Environmental Analyst IV

The mission of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is to protect and enhance the Commonwealth's natural resources - air, water, and land - to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of all people, and to ensure a clean and safe environment for future generations. In carrying out this mission MassDEP commits to address and advance environmental justice and equity for all people of the Commonwealth, provide meaningful, inclusive opportunities for people to participate in agency decisions that affect their lives; and ensure a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.
MassDEP seeks applicants for the position of Assessment Coordinator (Environmental Analyst IV) in the Watershed Planning Program (WPP), Division of Watershed Management, Bureau of Water Resources. WPP is a statewide program with five Sections that each have a different technical focus under the federal Clean Water Act (CWA), such as the Data Management and Water Quality Assessment Section, which manages key data systems to ensure that QA goals and requirements are met for multiple water resource management objectives. For example, WPP collects chemical, physical, and biological data to determine the health status of surface waters throughout the Commonwealth pursuant to CWA s. 305(b) and s. 303(d), which are reported biennially to EPA.
Under the supervision of the Data Management and Water Quality Assessment Section Chief or designee, the Assessment Coordinator will oversee the assessment team, supervise assessment staff, and direct the analytical and assessment work on surface water quality conditions in Massachusetts as mandated by the CWA.
The preferred candidate will have a professional demeanor, be highly motivated, and possess excellent written and oral communication skills. Excellent organizational skills are also required, as well as the ability to manage and work on multiple projects concurrently, meet deadlines, and work well both independently and as a member of a team. The position will be subject to a hybrid work environment (i.e., partly telework and partly on-site), with a minimum of one day per week at WPP's office in Worcester.
All applicants are requested to provide a position-specific cover letter and resume with their application.
Duties for this position include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Manage WPP's system for making water quality assessment and CWA s. 303(d) listing decisions to meet program objectives and EPA's biennial CWA reporting requirements, using quality assured WPP monitoring data and other data and information from multiple sources.
2. Review EPA's biennial CWA reporting requirements and guidance and ensure that it is applied to WPP integrated reporting deliverables to EPA.
3. Organize and participate in assessment group strategy planning efforts to ensure timeliness of key components of CWA s. 305(b)/303(d) integrated reporting, including availability of WPP and external data, related data analyses using a variety of tools, decision documentation and ATTAINS database requirements.
4. Review and interpret the MA Surface Water Quality Standards (SWQS) for use in making appropriate decisions related to support and impairment of designated uses defined for the Commonwealth's surface water resources.
5. Develop and oversee updates to the Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (CALM) Guidance Manual for each biennial CWA s. 305(b)/303(d) cycle, in cooperation with other staff.
6. Evaluate and revise as needed WPP's water quality assessment processes and procedures, with assistance from other staff, to facilitate timely and efficient data analyses and reporting in each integrated reporting cycle.
7. Develop new and revised methodologies and procedures for evaluating scientific data, making assessment and listing decisions, and developing reports in a timely manner, including the creation, implementation, and maintenance of streamlining tools and automation techniques using available technologies (e.g., R, ArcGIS, Python, etc.).
8. Guide and supervise assessment staff to ensure that water quality assessments and associated deliverables are completed in support of WPP objectives and consistent with standard procedures.
9. Assist with the procurement and review of credible, quality assured data from external sources for use in water quality assessments, including coordinating with WPP's QA/QC and grant management staff to ensure the maximum usefulness of both internal and external data for WPP assessment needs.
10. Assist the Assessment Section with the preparation of scientifically defensible technical reports or memoranda, including the biennial Integrated Report (IR).
11. Lead meetings with assessment staff and others to provide updates on the status of assessments, schedules, and work products in development.
12. Provide direct and functional supervision and training of seasonal staff and interns on specific project tasks.
13. Oversee updates to WPP's database for Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) results received from NPDES permittees, including the use of proper QC review and data entry procedures for toxicity testing data that are entered into the ToxTD database.
14. Provide technical support to EPA, WPP, and other MassDEP program staff (e.g., NPDES/SWD permit program) as needed.
15. Participate in water quality monitoring field activities as needed in support of WPP's mission using standard operating procedures.
16. Communicate information on assessment staff activities and assessment issues as needed.
17. Represent WPP and MassDEP in meetings with EPA, other state agencies, and the public.
Preferred Qualifications at Hire:
1. Knowledge of the principles and practices of environmental science, ecology, aquatic biology, watershed management, and public health.
2. Knowledge of water chemistry and how water quality changes naturally (e.g., seasonally, natural processes, etc.) and resulting from anthropogenic impacts (e.g., discharges, nonpoint sources, etc.).
3. Knowledge of EPA water quality criteria and the MA Surface Water Quality Standards.
4. Knowledge of EPA requirements under the CWA, including those associated with Sections 303(d) and 305(b).
5. Knowledge of the principles and practices of scientific data collection and analysis including QA/QC.
6. Experience working with environmental datasets, including basic database development, data analysis, and interpretation of chemical, physical, and biological data and their relationship to water quality.
7. Experience applying scientific procedures and reporting methodologies, including in the preparation of scientific technical reports, charts, graphs, and tables.
8. Ability to read and interpret scientific documents such as risk assessments, chemical analyses, biological analyses, and hydrological reports.
9. Ability to supervise (e.g., plan, assign, and coordinate the activities of others) using knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of supervision.
10. Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally, including the ability to successfully convey complex issues to technical and non-technical audiences, and provide hands-on, procedural training to individuals or small groups.
11. Ability to resolve problems, perform critical analyses, and develop solutions using appropriate techniques and technologies.
12. Ability to exercise effective leadership and management skills, including the ability to collaborate with, direct, and motivate others.
13. Ability to work independently, as well as with other environmental professionals.
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) five 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 three years must have been in a professional capacity, and of which (C) at least one year must have been in a supervisory, managerial or administrative capacity, or (D) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the following substitutions.
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 one year of the required (A) experience.*
III. A Graduate degree with a major in 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. No substitutions will be permitted for the required (C) experience.
Comprehensive Benefits
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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.