SRF Administration & Compliance Lead

State of Iowa•Des Moines - 50313 - Polk County, IA

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking an Environmental Specialist Senior to serve as a Leadworker within our State Revolving Fund (SRF) program team. This position offers an exciting opportunity to combine environmental expertise, leadworker guidance, strategic support, community engagement, and program administration to strengthen Iowa's Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund programs. As an SRF Leadworker, you will direct the daily work of technical staff, serve as the primary technical point of contact for SRF statutory and regulatory requirements, and work alongside local communities, state and federal agency partners (including the EPA), and environmental leaders to ensure critical water quality and infrastructure projects move seamlessly from planning through completion. If you enjoy mentoring team members, managing complex data tracking systems, shaping policy recommendations, solving technical challenges, and seeing water quality projects benefit Iowa communities, this could be the opportunity for you.

Requirements

Minimum of 6 months’ experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both in the area of managing state or federal governmental regulations and implementing accountability provisions.
6 months’ experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both in one or in a combination of the following areas: accounting, auditing, budgeting, economics, or finance.
OR 6 months’ professional level experience as one of a team or as the sole organizational resource managing the grant program, which includes all of the following: writing grant applications/proposals, managing grant funds, providing technical assistance to sub-grantees, monitoring grants, and grant performance reporting. Experience must have been a major or dominant function of the job. May also include experience reviewing, approving/awarding, and monitoring others' grant proposals, but this alone does not qualify.
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in a Natural Science and three years of full time professional scientific experience in an environmental program in the areas of water supply, waste water, animal feeding operations, hazardous substances, radiation, sewage treatment, solid waste, geology, history, archeology, flood plain, air pollution, dam safety, or underground storage tanks; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience substituting one year of the required full-time professional work for each 30 semester hours of the required education; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting thirty semester hours of accredited graduate level coursework in a Natural Science, history, or archeology for each year of the required experience to a maximum substitution of two years; OR employees with current continuous experience in the State of Iowa Executive Branch that includes twenty-four months of full-time work as an Environmental Specialist or Environmental Engineer.

Nice To Haves

Passionate about Iowa’s natural resources and committed to protecting water quality and water infrastructure statewide.
Experienced leadworker and technical mentor capable of guiding staff, coordinating operational workflows, and resolving complex project tracking issues.
Knowledgeable in State Revolving Fund programs, with familiarity regarding Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF regulations, statutory guidelines, Intended Use Plans, and EPA requirements.
Effective communicator and policy analyst skilled at drafting administrative rules, policy white papers, executive dashboards, and program reporting packages.
Detailed data manager focused on maintaining database integrity, tracking performance metrics, and preparing accurate state and federal database submissions.
Organized and self-directed, with the ability to lead SOP development, manage multi-project tracking, administer contracts, and meet firm program deadlines.
Collaborative relationship builder comfortable interacting with state and federal agency partners, local watershed leaders, private-sector partners, and the regulated public.
Comfortable embracing technology to maximize efficiency, including database tracking systems, virtual collaboration tools, project management software, and executive dashboard tools.

Responsibilities

Direct the daily work of two or more employees, serving as the primary technical point of contact regarding State Revolving Fund statutory, regulatory, and procedural requirements.
Resolve complex project-level tracking issues, deliver programmatic training, and compile documentation for Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF programs.
Coordinate operational workflows, lead Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) updates, and maintain multi-project tracking for the Intended Use Plan (IUP) and Project Priority List (PPL).
Manage SRF program database integrity, track critical performance metrics, and prepare comprehensive reporting packages including the Annual Program Report, EPA database submissions, and executive dashboards.
Assist with the preparation and evaluation of project contracts, Intended Use Plans, vendor claims, invoices, and annual reports to facilitate efficient program administration and data-driven recommendations for leadership.
Research emerging federal and state regulations, draft proposed administrative rules, policy white papers, and program operating plans to guide SRF strategy.
Develop and deliver programmatic training and guidance for staff, regional partners, local watershed leaders, and environmental stakeholders on SRF requirements and field protocols.
Represent the Iowa DNR at local, regional, and statewide meetings, fostering effective working relationships with state and federal partners (such as the EPA), agricultural and environmental interests, and private-sector partners.
Traverse open and/or cultivated fields, rolling terrain, riparian zones, and stream beds as needed during site evaluations.
Train and advise staff and regional partners on field assessment protocols, SOPs, and effective watershed and SRF planning processes.

Benefits

Insurance benefits that start the first of the month following 30 days of employment.
Separate vacation and sick leave accruals that start on the first day and can roll over annually.
Nine paid holidays/year.
Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) retirement package with employer match.
Optional deferred compensation (457/401A) plan with employer match.
Professional training opportunities.
Family friendly and professional work environment.
Employee Discount Programs (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling)
Flexible work schedules (as approved by the supervisor).
Opportunities for hybrid telework (as approved by the supervisor).