Job Description
Environmental Engineer IV - Woburn (Internal Only)
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.
Who We Are as an Employer:
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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.
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.
Description:
MassDEP seeks applicants for the position of Environmental Engineer IV (EEIV) within the Bureau of Water Resources (BWR) Drinking Water Program. The position is assigned to the Northeast Regional Office (NERO) located in Woburn, MA. Under the general supervision of an Environmental Engineer or Analyst of higher grade in the Drinking Water Program Section, the EEIV shall perform assigned duties to support permitting, compliance, and enforcement activities in the Section, and other duties, as needed, for regional implementation of the Massachusetts Drinking Water Regulations and the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act to ensure the protection of public health. A particular focus of this position is to provide lead support for the permit program ensuring timely permit processing and consistent data entry and providing primary support for the Drinking Water section's per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) permitting and engineering section as well as performing Public Water System (PWS) inspections.
Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Reviews complex engineering plans and reports involving a high degree of difficulty and complexity. Meets with design and engineering consultants to discuss project proposals, administrative and technical deficiencies, and to explain Department regulations, policies and design guidelines. Issues permits related to reviews and conducts inspections of facilities to ensure permit compliance.
- Coordinates all submitted permit applications for the Drinking Water Program ensuring permit assignment to staff through Accela, as well as internal database permit tracking. Performs routine regional permit reviews utilizing the MassDEP permitting dashboard to provide comprehensive updates on permit types, timelines and overall permit status.
- Conducts inspections of Public Water Systems (PWS), including water treatment systems, storage tanks, and distribution and conveyance systems for compliance with proper operation practices and permit requirements. Prepares detailed inspection reports based on comprehensive field notes.
- Conducts field investigations to gather evidence in a manner suitable for use in enforcement proceedings. Coordinates preparation of formal actions, which establish appropriate actions to be taken to abate violations of Department regulations and permit requirements.
- Conducts reviews of operator reports for conformance with proper operating practices and meets with permittee(s) to discuss deficiencies.
- Serves as PFAS Rule Lead for non-community PWS and coordinates with the PFAS Rule Lead for community PWS regarding regional implementation compliance strategies relative to the new federal PFAS standards.
- Participates in the DWP State Revolving Fund (SRF) ratings process and provides and provides primary support to the SRF Regional Lead as assigned.
- Provides regional support for grant programs led by DWP-Boston, as assigned.
- Provides technical assistance to the general public, municipal officials, and consulting firms, which shall include conducting meetings, teleconferences and written correspondence.
- Maintains appropriate databases and MassDEP records in accordance with set procedures.
- Serves on appointed workgroups and/or committees to draft new policies or protocols or provide comments for revision to policies and/or protocols.
- Communicates routinely with supervisor.
- Performs other duties as required.
Preferred Work Experience and Qualifications:
- Qualified applicants must have knowledge and experience in the principles of drinking water treatment and management. Qualifications include:
- Ability to evaluate complex engineering plans and studies, and to analyze and determine the applicability of environmental data, draw conclusions and make appropriate recommendations.
- Knowledge of the principals of civil and environmental engineering as these relate to water collection, storage, distribution and treatment systems.
- Knowledge of Department regulations, policies, guidance and procedure relating to water treatment and distribution, including relevant federal regulations pertaining to this field.
- Knowledge of water quality issues in Massachusetts, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
- Knowledge of drinking water sampling procedures and analysis methodology.
- Ability to express complex ideas clearly and concisely, and to explain concepts in a logical sequence.
- Ability to represent the Department in a professional manner at inspections, public meetings and formal enforcement proceedings.
- Ability to walk on uneven terrain to conduct inspections of PWS.
- Proficiency in using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, Outlook) and online coordination platforms (TEAMS, ZOOM).
- Possession of a valid Massachusetts driver's license or equivalent is required
- Proven ability to work collaboratively with others.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Very strong organizational skills.
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 engineering, civil engineering, sanitary engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering or public health engineering and (B) of which at least three years must have been in a professional capacity and (C) of which 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 substitutions below.
Substitutions:
I. An Associate's degree with a major in civil engineering or civil engineering technology may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required (A) experience.
II. A Bachelor's degree with a major in environmental engineering, civil engineering, civil engineering technology, sanitary engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering or public health engineering may be substituted for a maximum of two years of the required (A) experience
III. A Graduate degree with a major in environmental engineering, civil engineering, sanitary engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering or public health engineering 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
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.