Drinking Water Capacity Development and Operator Certification Coordinator

Environmental Specialist III

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Drinking Water Program (DWP), is seeking an Environmental Specialist III to provide technical support and assistance in implementing the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) rules and regulations. The Drinking Water Program is tasked with overseeing over 1,900 public drinking water systems throughout Maine, administering federal and state safe drinking water regulations to ensure that water systems provide safe, secure, and reliable drinking water.

Public water systems have measures of technical, financial, and managerial capacity to assure adequate and safe drinking water for consumers. The Capacity Development Coordinator uses technical assistance tools to ensure public water systems meet the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act. This is accomplished through evaluating existing water systems and assisting them with capacity building projects, pursuant to the Maine Capacity Development Plan for Public Water Systems.

This position also oversees the Drinking Water Operator Certification Program by reviewing proposed training courses for continuing education credit, managing the operator application process and the licensing process, identifying opportunities to improve licensing procedures, addressing operator complaints related to exams and licensure, and serving as the DWP's representative on the Operator Certification Board.

You will also:

• Assist the Compliance Assurance Unit with violation research monthly.
• Assist the Compliance Assurance Unit by researching public water systems each quarter to identify candidates for formal enforcement actions.
• Review public water system operator changes in the federal database.
• Review reciprocity license applications for compliance with Maine drinking water rules.
• Process Level 1 and Level 2 assessments of public water systems to ensure compliance with the federal Revised Total Coliform Rule.
• Review and approve training courses submitted by providers for continuing education contact hours to ensure they meet operator certification requirements.
• Evaluate public water systems to identify gaps in managerial, technical, and financial capacity for public water systems.
• Participate in weekly Compliance Assurance Unit staff meetings.
• Provide back-up support for the Compliance Assurance Unit as needed.

Minimum Qualifications:

A six (6) year combination of education and/or experience in environmental, biological, physical science, or engineering which includes two (2) years of environmental experience. Qualifying education must include at least 15 credit hours of science or engineering coursework from an accredited educational institution.

Preferred candidates will also have:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with internal staff, external partners, and diverse audiences through training, presentations, and written materials focused on regulatory updates, policy and procedure improvements rule changes, and program operations.

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to work independently, prioritize competing workloads, support program objectives, and maintain accuracy and attention to detail when reviewing data for completeness and compliance.

• Proficiency with a variety of software applications, including GEC Cert Tracker, Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat and other business applications.

• Knowledge of federal and state drinking water laws, rules, regulations, and Maine Drinking Water Program requirements, including operator certification and licensing processes, industry best practices, and the principles related to drinking water quality and treatment, with regard to public health protection.

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Agency information:

The Department of Health and…