Anne Arundel County seeks Water Quality Compliance Specialist – Anne Arundel County DPW Bureau of Watershed Protection & Restoration

This posting will be used to fill a full-time, permanent, Water Quality Compliance Specialist (Ecological Assessment and Evaluation) position in the Bureau of Watershed Protection and Restoration (BWPR) in the Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works. This position oversees the development and implementation of research methodologies to document the ecological condition(s) of County waterways and watershed health, with a particular focus on assessing the efficacy of the BWPR restoration program. This senior level position will directly supervise at least 2 full time employees in the Ecological Assessment and Evaluation Unit.

NATURE AND VARIETY OF WORK

This position involves advanced level professional and technical work in water resources.  An employee in this class provides technical support for compliance with the County’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit requirements. Work includes developing hypotheses and related study plans to monitor ecological restoration project efficacy and function, providing guidance for and participating in project implementation to assess and document status and trends of County waterways and watershed health; participating in special investigative studies; analyzing data; presenting research results to in-house staff to guide future restoration implementation; and preparing reports and papers for peer-review publication. Work is performed with considerable independence within established policies, procedures, and technical guidelines and is evaluated through satisfactory compliance with the County’s NPDES permit, scientific documentation and publications, conference presentations, and through review of results obtained. This position will work closely with the BWPR Ecological Assessment and Evaluation unit Planning Administrator to establish and implement study program goals.

Provides oversight and guidance to and participates in implementation of ecological research to assess and document the status and trends of County waterways and watershed health.

Develops and implements rigorous study protocols to verify environmental effects of a subset of implemented restoration projects (e.g., ecological uplift, in-stream sediment and nutrient processing and load flux).

Oversees contracts and consultant services associated with study implementation.

Stays current on ecological monitoring science; actively considers and proposes innovative science-based methodologies that best meet BWPR’s priorities.

Provides direct supervision to water quality monitoring staff within the Ecological Assessment and Evaluation unit; assigns tasks to team members that align with their knowledge, skill sets, and interests; fosters a cohesive and collaborative team that emphasizes productivity, professional development, and safety.

Analyzes data to evaluate research results for use in policy and management decision-making; develops and submits oral and written reports including technical paper submissions to peer review journals.

Works closely with outside, academic and consultant scientists to advance experimental work in Anne Arundel County, including through programs like the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Pooled Monitoring program.

Participates in environmental outreach activities including but not limited to public meetings, conference and in-house presentations, and publication of collected data.

Works cooperatively with BWPR staff to provide NPDES MS4 Permit compliance support and total maximum daily load (TMDL) and watershed assessment support.Performs related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Thorough knowledge of principles, procedures, techniques, and applications of chemical, biological, and geomorphic data collection and analyses as related to ecological studies.

Thorough knowledge of Federal, State, and local permit requirements and regulations related to ecological restoration and assessment of non-tidal aquatic environments.

Knowledge of Maryland’s NPDES MS4 Phase I Permit compliance requirements.

Knowledge of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay TMDL Watershed Implementation Plan Phase I and Phase II requirements as well as individual TMDL requirements.

Ability to conduct, evaluate, and translate water quality and ecological restoration monitoring results for use in policy, management, and education.

Significant knowledge of Mid Atlantic stream function.

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and to develop and present requested information in a timely manner.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, officials of applicable Federal and State agencies, and the public; and to deal tactfully, effectively, and equitably with all.

NOTE: For a University or College outside the United States, the applicant must provide documentation of accreditation and educational equivalency, which can be accomplished through a credential evaluation service. Applicants with a foreign degree must provide this documentation upon the close of the announcement.

1. Advanced degree in environmental science, biology, ecology, or related field OR a Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited college or university plus ten (10) or more years of professional experience in the fields of ecological assessment and aquatic systems monitoring.

2. Willingness to conduct field work in all weather conditions typical of the Mid-Atlantic region

3. Excellent technical and non-technical writing skills

4. Knowledge and experience with Mid Atlantic stream geomorphology and ecology

5. Strong written and oral communication skills

6. Demonstrated ability to lead a research team using a collaborative approach