Program Manager, Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Program (Program Manager I, Grade 23)

WHO WE ARE

 The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is a nationally recognized and award-winning agency with the mission to enhance the quality of life in our community by protecting and improving Montgomery County's air, water, and land in a sustainable, innovative, inclusive, and industry-leading way while fostering smart growth, a thriving more sustainable economy and healthy communities.  DEP is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and values diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and cultures. DEP encourages BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), immigrants, women, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply.  

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The Department of Environmental Protection is seeking a dynamic and experienced Program Manager I (Download PDF reader) for the Watershed Restoration Division, Monitoring and Planning Section to manage and coordinate the Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) Program.

The ideal candidate will have considerable knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, codes and regulations and agency policy and procedures governing water quality, including NPDES MS4 permitting, stormwater management and pollution prevention control techniques.  Knowledge and experience in fact finding, analysis and resolution of complex technical and environmental issues. Experience with Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination programs and procedures, including using monitoring equipment, indicator parameters, sample collection considerations, and analytical methods.  Experience in managing contracts including the preparation of task order documents, review and processing of invoices and contract budgets.

The successful candidate will have the ability to coordinate and communicate effectively with residents and contractors; effectively use technological tools (laptop, iPad, GIS Mapping, Cell Phone, etc.) available to assist with performing work functions; and analyze and interpret data as well as write comprehensive reports.

What You'll Be Doing

The position is responsible for ensuring compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) to detect and eliminate pollutants from discharging into the County’s waters. A key function of this position is working collaboratively with residents and businesses to prevent pollution.

Key duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Managing the inspection and investigation of County outfalls with the greatest potential for polluted discharges. Outfalls inspected will be reported annually to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) in the MS4 Annual Report.
• Managing the commercial and industrial surveys for discovering, documenting, and eliminating pollutant sources.
• Conducting episodic IDDE investigations, as needed, throughout the year on illicit discharges identified via public complaint or via county employee complaints.
• Coordinating compliance and enforcement with DEP-Energy, Climate, and Compliance Division and/or other departments or agencies.
• Developing and managing contracts and task orders for inspections and investigations of private and public properties as well as managing the IDDE contractor budget.
• Directing, coordinating, and monitoring contractor work, reviewing invoices and ensuring contractor is conducting work on time and within budget.
• Preparing information for the annual reporting of the MS4 Annual report for the IDDE program including providing associated geospatial data as required.
• Maintaining data for reporting and tracking.
• Maintaining standard operating procedures.
• Creating outreach materials on pollution prevent for residents and business owners.

Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply. If the candidate selected for this position possesses multilingual skills, they will be required to successfully pass an examination assessing oral communication, reading comprehension, and interpreting skills. For Advanced proficiency, the candidate must also pass an examination requiring translating text.

The work requires physical effort such as working outdoors, standing, and walking for long periods, sometimes over rough or uneven surfaces; repeated bending, stooping or crouching; and some lifting of objects up to 50 pounds.  There is occasionally some risk in exposure to chemicals used in collected samples. 

Confined Space Training certification is required for this position. If candidate has not already obtained the referenced confined space training and certification at hire, the selected candidate will be required to obtain the referenced training and certification within the first six (6) months of employment. The incumbent of the position must maintain this certification.

This position requires possession of a valid driver's license and the ability to drive a County vehicle to visit sites for field sampling, conduct surveys, conduct inspections and investigations, and/or observe inspections and investigations, and perform other work at locations throughout Montgomery County. 

Occasional evening or weekend work outside of normal business hours may be required. 

To ensure a positive workplace and to comply with federal, state and County laws, the incumbent is responsible for completing mandatory trainings within the first three to six months or within the specified timeframe.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience:  Considerable (3 years) of professional experience in stormwater and NPDES MS4 permitting and/or Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) program management.  

Education:  Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree.

Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.

License: Possession and maintenance of a valid Class "C" (or equivalent) driver’s license from the applicant's state of residence.

Preferred Criteria, Interview Preferences

All Applicants will be reviewed by the Office of Human Resources (OHR) for minimum qualifications.  Those applicants who meet minimum qualifications will be rated “Qualified,” placed on the Referred List, and may be considered for an interview.   Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade or higher will be placed on the Referred List as a “Transfer” candidate and may be considered for an interview.

Preference for interviews will be given to applicants with experience in the following.  Please address this information in a separate section of the resume.

• Experience with Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination programs and procedures, including using monitoring equipment, indicator parameters, sample collection considerations, analytical methods.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, codes and regulations and agency policy and procedures governing water quality, including NPDES MS4 Permitting, stormwater management and pollution prevention control techniques.
• Experience with effective communication and ability to handle communications and negotiations with tact, resourcefulness, and good judgment, even in confrontational situations.
• Experience working with a diverse, multi-ethnic community.
• Experience with program management, including data management, data analysis and interpretation, writing comprehensive reports, and knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and ArcGIS applications.
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in environmental science, environmental studies, natural resources, biology, public administration or related field.

If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position.

Montgomery County Government(MCG)  is an equal opportunity employer, committed to workforce diversity. Accordingly, as it relates to employment opportunities, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should email OHR at OHR@montgomerycountymd.gov. Individual determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with all applicable laws.

MCG also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference.

All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicant's responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria or interview preference status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on the Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for an interview.

This will establish an Eligible List that may be used to fill both current and future vacancies.

If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.

Montgomery County Ethics Law: Except as provided by law or regulation, the County's "Public Employees" (which does not include employees of the Sheriff's office) are subject to the County's ethics law including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside employment requirements of the ethics law can be found at 19A-12 of the County Code. Additional information about outside employment can be obtained from the Ethics Commission website.