Senior Water Quality Specialist, Grade N26

The salary range above represents this position’s earning potential. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $87,235 to $113,754 based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

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.

DEP is the lead agency in Montgomery County dedicated to assessing stream health and water quality, and this position will lead efforts covering a broad range of monitoring that assess the water in our streams throughout the County, including assessments of the biological community, stream structure, water flow, and water chemistry testing. We invite you to join our team as we strive to meet water quality standards and ensure the long‑term health of our watersheds.

We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic water quality professional to lead the Countywide water quality monitoring programs, supervise a dedicated water quality monitoring team, and serve as the County’s subject matter expert on surface and groundwater quality, aquatic ecology, and monitoring. In this leadership role, the Senior Water Quality Specialist will ensure compliance with Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) permit requirements (Assessment of Controls), Special Protection Area (SPA) monitoring and reporting regulations, deliver high‑quality data and analysis for watershed assessments and planning, manage contracts and grants, and collaborate across agencies and with the public to advance water quality goals.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in monitoring water quality, aquatic ecology, and stormwater, analyzing water quality data, communicating water quality monitoring results, interpreting and communicating scientific advancements in water quality and restoration, engaging with local, state, and federal stakeholders and partners, managing water quality monitoring programs and comprehensive water quality reporting. The candidate should be prepared to perform work outdoors in the streams and rivers of Montgomery County leading the collection of water quality data.

This position is responsible for managing the Countywide stream monitoring, Special Protection Area (SPA), Restoration, and Special Project monitoring programs, including coordination of all elements needed to meet federal, state, and local regulatory requirements and supervision of staff for associated monitoring, data analysis, and report preparation.

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

• Managing the Countywide Stream Monitoring Program – coordinate biological, chemical, and physical habitat monitoring to meet MS4 permit watershed assessment requirements; provide data and analysis for watershed assessments and management plans; ensure accurate and timely completion of field monitoring; oversee field and laboratory identification, quality control, and data analysis; lead submittal of draft and final reports for County Stat and annual MS4 permit reporting;
  
  maintain the watershed monitoring database and ensure that web content reflects the most recently completed MS4 permit report year; develop contractual mechanisms, in partnership with the Planning Team and Monitoring and Planning Section Chief, to support Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) implementation plan monitoring and pollutant track‑downs; and communicate DEP water quality monitoring results to internal and external stakeholders.
• Managing DEP’s SPA Monitoring Program – coordinate completion of all field monitoring and associated data analysis to meet SPA…