Energy and Environmental Protection Division Director

 

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is seeking to hire an Energy and Environmental Protection Director to oversee the Division of Emergency Response and Spill Prevention.  Nearly every day, despite preventive measures, there are incidents that threaten the environment and the Emergency Response and Prevention Division is prepared to limit the risks and handle incidents ranging from a spill of a few gallons to a tanker full of petroleum liquids, from an abandoned or unknown drum of chemicals to anthrax or a chemical fire.  Releases, even small ones, can endanger public health or the environment by making the water or air unsafe.  Releases of hazardous materials can contaminate surface water, groundwater or soil, impact plants, fish and wildlife and their habitat or create unsafe exposure for the general public or emergency responders.  

This position is responsible for overseeing a division of 38 staff with a range of time critical, project based and emerging issue activities.  

This position manages:

• a highly trained Emergency Response Unit that responds 24 hours a day seven days a week to environmental emergencies that result from releases and threats of release of chemicals, hazardous wastes, petroleum products and other hazardous material onto the ground or into surface waters of the state from roadway incidents, industrial processes, oil and chemical spills, failed tanks/pipes and abandoned drums as well as biological and chemical weapons; 

• a unique field team that provides specialized expertise and equipment to assess air, water and soil for chemical contaminants and provides critical data, mapping, sampling and communications to address incidents that could pose significant risks to health, safety or the environment; 

 

• the licensing and inspection of marine terminals where petroleum liquids are stored and transported to fuel distributors, the inspection and enforcement of federally and state regulated commercial underground storage tanks, and the regulation and proper management of PCBs. 

This full time position is based in Hartford, CT.   

Applicants must upload a cover letter with their applications.

Applicants must include a resume within the "Resume Tab" of their application.

(Note: In order to upload documents you must ensure that your internet browser's 'pop-up' blocker is off.  Failure to do so may prevent you from being able to upload documentation and submit your application.)  Questions about these required documents should be directed to the hiring agency's human resources office:  Anne Dana, anne.dana@ct.gov, (860)424-3354.

 

This position is competitive. Open to the public.

The selected candidate:

Must have a valid unrestricted driving license;

Must be able to respond to or take calls after hours, weekends and holidays; 

Have OSHA training.  

In the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, this class is accountable for directing the staff and programs of a scientific, regulatory or technical division.

Directs staff and operations of division; develops, implements and evaluates division policies, goals and objectives; coordinates, plans and manages division activities; formulates and ensures implementation of program goals, objectives, new procedures and procedural revisions; recommends appropriate staffing levels; designs and implements performance review standards for division staff; administers state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to division; develops new laws and regulations related to division programs; serves as state liaison with federal programs; prepares or assists in preparation of division budget; maintains contacts and liaison with public and private individuals and organizations and other agency units with the potential to impact program activities; performs related duties as required.

Specific duties for this position include: Day to day management responsibility for a diverse division including providing direction to 38 staff and prioritizing division activities;   Managing highly trained 24/7 emergency response coordinators;  Managing and promoting program activities in an OSHA compliant manner;  Balance competing priorities to efficiently use available resources to meet goals and objectives; Represent Connecticut on the local, state, regional and national level on environmental emergency response incidents along with the needed planning and preparedness to ensure program readiness; Overseeing state funds/expenditures for cleanup activities when no responsible party can be identified in timely manner or is unwilling/unable to conduct emergency cleanup services;  Liaison with local, state and federal partners to facilitate department’s preparedness to respond to and minimize threats to the environment from a wide variety of petroleum and hazardous material releases.  

Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply management principles and techniques; considerable knowledge of relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; considerable knowledge of energy, environmental or radiation protection principles, techniques, practices and issues; considerable ability to apply relevant agency policies and procedures; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; analytical, organizational and negotiating skills.

Ten (10) years of professional experience in natural resource management, public outdoor recreation, pollution prevention, reduction and management, radiation control, radiological regulatory programs or integration of radiological policies and programs, environmental or energy conservation, environmental or energy regulatory programs, integration of energy and environmental policies and programs, energy research or policy development, strategic operational environmental planning, energy planning, radiological planning, emergency response or other related environmental protection or energy field.

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been in a supervisory capacity responsible for the supervision of professional and technical support staff performing energy or environmental protection work OR one (1) year of the General Experience must have been in a managerial capacity responsible for the management of professional and technical support staff performing energy or environmental protection work or accountable for establishing and monitoring energy and environmental financial and/or business policies and/or procedures.
NOTES:
1. Supervisory capacity is defined as scheduling, assigning, overseeing work, establishing performance standards for employees and taking corrective measures to implement those standards.
2. For State Employees, the supervisory Special Experience is interpreted at the level of Supervising Sanitary Engineer (Environmental Protection), Environmental Protection Supervising Air Pollution Control Engineer, Environmental Protection Supervising Radiation Control Physicist, Environmental Protection Supervising Civil Engineer, Environmental Protection Supervising Environmental Analyst, Environmental Protection Supervising Forester, Environmental Protection Supervising Fisheries Biologist, Environmental Protection Supervising Wildlife Biologist, Public Utilities Supervisor of Technical Analysis or other comparable supervisory title responsible for the supervision of professional and technical support staff performing energy or environmental protection work.
3. Managerial capacity is defined as formulating program goals and objectives, developing and implementing program procedures, initiating program policies and developing and monitoring the budget.
4. For State Employees, the managerial Special Experience is interpreted at the level of Energy and Environmental Protection Assistant Division Director, Energy and Environmental Protection Office Director or other comparable managerial title responsible for the management of professional and technical support staff performing energy or environmental protection work.

1. College training in a scientific or technical discipline related to the energy or environmental field, including but not limited to the biological, earth, or physical sciences; health physics, physics, nuclear engineering or radiation science; environmental planning; environmental law; economics; leisure services; geographic information systems; geography with a concentration in geographic information systems; natural sciences; natural resources, renewable energy, energy conservation or related field may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
2. A Master's degree in a scientific or technical discipline related to the energy or environmental field as listed above including but not limited to the biological, earth, or physical sciences; health physics, physics, nuclear engineering or radiation science; environmental planning; environmental law; economics; leisure services; geographic information systems; geography with a concentration in geographic information systems; natural sciences; natural resources, renewable energy, energy conservation or related area may be substituted for five (5) years of the General Experience.
3. A law degree with a concentration in energy, natural resources or environmental protection law or a doctorate degree in the biological, earth or physical sciences; health physics, physics, nuclear engineering or radiation science or a field related to renewable energy, energy conservation or environmental protection may be substituted for six (6) years of the General Experience.
*Note: Education may only be substituted for a total of six (6) years.

Demonstrated leadership and experience leading a highly skilled technical workforce 

Experience in the field of environmental emergency response including chemical and oil spills and releases of hazardous materials, surface water, groundwater and soil investigation and working with U.S. EPA, U.S. Coast Guard, response departments, and other local, state and federal agencies. 

Demonstrated working knowledge of Federal, State and Local environmental regulations/laws.

Experience in directing/managing/supervising a 24/7 operation.

Excellent written and oral communication skills including ability to effectively communicate technical information in clear and common language terms with regulated community, state and federal agencies, the media and the general public. 

Demonstrated ability to exercise critical thinking and make sound and timely decisions in high pressure situations.

Demonstrated experience managing multiple competing priorities and projects.

Considerable experience developing and implementing innovative approaches or process improvements to address environmental problems and/or manage productivity.  

Radiation Division:
1. Incumbents may be required to travel and respond to radiological emergencies within Connecticut and other New England states.
2. Incumbents in this class may be required to obtain a security clearance.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.