Water Quality Program Specialist

Madison, City of•Madison, WI

About The Position

The City of Madison Water Utility is hiring a Program Specialist in its Water Resources section. The position conducts program coordination, project collaboration, and specialized work involving customer water quality concerns, the Private Well Program, and the Wellhead Protection Program. It also supports water quality monitoring and cross connection control. Strong customer service and clear communication are important for helping customers understand and resolve water quality issues and for explaining program requirements. With limited supervision from the program supervisor and section manager, the position exercises judgment and discretion in interpreting policies and developing procedures. The payroll title is Engineering Aide 1. The position responds to water quality questions and complaints, maintains customer correspondence and program records, prepares reports, and updates water quality and program information on the Utility website. It coordinates private well permitting and abandonment activities, including applications, inspections, sampling, compliance notices, reimbursement applications, and surveys of unabandoned wells. It also assists with wellhead protection reviews, contaminant-source inventories, database and map updates, public education, and outreach to municipalities, officials, residents, property owners, schools, and the general public. Employees may be eligible for loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. The City encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds and values lived experience, non-traditional education pathways, and transferable skills.

Requirements

Three years of technical or administrative experience in water or natural resources management, utility operations, regulatory compliance, or a similar area, with an emphasis on customer service; OR two years of technical office and/or field work supporting engineering activities, with an emphasis on customer service.
Vocational school or college training in civil engineering technology, environmental studies, geography, geology, or a closely related area may substitute for experience on a year-for-year basis; alternatively, a bachelor's degree in engineering, water resources, or a related field may substitute for the experience requirement.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with multicultural communities.
Possession of a valid driver's license.
Ability to work at a desk and computer for extended periods while entering data and producing reports or planning documents.
Ability to lift and carry objects weighing up to 20 pounds periodically.

Responsibilities

Respond to customer complaints and questions about water quality, coordinating with other areas of the Water Utility when action or information is needed.
Maintain records of customer correspondence, prepare periodic reports, and maintain and update water quality information on the Utility website.
Review and update website pages for private well permitting and abandonment, wellhead protection, and cross connection control.
Provide technical and administrative support for water sampling and compliance monitoring and cross connection control programs.
Update and maintain the electronic database of residential cross connection control surveys.
Receive and process well operation permit applications and coordinate well inspections, sampling, and abandonments with inspectors.
Prepare reports on well permitting and abandonment activities and determine the applicability of private well permitting and water service connection requirements.
Receive and evaluate requests for delayed connections, prepare compliance notices, and communicate program objectives to well owners and contractors.
Process reimbursement applications for private well abandonment and connection to municipal water, and coordinate surveys for unabandoned private wells where applicable.
Maintain records of private well program correspondence and compliance.
Assist with reviews of proposed land uses or changes in use for parcels in Wellhead Protection Zones or Districts.
Gather information from project representatives and property owners and maintain records of correspondence, development plans, and active reviews.
Assist with updates to contaminated-source inventories for municipal wells using government records, electronic databases, reconnaissance surveys, and personal accounts.
Develop and maintain an electronic database documenting contaminant-source inventory results and coordinate updates to wellhead protection maps and tables.
Assist in developing and implementing public education and awareness activities for wellhead protection.
Provide wellhead protection plans to neighboring municipalities; prepare and distribute informational brochures; attend neighborhood and public meetings and lead discussions.
Perform other job-related assignments as assigned.