Senior Water Quality Specialist, Grade N26

Senior Water Quality Specialist, Grade N26
Montgomery County Government
Department of Environmental Protection
2425 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, Maryland 20902
Salary Range: $87,235 to $140,274

WHO WE ARE
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. 

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
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 ground water 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.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING
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 CountyStat 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 annual reporting requirements; design monitoring studies to determine Best Management Practice (BMP) and Environmental Site Design (ESD) success; keep leadership informed of issues affecting timely report completion and maintain current web-based SPA program information; and communicate monitoring results to stakeholders to support adaptive planning and regulatory decisions that advance water quality goals.

• Supervising Team Staff – manage full-time monitoring staff and part-time interns; assign and review work; develop and coordinate work plans; establish position descriptions; develop annual performance plans and conduct appraisals; manage leave and overtime; review and approve timecards; and ensure completion of mandatory training and coordinate staff time to meet program and department objectives.

• Managing Contracts and Grants – oversee contractor performance tracking, data deliverables, and documentation of issues and corrective feedback; ensure contracts, task orders, and agreements are executed appropriately and on schedule; and assist with management of incoming water-quality-related grants.

• Serving as Water Quality Monitoring Subject Matter Expert – lead discussions and provide technical guidance within DEP, with other County agencies, the public, and with administrators and elected officials; and interpret DEP monitoring data, peer-reviewed literature, and relevant information to inform decision-making and advance water quality goals.

• Coordinating with Federal, State & Non-County Agencies; Support Outreach & Grants – lead interagency coordination (e.g., MOUs, joint grant applications, data exchange, technical support); promote and support volunteer monitoring opportunities; provide technical assistance for water-quality-related outreach; assist with and manage technical aspects of outgoing water quality grants as needed.

• Leading Water Quality Data Collection and Fieldwork – serve as crew leader (and occasionally crew member) for water quality field work; determine sampling and analysis methods aligned with Department objectives; adapt monitoring programs as needed to better inform Department goals and outcomes.

Additional Information
Much of the work is performed outdoors, along stream banks and in streams and ponds which may involve deep or swiftly moving water or human or animal wastes from sanitary sewer leaks. There is occasionally some risk in the work involving deep or swiftly moving water, snakes or other harmful animals, and electric shock from a fish shocking device. Proper precautions for outdoor work must be taken including proper attire, boots, hand protection, and proper grounding for the fish shocking device. Outdoor work requires light physical effort such as walking over rough, uneven, slippery and rocky surfaces; bending, crouching, stooping stretching or reaching; or occasional lifting of objects up to 50 pounds. The remaining work is performed in an office or laboratory environment.

The incumbent for this position must attend the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Biological Stream Survey (MBSS) spring and summer training and must earn certification for benthic macroinvertebrate sampling and fish crew leader. The incumbent to the position must maintain the certification. Possession of the MBSS fish taxonomy certification and/or the Society of Freshwater Sciences General Arthropod and EPT genius level certification is preferred but not required.

This position requires possession and maintenance of a valid driver’s license and the ability to drive a County vehicle to attend meetings, conduct site visits for audits/inspections/investigations, field sampling, transport equipment, transport samples, conduct surveys, and observe or inspect construction sites, as well as respond to water quality incidents and perform other work at locations throughout Montgomery County that may not be served by public transportation.

Occasional evening or weekend work outside of normal business hours may be required to meet program needs or engage with community stakeholders.

As a manager/supervisor of unionized employees, this position has a responsibility for fostering a positive labor relations environment based on mutual trust, respect, and cooperation.

To ensure a positive workplace and to comply with federal, state and County laws, the incumbent is responsible for completing mandatory trainings within the first three to six months or within the specified timeframe.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Experience: Five (5) years of experience in stream water sampling and data analysis including water chemistry, flow and toxics data for baseflow and storm flow conditions; and bioassessment protocols for streams and rivers (particularly fish and macroinvertebrates) and assessment of stream habitat conditions; one year of which was in a lead worker or supervisory capacity.

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in biology, aquatic ecology, limnology, natural resources management, environmental science or a related field from an accredited college or university.

Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.

License: Possession and maintenance at all times of a valid Class “C” (or equivalent) driver’s license from the applicant’s state of residence.

Medical Exam: This position requires successful completion of a pre-employment medical evaluation (Core Exam), which includes a physical examination.

PREFERRED CRITERIA, INTERVIEW PREFERENCES
All Applicants will be reviewed by the Office of Human Resources (OHR) for minimum qualifications. Those applicants who meet minimum qualifications will be rated “Qualified,” placed on the Eligible List, and may be considered for an interview.

Preference for interviews will be given to applicants with experience in the following. Please address this information in a separate section of the resume.

• Experience with county, state and federal laws and regulations relevant to water quality protection, in particular the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit program and laws and regulations for natural resource protection, such as the County’s Special Protection Areas program, and in working with a broad spectrum of technical agencies and stakeholder groups to meet these program goals.
• Experience completing reports and presenting summaries on monitoring results and trends within established timelines and suitable for diverse audiences and regulatory decision-making.
• Experience with stream ecological concepts, identifying benthic macroinvertebrate taxa and freshwater fish species common to the mid-Atlantic region, and monitoring protocols and equipment needed to meet the County’s MS4 Permit requirements and other monitoring program goals, including experience with Maryland Biological Stream Survey protocols and procedures, or experience with similar state monitoring protocols.
• Experience designing and implementing monitoring plans to meet stream protection and restoration goals and evaluating the effectiveness of stormwater best management practices using local, state, and federal agency standards.
• Experience developing and recommending budgets for staff and equipment and managing contracts necessary for the County’s stream monitoring programs.
• Experience planning, directing, and supervising employees following all applicable policies, personnel regulations and agreements, while maintaining a positive, labor relations environment based on mutual trust, respect, and cooperation.

If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.

Montgomery County Government offers competitive salaries and excellent benefits.

To view the complete job announcement, review our comprehensive benefits and to apply,
please click Here

The Job Number for the Senior Water Quality Specialist recruitment is 2026-00336.
Interested candidates must create an online account in order to apply

This Recruitment Closes June 19, 2026.

If interested in other DEP job opportunities, please filter by “Department” and click on Department of Environmental Protection.

All resume submissions must address the preferred criteria for the position, preferably in a separate section of the resume.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Resume Preparation Tips listed under the “Career Resources” tab at https://www.Work4MCG.com.

EOE M/F/H