Section Chief, Stormwater Inspection & Maintenance Program (Manager III, Grade M3

Section Chief, Stormwater Management BMP Inspection and Maintenance

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is a nationally recognized and award-winning agency with the mission to enhance the quality of life in our community by protecting and improving Montgomery County's air, water, and land in a sustainable, innovative, inclusive, and industry-leading way while fostering smart growth, a thriving, more sustainable economy, and healthy communities. DEP is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and values diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and cultures.

DEP encourages BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), immigrants, women, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply.

The Stormwater Management BMP Inspection and Maintenance (SWIM) Section, part of the Watershed Restoration Division, ensures that more than 27,000 stormwater management facilities and County stream restoration projects are properly inspected, maintained, and compliant with State law, County Code, and the County's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit. We coordinate across agencies, municipalities, and the business community to solve complex engineering, regulatory, and compliance challenges.

The Department of Environmental Protection seeks an experienced leader and technical program manager to serve as Section Chief, Manager III, for the SWIM Section. The ideal candidate brings deep stormwater management expertise, strong program administration skills, and demonstrated success managing large operation and maintenance programs.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities in the following areas:

• Stormwater management principles, practices, requirements, and systems
• Developing, implementing, managing, and evaluating stormwater programs
• Stormwater management BMPs inspection, operation, and maintenance -- including environmental site design (ESD) and low impact development (LID)
• Stream restoration inspection and maintenance
• Asset management, databases, and GIS platforms
• Procurement and contract administration, budget development and financial oversight, and human resources management
• Strategic planning and program evaluation
• Coordinating operations across multiple organizational units
• Managing large-scale projects and mission-critical assignments
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Exercising sound judgment and making consequential decisions
• Applying racial equity and social justice principles in program design, community engagement, and evaluation
• Supervising professional, administrative, and field staff

As Section Chief, you will be the strategic leader driving Montgomery County's stormwater inspection and maintenance programs. You'll set the vision, establish priorities, and ensure the County meets its legal, environmental, and MS4 obligations with excellence. You'll lead complex countywide operations—directing triennial inspections, overseeing major maintenance and engineering contracts, and guiding compliance efforts for privately owned stormwater systems. You'll make high-impact decisions that shape program direction, resource allocation, and long-term infrastructure performance.

You'll also be the chief integrator and problem-solver: coordinating across agencies, advising senior leadership, and using data and asset-management tools to strengthen program accountability, transparency, and results. Most importantly, you'll lead and inspire a multidisciplinary team—cultivating collaboration, developing staff talent, and building a workplace that delivers strong environmental outcomes for every community in the county.

Key duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Leading the County's stormwater and ESD maintenance programs. Guide the maintenance of Montgomery County's growing stormwater BMP infrastructure. You'll set priorities based on triennial inspections, manage multiple high-value maintenance contracts, ensure contractors deliver quality work, and drive performance through modern asset-management systems. Your leadership will directly contribute to cleaner waterways and stronger climate resilience across the County.
• Driving the triennial inspection program for stormwater BMPs. Oversee one of the County's largest environmental compliance efforts. You will ensure all BMPs meet inspection requirements, manage complex engineering and technical contracts (including high-hazard dam inspections), maintain rigorous standards for safety, quality, and on-schedule delivery, and ensure accurate reporting for MS4 compliance.
• Leading compliance and enforcement for privately owned stormwater BMPs. Protect the integrity of the County's stormwater BMP network by steering a fair, effective compliance and enforcement program. You'll oversee notices of violation, citations, and court actions when needed, and refine processes using data to improve efficiency and equity—while supporting responsible property…