Director - Water Resources

Agency

Dept of Environmental Quality

Division

Water Resources

Job Classification Title

Environmental Division Director (NS)

Position Number

60031496

Grade

NC25

About Us

The primary mission of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is to provide science-based environmental stewardship for the health and prosperity of all North Carolinians. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is the lead stewardship agency for the protection of North Carolina's environmental resources. The organization, which has offices from the mountains to the coast, administers regulatory programs designed to protect air quality, water quality, and the public's health, and works to advance in all-of-the-above energy strategy that fits North Carolina's needs. DEQ also offers technical assistance to businesses, farmers, local governments, and the public and encourages responsible behavior with respect to the environment through education programs provided at DEQ facilities and through the state's school system. DEQ touches the lives of all North Carolinians in many ways to enhance and ensure our quality of life.

Description of Work

*This position is Exempt Policymaking and is EXEMPT from certain provisions of the State Human Resources Act (GS 126). This position serves at the pleasure of agency leadership. *

This position reports to and supports DEQ’s Deputy Secretary for the Environment by providing strategic leadership and management to the Division of Water Resources (DWR). This includes participation in the development, communication, and implementation of strategic plans to guide staff in the administration of the six sections within DWR and representing the Division at meetings or events.

Key Responsibilities:

-- Provide directions to two Deputy Directors, six Section Chiefs, and other subordinate staff to ensure accomplishment of DEQ strategic plan and Division goals, including fulfillment of federal grant commitments and state mandated program requirements.

-- Address priority issues of the Secretary’s Office, legislative members, federal agencies, assigned commissions and/or the public.

-- Ensure programmatic, budget, and staffing issues are properly managed at the Division level, adjusting organizational structure as needed to ensure Division maintains effectiveness and financially stable.

-- Ensure general management of day-to-day activities and during water resource emergencies, working with Department staff when problems occurs, complaints are filed or opportunities present themselves.

-- Develop the Division’s strategic plan, establish the Division’s goals and priorities, and ensure progress toward longer term programmatic or management goals. Provide policy and program implementation recommendations to DEQ Secretary’s Office.

-- Provide technical and administrative support to several Commissions, Committees, and Councils, including the NC Environmental Management Commission.

This position requires a valid driver’s license.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Recruitment Range: $89,596 -$150,000

Important: This posting closes at 11:59:59 PM the night BEFORE the End Date above. Job posting details will no longer be available after the position closes.

Supplemental Information

The Division of Water Resources:

The Division of Water Resources (DWR) is the largest division in the NC Department of Environmental Quality.  DWR is responsible for protecting North Carolina’s drinking, surface, and ground water for all waterbodies including lakes, streams, rivers, wetlands, and aquifers. This environmental stewardship is accomplished through actions including permit and certificate of coverage issuances, investigations, regulatory compliance, and enforcement, monitoring and field assessments, certifications, water quality sampling, laboratory analysis and testing, planning, water quality standards management, educational outreach, and other efforts. The Division comprises six sections: Water Quality Regional Operations, Water Sciences, Public Water Supply, Water Quality Permitting, Water Quality NPDES Permitting, and Water Planning.  Click here to learn more about the Division of Water Resources. 

The Public Water Supply Section promotes public health by ensuring that safe, potable drinking water is available in adequate quantities to the residents and visitors of North Carolina served by public water systems by ensuring that such systems are properly located, constructed, operated, and maintained.

The Water Sciences Section supports the division through chemical laboratories in Raleigh and Asheville, NC, and biological laboratories in Raleigh.

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permitting Section is responsible for: implementing federal NPDES permit and compliance programs for wastewater treatment; the administration of the federal pretreatment program; and permitting for sewage collection systems.

The Water Quality Permitting Section is responsible for the permitting and compliance for wetlands and stream impacts including waterside buffer protection; the development of programs for stream and wetlands protection and enhancement; and compliance for all wastewater that is applied to land.

The Water Planning Section develops standards, rules and management strategies to protect water quality, carries out water supply planning, provides guidance to local water systems and monitors drought conditions. Water Planning responsibilities include Basin Planning for 17 basins; Classifications, Standards & Rules Review, Modeling and Assessment to prioritize impaired waters for management strategies or TMDL development; Non-point source pollution control, and Water Supply Planning to assist in the development and implementation of viable local water supply plans. The Planning Section is also responsible for measuring, protecting, and preserving the high quality of North Carolina's groundwater resources.

The Water Quality Regional Operations Section consists of seven regional offices focusing on the protection and enhancement of the state's surface water and groundwater through monitoring, permitting and compliance inspections.

The Office of Water Resource Development Grant Funds provides the oversight and management to state grant funding to enhance water access for commerce and recreation in navigable water; to mitigate costal storm damage, and to administer funding to solve water related problems.

The DWR Budget Office supports the division staff in areas of purchasing, grants/contracts management, and budget. Personnel from DEQ’s Human Resources, Public Information Office, and IT Divisions support DWR.

If you have student loans, becoming a state employee includes eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Visit www.studentaid.gov to learn more. 

This position currently qualifies for a hybrid telework option with routine office and remote workdays. The NC Department of Environmental Quality trusts our employees to be self-motivated and successful in hybrid/remote roles. Telework options are subject to change at the discretion of management. 

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

Bachelor's degree in one of the agricultural, biological, engineering, environmental or natural resource sciences or a closely related curriculum from an appropriately accredited institution and eight years of progressive experience in environmental work including three years in a supervisory capacity; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

Recruiter:

Jean Buchanan

Recruiter Email:

hrrecruitment@deq.nc.gov