STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Environmental Protection Assistant Division Director

Recruitment #240719-3400MP-001

Introduction


The State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), is seeking an exceptional individual to join us as an Environmental Protection Assistant Division Director for the Water Permitting & Enforcement Division (WPED). In this role, you will play a key part in our mission to protect Connecticut's public health, safety, water resources, and the environment from pollution. As the Assistant Division Director, you will provide managerial support and direction to a team of dedicated professionals working on water pollution control programs.

What we can offer you

At the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, we offer an exceptional opportunity for people who are looking to foster their careers in Connecticut. By joining our team at the Water Permitting & Enforcement Division (WPED), you will have the chance to work in a world-class organization that values your expertise and dedication. Apply today and take the next step in your career!

As a part of our team, you can expect the following:

  • Explore our new State Employee Benefits Overview page to get an understanding of the various benefits we provide to our employees.
  • The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule! This recognition highlights our commitment to providing a supportive and rewarding work environment.
  • Professional growth and development opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career. We believe in investing in our employees' success.
  • A healthy work/life balance is a priority for us. We are committed to fostering an environment that supports the personal and professional growth of all employees.
Position highlights

This is a full-time, Monday-Friday position with core business hours from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. While the position is primarily based at DEEP Headquarters in Hartford, CT, you will also have the opportunity to manage staff who may be in the field or located at other sites. We offer a flexible work schedule and the possibility of remote work, provided that operational needs are met.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to:

  • Assist in interpreting and administering federal and state water pollution control laws and regulations, including the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act.
  • Collaborate with the Division Director in determining program priorities, goals, and objectives to meet federal and state commitments within available resources.
  • Develop and implement plans, policies, regulations, procedures, and budgets to ensure the completion of projects and deliverables within resource constraints.
  • Discover ways to improve the administration and implementation of the program, with a focus on innovative approaches that can improve efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Lead the development and management of electronic information systems for permitting and compliance, streamlining workflows and improving data management.
  • Work with supervisors to recruit personnel, evaluate staff performance, and provide professional development opportunities.
  • Mentor and empower staff to enhance their leadership and problem-solving skills.
  • Oversee negotiations in enforcement and permitting proceedings to ensure consistency and compliance with laws, regulations, and policies.
  • Collaborate with various individuals and organizations to promote public engagement and drive environmental progress.
  • Oversee special projects and prepare reports and correspondence.
  • Serve as Director in the absence of the Division Director.
  • More details can be found in the class specification.
About us

The State of Connecticut is a world-class government organization dedicated to environmental protection and fostering sustainable, equitable, and prosperous economic growth. We are committed to mitigating the impacts of climate change, conserving and improving Connecticut's natural resources and environment, and providing clean and reliable energy to the people and businesses of the state. Our agency, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), plays a crucial role in developing policies and programs to achieve these goals.

The Bureau of Materials Management and Compliance Assurance (MMCA) within DEEP is responsible for the proper management and disposal of materials, including water, wastewater, petroleum products, pesticides, mercury, and wastes. Within MMCA, the Water Permitting and Enforcement Division focuses on protecting public health, safety, and the environment by ensuring compliance with the federal Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. We regulate a wide range of discharges to surface water, groundwater, and sanitary sewers, including those from industrial, agricultural, and domestic sources.

             

Selection Plan

To apply

  • In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on this job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.
  • Applicants should ensure that they meet the minimum experience and qualifications by the closing date of this job opening, unless otherwise specified.
  • Please make sure that your application is thorough and includes all necessary information before submitting it. To adhere to Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut has made changes to the initial application process, and resumes are no longer required. Please note that revisions cannot be made once your application has been submitted into the JobAps system.
  • All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
Important information after you apply

  • This job posting may require you to answer additional referral questions (RQs). You will receive an email with the RQs after the posting's closing date or you can find them on your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Please make sure to submit your responses by the expiration date of the questionnaire. It is important to regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please also check your SPAM and/or Junk folders regularly in case auto-notification emails are filtered there.
  • While applicants will primarily receive correspondence through email, we also encourage them to regularly check their Personal Status Board for updates on their application status, important notices, and any tasks they need to complete during the recruitment process.
  • Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from branch to branch but it does not impact your state service credit.

For technical questions regarding the filling of your application, please contact Benjamin Beaudry at Benjamin.Beaudry@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection this class is accountable for assisting in the direction of the staff and programs of a scientific, regulatory or technical division.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Assists in directing staff and operations of a scientific, regulatory or technical division;
  • Coordinates, plans and manages division activities;
  • Assists in formulating and implementing program goals and objectives;
  • Assists in development of related policy, goals and objectives;
  • Interprets and administers pertinent laws and regulations;
  • Evaluates staff;
  • Assists in preparation of division budget;
  • Establishes and maintains contacts with individuals within and outside of division who might impact on program activities;
  • Provides or directs staff training and development;
  • Prepares and/or oversees preparation of reports and correspondence;
  • Performs public relations tasks;
  • Oversees special projects;
  • Serves as director in their absence;
  • Participates in the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
  • Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Considerable knowledge of
    • and ability to apply management principles and practices;
    • relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
    • environmental protection principles, techniques, practices and issues;
  • Considerable
    • interpersonal skills;
    • oral and written communication skills;
    • analytical, organizational and negotiation skills;
  • Considerable ability to apply relevant agency policies and procedures.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Nine (9) years of professional experience in natural resource management, environmental conservation, energy research, energy planning, energy policy development, public outdoor recreation, pollution prevention, reduction and management, environmental regulatory programs or other related environmental protection field.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been in a supervisory capacity responsible for the supervision of professional and technical support staff performing environmental protection work.
NOTE:
  • Supervisory capacity is defined as scheduling, assigning and overseeing work, establishing performance standards for employees and taking corrective measures to implement those standards.
  • For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of an Environmental Protection Supervising Environmental Engineer (Environmental Protection), Environmental Protection Supervising Air Pollution Control Engineer, Environmental Protection Supervising Civil Engineer, Environmental Protection Supervising Environmental Analyst, Environmental Protection Supervising Forester, Environmental Protection Supervising Fisheries Biologist, Environmental Protection Supervising Wildlife Biologist or other comparable supervisory title responsible for the supervision of professional and technical support staff performing environmental protection work.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

  • College training in a scientific or technical discipline related to the 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 or natural resources 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.
  • A Master's degree in a scientific or technical discipline related to the 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 or natural resources may be substituted for five (5) years of the General Experience.
  • A law degree with a concentration in environmental protection or doctorate degree in a field related to 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 of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience leading scientific, regulatory or technical staff working in the area of water pollution control and wastewater treatment.
  • Experience in independent project development and innovative problem solving within resource and time constraints.
  • Experience managing 2 or more concurrent projects, identifying and defining projects, establishing expectations, and coordinating with internal and external programs to meet defined deadlines with allocated resources.
  • Work experience, education, certifications or professional licenses in environmental protection principles and practices of water pollution control and wastewater treatment.
  • Bachelor’s degree in science or engineering.
  • Experience negotiating settlements or agreements with other parties to resolve disputed matters concerning environmental regulation, permitting, and compliance.
  • Experience developing and implementing strategic plans, innovative policies, and process improvements to address programmatic challenges and priorities.
  • Experience communicating environmental quality and regulatory information pertaining to water discharges and water pollution controls to internal and external stakeholder groups, such as the general public, businesses, environmental professionals, the media, environmental advocacy groups, and government officials both verbally and in writing.
  • Experience interpreting and enforcing federal and state environmental policies, regulations, and laws pertaining to water pollution control including the federal Clean Water Act’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and National Pretreatment programs, and the federal Safe Drinking Water Act’s Underground Injection Control (UIC) program.

Conclusion

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.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.