
4. Knowledge of point and nonpoint sources of pollution

Management Preference: 

• Broad range of knowledge concerning environmental laws and regulations, both state and federal, as they are applied in North Carolina for water quality assessment, management, permitting, and water supply planning
• Ability to review, analyze and interpret data;
• Ability to write technical reports and explain information to interested stakeholders with varying levels of understanding;
• Ability to deliver public presentations to various stakeholder groups. These may include local municipalities, internal staff, citizen groups, non-profits, federal/state/local agencies, Environmental Management Commission, and legislative groups;
• Ability to handle with tact, consistency, and sound judgment, the diversity of contacts who may share different perspectives.

Interviewed candidates may be required to complete a skills assessment. 

To apply for this position, please click the APPLY button. All relevant experience must be included on the application to receive proper credit. Resumes may be uploaded with your application, but will not be accepted in lieu of a fully completed application and will not be considered for qualifying credit. “See Resume” or “See Attachment” will NOT be accepted. 

If multiple applications are submitted by an applicant to an individual position, only the most recent application received prior to the posting closing date will be accepted. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM on the closing date. 

Applicants requesting and / or receiving an accommodation via the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are eligible to submit paper applications via mail or by fax but must be received by 5:00 PM on the closing date. 

Persons eligible for veteran’s preference must upload a copy of Form DD-214 and attach to the application.
 
Persons eligible for RIF priority must upload their letter of notification and attach to the application. This applies to those employees that are subject to Articles 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 13 and 14 of G.S. 126. This does not include employees of the legislative and judicial branches, the public school and community college systems, or other employees that are exempt from these Articles of the Human Resources Act. 
 
The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Personnel Act with the most qualified applicants. When a hiring range is posted, the actual salary will be based on relevant competencies, knowledge, skills and abilities, internal equity and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position. 
 
The State of North Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 
Learn more about Division of Water Resources by visiting http://www.ncwater.org 

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Contact:
Water Resources/Water Infrastructure HR 
[email protected]
Please include position number with correspondence