The mission of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is to protect and enhance the Commonwealth's natural resources – air, water, and land – to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of all people, and to ensure a clean and safe environment for future generations. In carrying out this mission MassDEP commits to address and advance environmental justice and equity for all people of the Commonwealth, provide meaningful, inclusive opportunities for people to participate in agency decisions that affect their lives; and ensure a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. MassDEP seeks applicants for an Emerging Contaminants Coordinator (Environmental Analyst III) position within the Surface Water Quality Standards (SWQS) Section, Watershed Planning Program (WPP), Bureau of Water Resources. WPP is a statewide program with five Sections that each have a different technical focus under the federal Clean Water Act (CWA), such as the SWQS Section. The purpose of the Massachusetts SWQS is to restore, enhance, and protect the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of surface waters (e.g., lakes, streams, estuaries, etc.) in the Commonwealth under the authority of the federal CWA and Massachusetts Clean Waters Act. The SWQS are the foundation of all CWA programs in the Commonwealth, such as water quality monitoring and assessment to determine the status of surface waters, the issuance of effluent discharge permit limits, and the development of restoration efforts that aim to improve the quality of surface waters. The SWQS Section designates the most sensitive uses for surface waters; develops and/or revises minimum water quality criteria required to protect designated uses based on the latest available science; and engages internal and external stakeholders to promulgate revised SWQS to protect human health and aquatic life. Emerging contaminants (EC) such as PFAS represent an ongoing potential threat to human health, natural resources, and quality of life for Massachusetts residents. Under the supervision of the SWQS Section Chief or designee, the Emerging Contaminants Coordinator will lead WPP efforts related to PFAS, including the development of water quality standards, management of PFAS and other EC monitoring and assessment projects, and coordination within MassDEP and other agencies on EC/PFAS issues. In addition to analyzing and interpreting data, reviewing technical literature, preparing reports and recommending actions, this position will be the main contact for EC and PFAS activities within WPP. The preferred candidate will have a professional demeanor, be highly motivated, and possess excellent written and oral communication skills. Excellent organizational skills are also required, as well as the ability to manage and work on multiple projects concurrently, meet deadlines, and work well both independently and as a member of a team. The position will be subject to a hybrid work environment (i.e., partly telework and partly on-site), with a minimum of one day per weekat WPP’s office in Worcester. Specific duties for this position include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. Review technical guidance documents, reports, research publications, and other literature related to EC and PFAS as they relate to water quality criteria development, monitoring, and assessment. 2. Monitor, review, and comment on the development of federal rules, criteria, guidance, and regulations related to EC such as PFAS. 3. Support the triennial review process for SWQS revisions as required under the CWA. 4. Compile water quality data on EC/PFAS and perform necessary calculations and data analyses. 5. Perform statistical analyses using chemical, physical, and biological data on EC/PFAS from inland and coastal waterbodies to determine environmental impacts on human health and aquatic life. 6. Interpret complex chemical, physical, and biological data on EC/PFAS to make recommendations for SWQS revisions, monitoring plans, and assessment decisions. 7. Assist in the development and revisions to WPP’s Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (CALM) Guidance Manual for use of EC/PFAS data in assessment and listing decisions. 8. Ensure that WPP’s work related to EC/PFAS is consistent with any applicable federal and state regulations and programs, including the CWA, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Program, Surface Water Discharge Permit Program, Groundwater Discharge Permit Program, Title 5, Wetlands Protection and Stormwater Management, Water Resources Management Program, and Drinking Water Program. 9. Coordinate within MassDEP and with other agency programs involved in monitoring and evaluating EC/PFAS, including MassDEP’sOffice of Research & Standardsand the MA Department of Public Health. 10. Participate with other New England state representatives on the NEIWPCC Emerging Contaminants workgroup. 11. Assist with the preparation of technical reports and memoranda related to EC/PFAS. Explain the basis for any EC/PFAS-related SWQS revisions using data and other appropriate information. 12. Assist with the preparation of technical workplans for environmental consulting services and the review of resultant proposals, contracts, andtechnical specifications,particularly those related to EC andPFAS. 13. Assist with meeting logistics and preparing meeting summaries for technical projects. 14. Participate in and conduct meetings with agency staff, contractors, EPA, sister agencies, advocacy groups, other stakeholders, and the public. 15. Develop and maintain an EC/PFAS knowledge base for use by WPP and other MassDEP staff. 16. Review, develop, and analyze geospatial information to support SWQS activities, including those related to EC/PFAS. 17. Assist in the development and supervision of SWQS projects for temporary staff, including EC/PFAS projects. 18. Respond to internal and external requests related to SWQS and EC/PFAS for WPP. Required Qualifications at Hire: 1. Knowledge of watershed science principles. 2. Knowledge of the principles and practices of aquatic ecology and environmental protection, including water pollution biology. 3. Knowledge of the chemical, physical, and biological properties of aquatic systems and their interactions. 4. Experience with scientific data compilation, statistical analysis, and data presentation through figures and tables. 5. Experience interpreting chemical, physical, and biological data, and their relationship to water quality. 6. Ability to analyze and determine the applicability of environmental data to make appropriate recommendations. 7. An understanding of federal and state water quality regulations and environmental policy. 8. An understanding of the importance of proper field and laboratory QA/QC as it relates to environmental reporting. 9. Ability to evaluate the adequacy and competency of environmental work conducted by others, whether data collection, analysis, or reporting. 10. Strong and effective writing, editing, and oral communication skills, including the ability to successfully convey complex issues to technical and non-technical audiences. 11. Strong organizational and time management skills. 12. Ability to work on multiple and concurrent projects to meet deadlines. 13. Ability to work independently, efficiently, and in an organized manner with very strong attention to detail. 14. Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work cooperatively with diverse groups. 15. Strong working knowledge of MS Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. _ _ Preferred Qualifications at Hire: _ _ 1. Experience working on projects related to EC and PFAS. 2. Applied knowledge of the CWA, including water quality standards, monitoring, and assessment. 3. Applied knowledge of multiple scientific disciplines, such as aquatic ecology, toxicology, risk assessment, biogeochemistry, and statistical analysis. 4. Applied knowledge of the chemical, physical, and biological properties of inland and/or coastal and marine aquatic systems. 5. Experience evaluating and/or quantifying the impacts of aquatic pollutants on human health and/or aquatic life. 6. Experience applying statistical and other quantitative techniques to complex chemical, physical, and biological water quality data. 7. Experience using R and/or other programming languages to analyze water quality data. 8. Experience using the ESRI suite of ArcGIS software and geoprocessing tools. First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days. MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must have at least (A) four years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, technical or professional experience in the field of environmental science, biology, chemistry, earth science, environmental health, meteorology, natural science, toxicology or public health, of which (B) at least two years must have been in a professional capacity, or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below. Substitutions: I. An Associate's degree with a major in the field of environmental science, biology, chemistry, earth science, environmental health, meteorology,. natural science, toxicology or public health may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required (A) experience.* II. A Bachelor's degree with a major in the field of environmental science, biology, chemistry, earth science, environmental health, meteorology, natural science, toxicology or public health may be substituted for a maximum of two years of the required (A) experience.* III. A Graduate degree with a major in the field of environmental science, biology, chemistry, earth science, environmental health, meteorology, natural science, toxicology or public health may be substituted for a maximum of three years of the required (A) experience and one year of the required (B) experience. Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed. NOTE: Educational substitutions will only be permitted for a maximum of one year of the required (B) experience. _Comprehensive Benefits_ When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future. Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards! *An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role. Job: Science* *Organization: Department of Environmental Protection *Title: *Environmental Analyst III Location: Massachusetts-Worcester - 8 New Bond St Requisition ID: 240000OC