Water Protection Division Director

New Mexico Environment Department

The New Mexico Environment Department’s (NMED) Mission Is To Protect And Restore The Environment And To Foster a Healthy And Prosperous New Mexico For Present And Future Generations. We Implement Our Mission Guided By Four Tenets:

• Science:
  Using the best available science to inform our decision-making in protecting public health and the environment.
• Innovation:
  Employing creative engineering and technological solutions to address environmental challenges.
• Collaboration:
  
  Engaging communities and interested stakeholders in environmental decision-making outcomes.
• Compliance:
  Ensuring meaningful compliance with state regulations and permits; leveling the playing field through enforcement.

The Water Protection Division (WPD) Director is appointed by the Governor and works closely with the Cabinet Secretary, Deputy Cabinet Secretary and other Division Directors. The WPD Director maintains a robust programmatic portfolio while supporting the Department and Administration priorities, goals and deadlines. The WPD Director oversees 15 programs to ensure the cleanest and safest water supplies for New Mexicans today and into the future through the protection of surface water and groundwater quality.

This position supervises the WPD Deputy Director and manages and supports the Ground Water Quality, Surface Water Quality, Drinking Water and Construction Programs Bureaus that collectively include the equivalent of 178 full‑time employees.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading collaboration with stakeholders and initiating, reviewing, and drafting legislation.
• Informing legislators, local officials, community members, federal agencies, the Congressional delegation and other stakeholders about Division projects.
• Serving as the Department representative to outside parties on priority environmental and public health protection matters.
• Managing the Division’s $25.8 million budget, including over 60 funding sources and approximately 50 active federal grants.
• Overseeing a range of functional areas: public water systems and drinking water testing; water and wastewater utility operator certification; loans for drinking water, wastewater and solid waste infrastructure projects; remediation of contaminated properties, including Superfund sites; discharge permits; surface water quality monitoring and restoration; and compliance and enforcement of drinking water and water quality regulatory programs.
• Coordinating special projects such as serving on the Government Advisory Board of the New Mexico Produced Water Research Consortium and addressing contamination by PFAS and other emerging contaminants.

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated leadership experience in business acumen, leading people, managing change, driving results, and building coalitions.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills and the ability to effectively communicate with a wide variety of stakeholders.
• Passion for the protection of New Mexico’s natural environment and its relationship to human health.

Salary: $95,000 – $105,000 annually, depending on experience.