Environmental Protection Assistant Division Director

The State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is seeking to hire an Assistant Division Director to manage the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) within the Division of Emergency Response and Spill Prevention.

The division plays a meaningful role in protecting the environment and public health and safety by responding to, assessing, and cleaning up releases of petroleum and hazardous chemicals to the water ways, the air and land, as well as WMD incidents such as chemical and biological hazards.

As the Assistant Division Director, you will have a dynamic and critical role, responsible for:

• Overseeing the 24/7 operation of responses to reported releases of petroleum and hazardous materials;
• Assuring preparedness of the ERU including training, exercises/drills;
• Interfacing with local, state, and federal agencies such as the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. EPA, DEA, FBI, ATF, DHS, state and local departments of health, and regional HazMat teams;
• Ensuring that the ERU is appropriately equipped with mitigation tools and supplies, vehicles, watercraft, and drones.

The Assistant Division Director is further responsible to ensure that health and safety procedures are maintained and followed to protect ERU response personnel, including compliance with all applicable OSHA requirements such as medical monitoring, as well as setting standard operating procedures necessary to conduct the mission of the ERU. The ultimate goal is to protect human health and the environment throughout the state from a variety of hazards.

This is a full-time 40-hour position with a first shift schedule Monday through Friday and is based in Hartford, CT.

We believe there are many benefits to working for the State including:

• Personal and career growth opportunities
• Work/life balance, including flexible scheduling and paid time off
• Health coverage and wellness program incentives
• Retirement savings plans.

Nearly every day, despite preventive measures, there are incidents that threaten the environment. The Emergency Response and Spill 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.

The Emergency Response Unit is responsible for representing the state at hazardous materials emergency incidents. The ERU responds as a Type 1 hazardous materials team to characterize, remove and mitigate hazardous materials releases. Additionally, the ERU coordinates with local, state and federal agencies as well as with responsible parties and environmental contractors. There is currently a team of 12 highly trained personnel to respond 24 hours a day, seven days a week to a wide variety of environmental emergencies including those that result from releases and threats of releases involving chemicals, hazardous wastes, petroleum products and other hazardous materials into the air, onto the ground, or into surface waters. Sources of such releases include transportation accidents on rails, roadways, waterways, and from aircraft, as well as from industrial processes, failed tanks or pipes, abandoned drums, storm damage to electrical equipment, along with biological and chemical agents and weapons, and other many other sources.

This position affords a dedicated and experienced hazardous materials manager with a strong environmental background who is committed to public service and environmental protection, an exciting opportunity! The successful candidate will thrive in a fast-paced work environment leading a highly trained, motivated, and committed group of professionals. If an exciting, multifaceted, and critical role in protecting and restoring vital natural resources and assuring protection of public health from a variety of hazards is important to you, then this may be the position for you!

More details can be found in the Class Specification. If you find this to be a good fit, we encourage you to apply! 

Learn more about what it's like to work for the State of Connecticut: 

This is a competitive position, open to the public.

To Apply:

• Complete a Master Application and directly apply to this recruitment.
• Applicants must include a resume within the "Resume Tab" of their application (no Cover Letter required).

Please ensure that your application is complete. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State of Connecticut.

During the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation supporting their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: performance reviews, supervisory references, college transcripts, licensure, etc. at the discretion of the agency.

Please note, all communications regarding your application will be sent via email. 

The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

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

Assists in direction of staff and operations of division; determines priorities, coordinates plans and manages activities; assists in formulating program goals and objectives and ensures implementation of same; assists in development of related policy, goals and objectives; interprets and administers pertinent laws and regulations; evaluates staff performance; provides or directs staff training and development; assists in preparation of division budget; prepares and/or oversees preparation of reports and correspondence; performs public relations tasks; oversees special projects; serves as director in his/her absence; establishes and maintains contacts with individuals both within and outside of division who might impact on program activities; performs related duties as required.

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

Nine (9) years of professional experience in natural resource management, environmental conservation, energy research, energy planning, energy policy development, public outdoor recreation, pollution prevention, reduction and management, environmental regulatory programs or other related environmental protection field.

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been in a supervisory capacity responsible for the supervision of professional and technical support staff performing environmental protection work. Notes:
1. Supervisory capacity is interpreted as scheduling, assigning and overseeing work, establishing performance standards for employees and taking corrective measures to implement those standards.
2. For State Employees, the Special Experience is interpreted at the level of Environmental Protection Supervising Sanitary Engineer (Environmental Protection), Environmental Protection Supervising Air Pollution Control Engineer, Environmental Protection Supervising Civil Engineer, Environmental Protection Supervising Environmental Analyst, Environmental Protection Supervising Forester, Environmental Protection Supervising Fisheries Biologist, Environmental Protection Supervising Wildlife Biologist or other comparable supervisory title responsible for the supervision of professional and technical support staff performing environmental protection work.

1. College training in a scientific or technical discipline related to the environmental field, including but not limited to the biological, earth, or physical sciences; environmental planning; environmental law; economics; leisure services; geographic information systems; geography with a concentration in geographic information systems; natural sciences; natural resources 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 environmental field as listed above including but not limited to the biological, earth, or physical sciences; environmental planning; environmental law; economics; leisure services; geographic information systems; geography with a concentration in geographic information systems; natural sciences; natural resources may be substituted for five (5) years of the General Experience.
3. A law degree with a concentration in environmental protection or doctorate degree in a field related to 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.

• Experience in a leadership capacity exercising critical thinking to lead a highly trained and motivated staff of Hazmat technicians, managing productivity, defining expectations, establishing measurable goals, assuring preparedness, and developing strategic plans;
• Experience in the field of investigation and remediation of chemical and oil spills to soil, surface water, and groundwater;
• Demonstrated working knowledge of Federal, State and Local environmental regulations/laws and experience working with federal agencies such as U.S. EPA and U.S. Coast Guard, as well as various response departments, and other local, state and federal agencies;
• Experience applying management principles and techniques;
• Experience managing state and federal grants and budgets;
• Experience with written and verbal communication skills including effectively communicating technical information in clear and common language with the regulated community, state and federal agencies, the media, and the general public;
• Experience managing multiple competing priorities and projects, including in time-critical and high pressure situations;
• Experience assuring the safety of Hazmat personnel through adherence with safe work practices and OSHA requirements for Hazmat entries, including PPE, monitoring, and the National Incident Management System;
• Experience developing and implementing innovative approaches or process improvements to address environmental problems and managing productivity.

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.