Energy and Environmental Protection Division Director

State of Connecticut • Hartford, CT

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is recruiting for a motivated and experienced individual to lead our team as a Division Director of the Land and Water Resources Division in Hartford, CT. This is a full-time position Monday-Friday. A hybrid schedule is available based on agency availability. DEEP is charged with conserving, improving and protecting the natural resources and the environment of the state of Connecticut as well as making cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy available for the people and businesses of the state. The agency is also committed to playing a positive role in rebuilding Connecticut’s economy and creating jobs – and to fostering a sustainable and prosperous economic future for the state. Within the Bureau of Water Protection & Land Reuse (WPLR), the Land and Water Resources Division regulates activities in the state’s tidal wetlands, floodplains, and inland wetlands, while managing Long Island Sound. They handle permitting, enforcement, and coastal habitat restoration to protect Connecticut’s aquatic and natural resources. With our mission in mind, the Land and Water Resources Division is responsible for implementing requirements of various state and federal water protection and restoration programs.

Requirements

• Ten (10) years of professional experience in natural resource management, public outdoor recreation, environmental education, conservation law enforcement, 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.
• Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply management principles and practices; relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; and ability to apply relevant agency policies and procedures; energy, environmental or radiation protection principles, techniques, practices and issues; Considerable interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; analytical, organizational and negotiation skills.
• Incumbents in this class will be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to obtain a security clearance.
• Incumbents in this class may be required by the appointing authority to possess and retain appropriate current licenses, permits and/or certifications.
• Radiation Division: Incumbents in this class may be required to respond to radiological emergencies within Connecticut and other New England states.

Nice To Haves

• Experience leading people and teams of scientists and engineers working on planning, technical, and regulatory actions.
• Experience implementing state and federal water resources and water protection laws, including the state Inland Wetlands and Watercourse Act, the State Flood Management Act, the state Structure, Dredge, and Fill Act, and the Tidal Wetlands Act’.
• Experience with land use planning functions, including the Connecticut Coastal Management Act and the roles of municipalities and the state.
• Experience managing stakeholder engagement processes with more than one stakeholder that have disparate perspectives.
• Experience developing an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workforce and workplace.
• Experience managing one or more projects with one or more stakeholders and keeping these projects on time.
• Experience communicating technical information laterally and vertically within an organization and to the regulated community, other state and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations or the general public.
• Experience documenting program budgetary needs, requesting, securing an appropriated budget to meet needs, reporting metrics achieved with budget appropriation.

Responsibilities

• Providing direction to the assistant director and staff and planning and prioritizing division activities
• Building and providing the mentoring necessary in the Division to develop and expand staff capacity at all levels, with a focus on succession planning
• Ensuring that the activities and objectives of the Division are integrated into Bureau and Department actions and clearly communicated to other stakeholders
• Overseeing the state’s inland wetlands and floodplain statutes
• Assisting municipalities with inland wetlands regulation, flood hazard mitigation planning, and coastal management
• Managing the allocation and quality of water resources through non-consumptive water diversion and 401 water quality certification permitting
• Coordinating departmental policy and programs affecting Long Island Sound and related coastal lands and waters
• Undertakes long-range planning for Long Island Sound, including the Blue Plan
• Implementing the DEEP coastal permit authorities covering tidal wetlands, coastal structures, dredging and coastal water quality, and habitat restoration
• Implementing the federal consistency program to review federal activities which may affect the state’s coastal resources
• Administering various funds for research, cleanup, education, public access, seafloor mapping and habitat restoration
• Administering and coordinates the Long Island Sound Partnership assistance grant
• Providing direction to the assistant director and six supervisory groups and planning and prioritizing division activities
• Formulating and recommending program goals and objectives to evaluate and implement strategies that improve, preserve, and restore our shared inland and coastal waters and habitats
• Leading and overseeing the implementation of plans to achieve goals and objectives
• Balancing competing priorities to efficiently use available resources to meet goals and objectives
• Building and providing the training necessary in the Division to develop and expand staff capacity at all levels, with a focus on succession planning and integrating diversity, equity and inclusion principles across program activities
• Coordinating with partners as appropriate, including local governments, other state agencies, the federal government (including US EPA and NOAA), non-governmental organizations, and other constituent groups
• Representing Connecticut on the local, state, regional and national level in various forums with colleagues and stakeholders from other states, the federal government
• Directs staff and operations of a scientific, regulatory and/or technical division
• Coordinates, plans and manages division activities
• Formulates and ensures implementation of program goals, objectives, new procedures and procedural revisions
• Develops, implements and evaluates division policies, goals and objectives
• Administers state and federal laws and statutes and regulations pertaining to division
• Designs and implements performance review standards for division staff
• Prepares or assists in preparation of division budget
• Maintains contacts and liaison with public and private individuals and organizations and other agency units with potential to impact program activities
• Recommends appropriate staffing levels
• Develops new laws and regulations related to division programs
• Serves as state liaison with federal programs
• Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection
• Performs related duties as required

Benefits

• Professional growth and development opportunities
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees
• The State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager