Energy and Environmental Protection Bureau Chief

At the State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), we are dedicated to conserving, improving and protecting our natural resources and the environment, and increasing the availability of cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy.

Within DEEP’s Branch of Environmental Quality is the Bureau of Water Protection and Land Reuse.  This Bureau’s mission is to work together for the restoration, protection and conservation of Connecticut’s water and land resources for current and future generations.  We accomplish our mission by assessing and planning for integrated water quality and quantity management, managing and protecting inland and coastal waters and resources, ensuring plentiful groundwater, and reducing risk from historical contamination.

DEEP is currently seeking to hire a Bureau Chief to lead the Water Protection and Land Reuse (WPLR) Bureau in fulfilling its important mission and to be a part of the DEEP’s senior leadership team. The Bureau Chief of WPLR directs the operation of three Divisions - Water Planning & Management, Land & Water Resources, and Remediation.  Within the State's borders there are approximately 450,000 acres of wetlands, 6,000 miles of streams and rivers, over 2,000 lakes and reservoirs, and 600 square miles of estuarine water in Long Island Sound.  Managing these precious resources for today and tomorrow is one of DEEP's most critical missions.

This position offers a challenging and rewarding opportunity for an experienced and proven environmental manager.  The successful candidate will show a commitment to public service and to leading the Bureau’s engineers, scientists, administrative support staff, and managers in making a real difference in the protection of public health and safety and sound management of Connecticut’s water resources.  

The position will work out of our downtown Hartford Office, located at 79 Elm Street, across from historic Bushnell Park. 

This is a fulltime, forty (40) hours per week, Monday through Friday position.  Some night and weekend work and travel are expected.

Applicants must include a resume within the "Resume Tab" of their application. 

Questions about the required documents should be directed to the hiring agency's human resources office: DEEP.HumanResources@ct.gov, (860)424-3006.

This position is competitive. Open to the public.

This posting MAY require completion of additional referral questions (RQs) which will be sent to you via email after the closing date. Please regularly check your email for notifications.  Please note, also check your SPAM or Junk Mail, as emails may end up there in error.  You must reply by the deadline indicated on the notification or you will be automatically disqualified from consideration.

Applicants invited to interview will be requested to supply the following:

Non-State Employees- three (3) professional references, with contact information;

Current State Employees- Last two (2) performance appraisals. 

In the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection this class is accountable for planning, organizing, directing and controlling bureau programs and staff.

Directs bureau programs and staff activities and manages all related functions; develops comprehensive long and short range plans and strategies which support agency mission and goals; assists, participates and makes recommendations in review and formation of agency policy, program priorities, funding, legislation and regulations; implements agency policy within assigned bureau; controls fiscal operations within a bureau by determining priorities for expenditure of financial and related resources; develops bureau programs, strategies and policies consistent with agency policy; responds to inquiries from the public, Governor's office, General Assembly, Congress and federal, state and local officials concerning energy and/or environmental issues and programs; directs the development of position recommendations on major legislative and regulatory proposals; confers and negotiates agreements and strategies with federal and private agencies on energy and/or environmental issues and programs; may solicit, negotiate, administer and manage funds to support and/or develop programs or projects; maintains statewide responsibility for all bureau programs and activities and represents agency and state in related activities as required; performs related duties as required.

Specific responsibilities of the Water Protection and Land Reuse Bureau Chief will include but not be limited to:

·        Day-to-day management responsibility for approximately 130 fulltime staff including directly leading 3 Division Directors.

·        Establish program goals and objectives to restore, protect and conserve water and land resources and set standards and policies to protect human health and safety.

·        Oversee fiscal operation with a bureau operational budget of $30 million, administer 15 incoming federal grants, a capital program of upwards of $300 million, ensuring compliance with state and federal funding laws and policies, and prioritizing expenditures to advance objects in a cost effective and efficient manner.

·        Lead development of strategic plans for achieving goals and objectives utilizing innovative approaches when appropriate and oversee successful implementation of such plans while tracking progress.

·        Balance competing priorities and respond to changing circumstances to efficiently use available resources to meet goals and objectives.

·        Ensure that activities and objectives of the bureau are integrated and consistent with broader DEEP actions and clearly communicated to all stakeholders including staff.

·        Be an active, committed and effective member of the DEEP senior leadership team and build relationships and connections with peers across the agency and state government.

·        Support and foster the mentoring necessary to develop and expand staff capacity at all levels, with a focus on succession planning, leadership and ensuring a diverse and inclusive workforce.

·        Build productive relationships with local, state and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, the regulated community, interested citizens and other constituent groups.

·        Represent Connecticut on the local, state, regional and national level.

Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply management principles and techniques; considerable knowledge of relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; considerable knowledge of energy integration and/or environmental protection principles, techniques, practices and issues; considerable ability to apply relevant agency policies and procedures; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; considerable analytical skills; considerable ability to organize and direct complex operating units and associated functions; considerable administrative ability; considerable ability to formulate and interpret agency policy, legislation and regulations.

Twelve (12) years of professional experience in natural resource management, public outdoor recreation, pollution prevention, reduction and management, environmental or energy conservation, environmental or energy regulatory programs, integration of energy and environmental policies and programs, energy research or policy development, strategic operational environmental or energy planning or other related environmental protection or energy field.

Three (3) years of the General Experience must have been in a managerial capacity.
Notes:
1 Managerial capacity is defined as formulating program goals and objectives, developing and implementing program procedures, initiating program policies and developing and monitoring the budget.
2 For State employees, the Special Experience is interpreted at the level of Energy and Environmental Protection Division Director, Energy and Environmental Protection Assistant Division Director, Energy and Environmental Protection Office Director or other comparable managerial title responsible for the management of staff performing energy and/or environmental protection work.

1. College training in a scientific or technical discipline related to the energy or environmental field, including but not limited to the biological, earth, or physical sciences; environmental planning; environmental law; economics; leisure services; geographic information systems; geography with a concentration in geographic information systems; natural sciences; natural resources, renewable energy, energy conservation or related field may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
2. A Master's degree in a scientific or technical discipline related to the energy or environmental field as listed above including but not limited to the biological, earth, or physical sciences; environmental planning; environmental law; economics; leisure services; geographic information systems; geography with a concentration in geographic information systems; natural sciences; natural resources, renewable energy, energy conservation or related area may be substituted for five (5) years of the General Experience.
3. A law degree with a concentration in energy, natural resources or environmental protection law or a doctorate degree in a field related to renewable energy, energy conservation or environmental protection may be substituted for six (6) years of the General Experience.
*Note: Education may only be substituted for a total of six (6) years.

·        Demonstrated leadership and experience leading a highly skilled technical and professional workforce including commitment to workforce development and motivation.

·        High emotional intelligence quotient and demonstrated self-awareness, outstanding interpersonal communication, conflict resolution, negotiation, and public presentation experience.  

·        Strong management skills and experiences, including but not limited to, operating and capital budget execution, policy and regulation development, strategic planning and project management.

·        Recognized expertise in critical thinking, managing productivity, defining expectations and establishing measurable goals, providing constructive feedback and redirection, coordinating programs and making sound decisions in a timely manner.

·        Well versed in the development and implementation of state and federal laws and regulations related to environmental protection with a solid understanding of the federal and state Clean Water Act and laws related to site remediation, coastal management and  land use permitting.

 

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.