Job Description
Who We Are:
The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) seeks to protect, preserve, and enhance Massachusetts' environmental resources and create a clean energy future for all residents. Through the stewardship of open spaces, the protection of environmental resources, and the advancement of clean energy, EEA works tirelessly to make Massachusetts a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family. Our commitment to environmental justice ensures that every resident, regardless of background or location, can live in a safe, clean environment and shares equally in the benefits of the clean energy transition.
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is the state agency responsible for ensuring clean air, land, and water. Our work impacts every aspect of people's lives and is critical to the health and wellbeing of our residents and visitors. MassDEP is the lead agency for safe management of toxics and hazardous materials, promotion of waste reduction and recycling, preservation of the state's wetlands and coastal resources, air quality monitoring and pollution reduction, and so much more.
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Who We Are as an Employer:
At EEA, we create meaningful, inclusive opportunities that empower our employees to make a real difference in shaping the environmental future of Massachusetts. We foster a workplace culture where diversity is valued, innovation is encouraged, and collaboration thrives. Our employees play a vital role in advancing sustainability, environmental justice, and clean energy solutions, ensuring a positive and lasting impact on Massachusetts and its residents.
Description:
MassDEP seeks applicants for the position of Environmental Analyst III/ Coastal Geologist. This position is assigned to the Southeast Regional Office (SERO) Bureau of Water Resources, Wetlands Program, located in Lakeville, MA. Lakeville is nestled in the geographic heart of the region, just 45 minutes from Boston, Providence, and the beaches of the South Shore, South Coast and Cape Cod.
The Environmental Analyst III (EA III) will assist in the permitting, planning, compliance, enforcement and policy tasks associated with complex projects in/near coastal and inland areas protected under the Wetlands Protection Act and 401 Water Quality Certificate Regulations. The EA III will be responsible for reviewing and evaluating regulatory compliance of projects involving complex environmental analysis in or near coastal wetlands and waterways. The EA III will be responsible for drafting permits and making recommendations to the Section Chief or staff of a higher-grade regarding issues under the jurisdiction of the Wetlands Protection Act and/or 401 Water Quality Certification Regulations. The EA III will investigate possible coastal wetlands violations and draft enforcement documents and conduct all associated follow-up. The permitting and enforcement work will involve reviewing and verifying site plans, coastal resource boundary delineations including the identification of coastal landforms, soils, hydrological calculations and data. This position requires reviewing plans for compliance with wetlands stormwater regulations and projects proposing coastal engineering structures such as seawalls, revetments, groins and piers. This position provides technical and regulatory assistance to the public. The EA III will advise the Department on matters involving the integrity and validity of technical calculations and data.
Specific duties and responsibilities:
- Reviews Notices of Intent for complex projects in/near coastal wetland resource areas by analyzing site plans, verifying coastal landform identification, reviewing hydrological data, technical data and calculations to ensure consistency with the performance standards of the Wetlands Regulations.
- Reviews Orders of Conditions and Orders of Resource Area Delineation of complex coastal projects by analyzing conditions/restrictions placed on the projects to ensure protection of the Interests specified in the Wetlands Protection Act and its Regulations.
- Arranges and conducts site visits with Conservation Commissions, state and Federal agencies and other organizations, consultants, property owners and others for complex coastal projects and provides guidance and technical assistance relative to those projects.
- Arranges and conducts site visits with Conservation Commissions and Appellants and Applicants for complex coastal projects to determine the basis of appeals and conditions necessary to draft an appropriate Superseding Order of Conditions or Resource Area Delineations. Verifies the delineation of complex coastal landforms.
- Recommends and drafts, for Program Chief review and approval, Superseding Orders of Conditions and Resource Area Delineations for complex coastal projects that protect the Interests specified in the Wetlands Protection Act regulations.
- Prepares enforcement documents for execution, maintains the records, and participates in enforcement conferences.
- Recommends and drafts, for Program Chief review and approval, Water Quality Certifications that maintain the water quality of receiving waters in accordance with the Massachusetts Water Quality Standards for complex coastal and inland projects.
- Advises the Wetlands Program Chief, Regional Management and Program Director in matters pertaining to coastal policy development by reviewing draft policies, participating in regulation and policy development working groups and ensuring technical validity.
- Participates in presentations of technical guidance to internal groups and external stakeholders.
- Advises the Wetlands Program Chief, Regional Management and Program Director on pilot coastal erosion control projects by reviewing complex to very complex project plans and monitoring data to ensure protection of the Interests specified in the Wetlands Protection Act and its Regulations.
- Recommends to the Program Chief the issuance or denial of Certificates of Compliance for complex coastal projects by reviewing as-built site plans and conducting site visits to ensure project compliance with the Superseding Orders of Conditions.
- Other duties as assigned.
Preferred Experience and Qualifications:
- A strong knowledge of coastal geology
- A degree, certification or other training related to coastal geology
- Experience in the designs, design review, permitting or permit review of coastal engineering structures or other coastal projects.
- A strong knowledge the Wetlands Protection Act; and Water Quality Certification regulations
- Knowledge of MEPA and other state regulations
- Knowledge of the methods of general and technical report writing
- Good written and oral communication skills are a prerequisite.
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) four 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 two years must have been in a professional capacity, or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.
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 two years of the required (A) experience.
III. A Graduate 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 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.
Comprehensive Benefits
When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.
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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.