Stormwater Program Manager

The Stormwater Program Manager provides oversight of the City's compliance with applicable federal and state stormwater laws, rules, and permits in support of the City’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, the City’s Somerville Climate Forward plan, and support of the City’s overall Stormwater Program, including policy development and program coordination.

Essential Functions

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Administer the Stormwater Management Program Plan under the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program and manage the City’s obligations under the 2019 Administrative Compliance Order and other applicable directives.
• Manage the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) and MS4 permit compliance, including monitoring and reporting.
• As the City proceeds with sewer separation, manage the shift of permitting requirements from CSO to MS4, including coordinating with design teams to improve stormwater quality and reduce impacts to receiving water bodies.
• Coordinate assigned program activities and permit compliance with those of other City departments; federal, state, and local agencies such as the EPA, MWRA, MassDEP; area planning and watershed organizations; and neighboring cities and towns.
• Manage the development and ongoing review of a Stormwater Enterprise Fee. Related tasks will include stakeholder interviews, development of a fair and equitable fee structure managed in close collaboration with changes to the Water and Sewer Enterprise fees, and managing of a consultant to aid in the investigation efforts.
• Manage the City’s Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Program.
• Identify areas of data to gather regarding past and future stormwater programs to supply for the development of the City’s Asset Management program.
• Participate in the planning, evaluation, and managing of stormwater drainage and water quality Capital Improvement Program projects including ensuring compliance with any local, state, or federal requirements/policies, and utilizing current technologies in Best Management Practices.
• Support the development of City regulations, policies, design guidelines, and standard operating procedures to improve stormwater management and support the Somerville Climate Forward Plan, and reduce municipal vulnerability.

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree (Master’s Degree preferred) in Civil/Environmental Engineering or Management, Environmental Science, or Environmental Planning/Policy with five to seven (5-7) years of related work experience; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Special Requirements

• Must have passed the Professional Engineer or similar exam relevant to stormwater management, and have ability to obtain PE license or similar stormwater related professional registration in Massachusetts.
• Valid Class D driver’s license.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill

Knowledge: Knowledge of the principles and practices of engineering, research methods and report presentation; knowledge of the  principles and practices of project management, work breakdown structures, communications planning, team management, scheduling, budgeting, accounting and finance methods; knowledge of environmental laws and regulations as they pertain to municipal water and sewer system design, construction and operation; knowledge of applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations related to engineering, environment, ADA compliance, infrastructure and procurement; knowledge and expertise with various local, state and federal funding mechanisms for infrastructure.

Abilities: Ability to produce written documents with clearly organized thoughts using proper sentence construction, punctuation and grammar; use and interpret graphical information such as construction plans, schematic drawings, flow charts, layouts and other visual aids, and electronic project management applications; interpret information accurately and make decisions according to existing laws, regulations and policies; ability to manage multiple projects of various complexities with competing interest and multiple funding sources.

Skill: Proficient communication skills, both verbal and written as well as the ability to deal with the public in tense situations; proficiency with computers in all office software along with various engineering software applications like GIS or Arc View.

Work Environment               

The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices; field work will require exposure to outside elements.  Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant.  Work may require some agility and physical strength, such as moving in or about construction sites or over rough terrain, or standing or walking most of the work period.  Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours in response to attend evening meetings or complete work assignments.

Physical and Mental Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.

Physical Skills

Employee will spend time in the office and in the field during construction projects.  Work effort involves an equal mix of sitting, standing and walking to perform work tasks. Work requires some agility such as moving in or about construction sites or over rough terrain. There may also be some occasional lifting of objects such as books, office equipment, and computer paper (up to 30 lbs).  While performing field work, employee may be standing for periods longer than two to three (2-3) hours at a time and may encounter inclement weather.

Motor Skills

Duties may involve assignments requiring application of hand and eye coordination with finger dexterity and motor coordination. Examples include operating a motor vehicle, using a personal computer, or climbing a ladder.

Visual Skills

Visual demands include constantly reading documents for general understanding and for analytical purposes, making detailed visual observations, and routinely reviewing non-written materials such as maps and blueprints for analytical purposes; the employee is required to determine color differences.

Send your resume and cover letter by August 21, 2020 to:

City Hall Personnel Office
93 Highland Avenue
Somerville MA 02143
Fax: 617-666-4426
TTY: 1-866-808-4851
Email: employment_opportunities@somervillema.gov

City of Somerville residents are especially encouraged to apply.

The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request.

Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Nency Salamoun, at 617-625-6600 x2323 or NSalamoun@somervillema.gov.