Environmental Protection Assistant Division Director

Are you dedicated to the safety and protection of natural resources and experienced in planning and emergency response of chemical or harsh substance spills? 

The State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Public Protection (DEEP) is recruiting an Environmental Protection Division Director for the Emergency Response and Spill Prevention Division. We invite you to explore this unique opportunity to lead this important division in state service. 

Comprehensive Benefit Offerings:

• Industry leading health benefits, including medical and dental coverage;
• Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings;
• Paid time off - including 13 paid holidays per calendar year;
• Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities; and
• A healthy work-life balance to all employees!

POSITION DETAILS

• Monday - Friday, flexible hours*
• Full-time (40 hours per week)
• Hybrid telework positions with a main office at 79 Elm Street, across from historical Bushnell Park in Hartford, CT

          *some nights and weekends may be required.

OUR MISSION 

At the State of Connecticut, Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP), we are dedicated to conserving, improving and protecting our natural resources and the environment- and increasing the availability of cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy. Within the Bureau of Water Protection & Land Reuse (WPLR), our mission is to work together for the restoration, protection and conservation of Connecticut’s water and land resources for current and future generations.

ABOUT US

Nearly everyday, despite preventative 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 abandoned or leaking underground storage tank or unknown drums 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 and Spill Prevention Division responds 24 hours per day to emergencies that result from accidental and deliberate discharges and uncontrolled releases of oil, petroleum, hazardous wastes and chemicals to the air, land and waterways from roadway incidents, industrial processes, oil and chemical spills, failed tanks/pipes and abandoned drums as well as biological and chemical weapons.

An important part of the responsibilities of this Division includes release prevention programs as well as programs to address corrective measures for releases beyond the emergency phase.

Therefore, in addition to Emergency Response, the Division is also responsible for:

• Regulating, inspecting and taking necessary enforcement actions to ensure the safety of underground storage tanks;
• Investigating potential risks to surface water, groundwater, and soil;
• Permitting marine terminals;
• Overseeing completion of spill cleanups and conducting enforcement related to these activities.
• Coordinating state and local emergency planning and preparedness activities and public disclosure information as required by federal and state law;
• Managing post-closure activities at certain landfills throughout the state

YOUR ROLE

This Environmental Protection Assistant Division Director position manages the core regulatory programs for release prevention, enforcement, and corrective action, including underground storage tanks, marine terminals, PCBs, and long-term soil and groundwater cleanup actions with a staff of 16 environmental analysts, engineers, and compliance specialists

As the EP Assistant Director, you will manage:

• The licensing and inspection of marine terminals where petroleum liquids are stored.
• The inspection and enforcement of federally and state regulated commercial underground storage tanks.
• The oversight and enforcement of cleanup actions to remediate releases that have impacted soil, groundwater and surface water.
• Regulation and proper management of PCBs, including the cleanup of contaminated buildings and associated materials.
• Management of multiple federal grants.
• Enforcement of release reporting and response requirements, including PFAS/AFFF use.

More details can be found in the job classification.

Learn more about working for the State of Connecticut: 

This is a competitive recruitment, open to the public.

TO APPLY 

• Complete a Master Application and directly apply to this recruitment.
• In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. Please ensure that your application job history is complete in detail. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State of Connecticut.

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOU APPLY 

Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board daily to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders daily in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.

At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account.

Should you have any questions about the position, please contact Samantha Rivera, Human Resources Specialist – Talent Solutions at Samantha.Rivera@CT.Gov

#INDLP

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 directing staff and operations of a scientific, regulatory or technical division;
• Coordinates, plans and manages division activities;
• Assists in formulating and implementing program goals and objectives;
• Assists in development of related policy, goals and objectives;
• Interprets and administers pertinent laws and regulations;
• Evaluates staff;
• Assists in preparation of division budget;
• Establishes and maintains contacts with individuals within and outside of division who might impact on program activities;
• Provides or directs staff training and development;
• Prepares and/or oversees preparation of reports and correspondence;
• Performs public relations tasks;
• Oversees special projects;
• Serves as director in his or her absence;
• Participates in the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
• Performs related duties as required.

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

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.

• 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 or 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.
• 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 or natural resources may be substituted for five (5) years of the General Experience.
• 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 of the General Experience.

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.

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.