Manager II – Division Chief for Watershed Restoration (Grade M2)
Montgomery County Government
Department of Environmental Protection
2425 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, Maryland 20902

Salary Range: $102,572 to $181,149

The mission of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is 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.

If you are interested in making a real difference in improving the environment, particularly water quality in Montgomery County, this is the position for you. DEP is seeking an experienced Manager II to lead the Watershed Restoration Division. This Division is responsible for ensuring compliance with the County’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit under the Clean Water Act. This senior level position provides day-to-day leadership, planning, execution, and management of the County’s efforts to improve stream health and water quality in Montgomery County, MD, and is a key management position within the Department.  The position will be responsible for a Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) budget for FY25 to FY30 of $306.3 million and a proposed operating budget for FY25 of $36 million.

The Division is responsible for planning, design, construction, inspection, and maintenance of best management practices to control urban runoff, stream restoration projects, implementation of a comprehensive countywide monitoring program, implementation of stewardship programs with private property owners to install best management practices, outreach and education, and building relationships with watershed groups and other partners. The position is responsible for ensuring that all Division actions are conducted in an equitable and inclusive manner and assisting in other County priorities such as flood remediation and climate resiliency.

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

  • Managing professional and technical staff engaged in a variety of water quality programs, including providing a long-term plan and vision of the Division, integrating and coordinating work programs, developing performance plans, conducting performance evaluations, recruiting and hiring employees, and creating a collaborative and rewarding workplace environment.
  • Overseeing water resources policy planning, development and implementation; resource planning; design, permitting, and construction; watershed outreach and education; monitoring, inspection, maintenance and stewardship programs in order to meet the County’s MS4 Permit requirements and other County priorities.
  • Coordinating with regulatory and permitting agencies at the Federal, state, and local level to streamline the permitting process.
  • Overseeing the Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) program for stormwater management.
  • Developing the six-year Stormwater Management CIP budget to address needs in County watersheds, and managing the coordination of resources within the Division, other DEP Divisions and County departments to execute this plan.
  • Developing the Operating budget for RainScapes, Tree Montgomery, Pet Waste, Watershed Restoration and Outreach Grants, Litter Reduction, Monitoring, Leaf Blower and Organic Lawns programs.
  • Identifying loan and grant opportunities to finance both Capital and Operating expenditures.
  • Developing performance metrics and conducting ongoing program assessments, ensuring that these programs are implemented in an equitable and inclusive manner.
  • Overseeing staff efforts to coordinate and track meeting MS4 permit requirements by the County and other stakeholders.
  • Overseeing procurement and administration of multiple contracts for planning, design, permitting, construction, inspection, maintenance and monitoring activities necessary to fulfill MS4 permit requirements.

The successful candidate will have the following experience, knowledge, and skills:

  • Managing environmental programs designed to improve water quality.
  • Managing design, construction, inspection and maintenance processes for storm drainage systems, stormwater management facilities, Environmental Site Design (ESD) and Low Impact Development (LID) and stream restoration measures.
  • Experience in procurement and contract management, budget and financial management, and human resources management.
  • Clean Water Act, NPDES MS4 requirements and process.
  • Federal, state, and local water quality laws and regulations.
  • Demonstrated leadership, administrative and management skills.
  • A commitment to communicating with all levels of the organization consistently, accurately and in a timely manner.
  • A commitment to teamwork and collaboration.
  • A positive commitment to embracing social justice and racial equity, diversity and personnel practices that ensure that the organization is an environment that encourages individual opportunity and excellence regardless of race, sex, individual or cultural differences.
  • A willingness to appropriately confront issues and make tough recommendations and decisions.
  • An approachable, friendly, open, and participatory management style, open to and respecting input from others.
  • Outstanding interpersonal and “people” skills, with expertise in consensus building, conflict resolution, mediation and working with issues for positive resolution – both within the organization and with external organizations and stakeholder groups.
  • Developing a multi-year capital improvements program plan and budget, and annual Operating budget.
  • Negotiating agreements with governmental and private sector organizations.

This position requires possession and maintenance of a valid driver’s license and the ability to drive a County vehicle to attend meetings, visit sites for field investigations, meet with residents, attend meetings with state officials, and perform other work at locations throughout Montgomery County where public transit may not be available.

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

As a manager/supervisor of both unrepresented and unionized employees, this position has a responsibility for fostering a positive working environment based on mutual trust, respect, and cooperation.

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.

For information about Montgomery County Government’s comprehensive benefits package, please visit the MCG Total Rewards webpage and check out our competitive benefits!

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Experience:  Seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in a field related to the management of programs that improve water quality, including management of programs responsible for planning, design, construction, maintenance, inspection, or monitoring, outreach and implementation of capital projects and stewardship programs on public and private property; three years of which were in a supervisory or executive capacity.  Note: The term “executive” is further defined as a high echelon or high-level position in an organization that is assigned technical research, management advisory services responsibilities, or policy-making duties and responsibilities that exerts considerable influence on organizational policy, plans, and operations through technical research, management advisory services, and/or policy-making duties and responsibilities (e.g., County positions at Grade 30 or above).

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

There are NO Preferred Criteria Assessments. 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 eligible list, and may be considered for an interview.  Employees meeting minimum qualifications of the same grade or higher will be placed on the Eligible 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 in managing a large diverse organization of managers, engineers, planners, biologists, outreach specialists and stewardship program specialists.
  • Experience developing and managing large annual operating and multi-year capital improvements program budgets.
  • Experience in supervising professional and technical staff including coordinating work programs, developing performance plans, conducting performance evaluations, recruiting and hiring employees.
  • Experience in managing programs involving the design, construction, inspection and maintenance, and monitoring processes for storm drainage systems, stormwater management facilities, Environmental Site Design (ESD) and/or Low Impact Development (LID) and stream restoration measures.
  • Experience with government and/or private sector procurement, contract management, and human resources management.
  • Experience in strategic planning, and project evaluation and assessment including benchmarking and developing performance metrics.
  • Experience coordinating with Federal, State and local regulatory and permitting agencies to ensure execution of project schedules.
  • Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration and Management, Environmental Planning, Natural Resource Policy and Administration, Civil, Environmental, or Structural engineering or related field is preferred.

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 Government offers competitive salaries and excellent benefits.

To view the complete job announcement and to apply, please visit our website at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HR/Recruitment/MCGCareers.html  
and click on the “Search Jobs and Apply” tab. Read the full job description under the “Managerial Executive” Job Category. Interested candidates must create an online account in order to apply.

The requisition number is IRC62659.

This Recruitment Closes May 13, 2024.

All resume submissions must address the preferred criteria for the position, which are listed in the full advertisement, preferably in a separate section of the resume.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Resume Preparation Tips listed under the “Career Resources” tab on the Office of Human Resource’s WORK4MCG webpage.

EOE. M/F/H.