Section Chief, Stormwater Inspection & Maintenance Program (Manager III, Grade M3)

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is a nationally recognized and award-winning agency with the mission to enhance the quality of life in our community by protecting and improving Montgomery County's air, water, and land in a sustainable, innovative, inclusive, and industry-leading way while fostering smart growth, a thriving, more sustainable economy, and healthy communities. DEP is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and values diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and cultures. DEP encourages BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), immigrants, women, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply.

The Stormwater Management BMP Inspection and Maintenance (SWIM) Section, part of the Watershed Restoration Division, ensures that more than 27,000 stormwater management facilities and County stream restoration projects are properly inspected, maintained, and compliant with State law, County Code, and the County’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit. We coordinate across agencies, municipalities, and the business community to solve complex engineering, regulatory, and compliance challenges.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The Department of Environmental Protection seeks an experienced leader and technical program manager to serve as Section Chief, Manager III, for the SWIM Section. The ideal candidate brings deep stormwater management expertise, strong program administration skills, and demonstrated success managing large operation and maintenance programs.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities in the following areas:

• Stormwater management principles, practices, requirements, and systems
• Developing, implementing, managing, and evaluating stormwater programs
• Stormwater management BMPs inspection, operation, and maintenance -- including environmental site design (ESD) and low impact development (LID)
• Stream restoration inspection and maintenance
• Asset management, databases, and GIS platforms
• Procurement and contract administration, budget development and financial oversight, and human resources management
• Strategic planning and program evaluation
• Coordinating operations across multiple organizational units.
• Managing large-scale projects and mission-critical assignments
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Exercising sound judgment and making consequential decisions
• Applying racial equity and social justice principles in program design, community engagement, and evaluation
• Supervising professional, administrative, and field staff

As Section Chief, you will be the strategic leader driving Montgomery County’s stormwater inspection and maintenance programs. You’ll set the vision, establish priorities, and ensure the County meets its legal, environmental, and MS4 obligations with excellence. You’ll lead complex countywide operations—directing triennial inspections, overseeing major maintenance and engineering contracts, and guiding compliance efforts for privately owned stormwater systems. You’ll make high-impact decisions that shape program direction, resource allocation, and long-term infrastructure performance.

You’ll also be the chief integrator and problem-solver: coordinating across agencies, advising senior leadership, and using data and asset-management tools to strengthen program accountability, transparency, and results. Most importantly, you’ll lead and inspire a multidisciplinary team—cultivating collaboration, developing staff talent, and building a workplace that delivers strong environmental outcomes for every community in the county.

• Leading the County’s stormwater and ESD maintenance programs.
• Guide the maintenance of Montgomery County’s growing stormwater BMP infrastructure. You’ll set priorities based on triennial inspections, manage multiple high-value maintenance contracts, ensure contractors deliver quality work, and drive performance through modern asset-management systems. Your leadership will directly contribute to cleaner waterways and stronger climate resilience across the County.
• Driving the triennial inspection program for stormwater BMPs.
• Oversee one of the County’s largest environmental compliance efforts. You will ensure all BMPs meet inspection requirements, manage complex engineering and technical contracts (including high-hazard dam inspections), maintain rigorous standards for safety, quality, and on-schedule delivery, and ensure accurate reporting for MS4 compliance.
• Leading compliance and enforcement for privately owned stormwater BMPs.
• Protect the integrity of the County’s stormwater BMP network by steering a fair, effective compliance and enforcement program. You’ll oversee notices of violation, citations, and court actions when needed, and refine processes using data to improve efficiency and equity—while supporting responsible property stewardship.
• Expanding and managing the single-family residential ESD inspection program.
• Shape a growing program that engages residents directly in stormwater stewardship. You’ll coordinate inspections with homeowners, lead community outreach and education, — public understanding and participation.
• Overseeing the County’s stream restoration inspection and maintenance program.
• Ensure the long-term performance of the County’s restored streams by directing a rigorous inspection cycle, prioritizing maintenance needs, and ensuring contractors meet all environmental and engineering expectations.
• Providing executive-level leadership in budgeting, procurement, and policy.
• Guide the strategic use of approximately $11 million across three operating budgets. You’ll lead procurement efforts—RFPs, IFBs, engineering task orders, negotiations—while shaping policy, programs, and interagency agreements that advance the County’s environmental goals.
• Building and inspiring the SWIM team.
• Lead a talented group of professional and technical staff. You’ll set clear directions, coach and develop employees, coordinate work programs, recruit new team members, and cultivate a collaborative, supportive, high-impact workplace where people are motivated to excel.

Additional Information

This position requires possession of a valid driver's license and the ability to drive a County vehicle to attend meetings, visit sites for field investigations, meet with residents, attend meetings with state officials, and perform other work at locations throughout Montgomery County.

Occasional evening or weekend work outside of normal business hours may be required.

As a manager/supervisor of unionized employees, this position has a responsibility for fostering a positive labor relations environment based on mutual trust, respect, and cooperation.

To ensure a positive workplace and to comply with federal, state, and County laws, the incumbent is responsible for completing mandatory trainings within the first three to six months or within the specified timeframe.

Why Join Us? Montgomery County is committed to sustainability, innovation, and improving the quality of life for its residents. As a Section Chief in the Watershed Restoration Division, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on water quality and environmental protection efforts at a local, regional, and even state level. The position offers a dynamic work environment, a supportive team, and opportunities for professional growth.

• Experience: Five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in the management of programs related to stormwater management, environmental engineering, environmental science, or water resources planning. Supervisory experience is required.
• Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree.
• Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
• License: Possession and maintenance at all times of a valid Class "C" (or equivalent) driver’s license from the applicant's state of residence.
• Medical Exam: Medical History Review–This position requires completion of a pre-employment Medical History Form to assess the candidate’s ability to safely perform the essential duties of the role.
• Financial Disclosure Statement: The selected candidate will be required to complete and submit a Financial Disclosure Statement upon hire and annually thereafter. All statements are publicly available.

• Extensive experience and technical knowledge in the inspection, maintenance, and operation of stormwater management facilities and best management practices (BMPs), including environmental site design (ESD), low impact development (LID), green infrastructure, and stream restoration projects.
• Proven experience in managing complex technical programs with a focus on optimizing system performance, ensuring regulatory compliance, and improving operational efficiency, including leading multidisciplinary teams and contractors, coordinating preventive and corrective maintenance activities, and implementing data-driven strategies to enhance asset reliability and program outcomes.
• Strong background managing a diverse workforce, supervising professional staff, and overseeing key human resources functions, including coordinating work programs, developing performance plans, conducting evaluations, and leading recruitment and hiring processes to build high-performing teams aligned with organizational goals.
• Demonstrated experience in administering technical programs, including the development and management of budgets, oversight of procurement processes, and leadership in contract development and administration.
• Extensive experience delivering clear and effective oral communications, including presentations and public speaking engagements with diverse audiences such as homeowners' associations, property managers, and organizational leadership, as well as skilled in preparing a wide range of written materials, including technical reports, memos, letters, and proposals to convey complex information in an accessible manner.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing environmental programs that integrate principles of racial equity and social justice to promote inclusive and sustainable outcomes.
• Proven experience in developing strategic plans and establishing program evaluation criteria to guide and assess the performance of complex technical programs, aligning program goals with organizational priorities, and using data-driven methodologies to measure effectiveness and inform continuous improvement.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position.

MCG also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference.

All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicant's responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria or interview preference status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on the Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for an interview.

This will establish an Eligible List that may be used to fill both current and future vacancies.

If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.

Montgomery County Ethics Law: Except as provided by law or regulation, the County's "Public Employees" (which does not include employees of the Sheriff's office) are subject to the County's ethics law including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside employment requirements of the ethics law can be found at 19A-12 of the County Code. Additional information about outside employment can be obtained from the Ethics Commission website.

Please note: The salary range above represents this position’s earning potential. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $101,474 - $171,101 based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Our generous leave package starts with non-MLS permanent and term employees earning 15 days of sick leave and 15 days of annual leave in their first year, as well as up to three additional personal days each calendar year. Positions in MLS earn 35 days of paid time off each year. In addition, we offer all employees 10 paid holidays. Our leave policies adhere to the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, and we provide six weeks of paid parental leave for new parents.

All permanent and term positions are eligible for robust retirement plans. Public safety positions are eligible for a defined benefit pension plan in which they are vested after only five years. Employees in non-public safety positions can participate in retirement plans that contribute up to 12 percent of their annual salary. All employees can also participate in a supplemental retirement plan, the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, to contribute even more to their retirement goals.

Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Forgiveness

Montgomery County employees are eligible to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Participants who meet all requirements may qualify for forgiveness on the remaining balance on their Direct Loans after making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time in a qualifying public service position. To learn more about PSLF, please visit the Student Loan Repayment Benefits page. Our tuition assistance program allows you to receive up to $2,130 annually in tuition assistance to help you achieve a degree that supports your career path.

County employees are entitled to use the RideOn Bus service for free with a valid County-employee ID. This benefit can be used any time of the day or evening, including weekends. We also offer a pre-tax flexible spending account to reduce the cost of other mass-transit options such as MARC trains and Metro.

Reduced Child and Health Care Costs

Working for Montgomery County also entitles permanent and term employees to participate in healthcare and childcare Flexible Spending Accounts. These plans allow eligible employees to save on a pretax basis for healthcare and dependent care costs incurred during the plan year.

Employee Wellbeing

We deeply care about your holistic wellness. Our award-winning wellness program, LiveWell, will support you in improving and maintaining your physical, mental, financial, social, and intellectual well-being.

Learn more about our wonderful benefits available to you once you join our team. Montgomery County Benefits