Wetlands Program Chief

Who We Are:

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) seeks to protect, preserve, and enhance Massachusetts’ environmental resources and create a clean energy future for all residents. Through the stewardship of open spaces, the protection of environmental resources, and the advancement of clean energy, EEA works tirelessly to make Massachusetts a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family.   Our commitment to environmental justice ensures that every resident, regardless of background or location, can live in a safe, clean environment and shares equally in the benefits of the clean energy transition.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is the state agency responsible for ensuring clean air, land, and water. Our work impacts every aspect of people's lives and is critical to the health and wellbeing of our residents and visitors. MassDEP is the lead agency for safe management of toxic and hazardous materials, promotion of waste reduction and recycling, preservation of the state's wetlands and coastal resources, air quality monitoring and pollution reduction, and so much more.

Who We Are as an Employer:

At EEA, we create meaningful, inclusive opportunities that empower our employees to make a real difference in shaping the environmental future of Massachusetts. We foster a workplace culture where diversity is valued, innovation is encouraged, and collaboration thrives. Our employees play a vital role in advancing sustainability, environmental justice, and clean energy solutions, ensuring a positive and lasting impact on Massachusetts and its residents.

Description:

At EEA, we create meaningful, inclusive opportunities that empower our employees to make a real difference in shaping the environmental future of Massachusetts. We foster a workplace culture where diversity is valued, innovation is encouraged, and collaboration thrives. Our employees play a vital role in advancing sustainability, environmental justice, and clean energy solutions, ensuring a positive and lasting impact on Massachusetts and its residents.

 MassDEP’s Bureau of Water Resources is seeking an experienced manager and environmental professional to serve as the Boston Wetlands Section Chief. The Wetlands Section Chief directs all aspects of the Boston-based Wetlands Program in implementing MassDEP’s regulatory authority under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act Regulations (310 CMR 10.00) and 401 Water Quality Certification for Dredge and Fill (314 CMR 9.00), ensuring regulatory timelines and reporting requirements are met for permitting, variances, compliance, and enforcement activities.

Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Directs all aspects of the Boston-based Wetlands Program, implementing MassDEP’s regulatory authority under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (M.G.L. c. 131, § 40), Wetlands Protection Act Regulations (310 CMR 10.00), and 401 Water Quality Certification regulations (314 CMR 9.00), ensuring regulatory timelines and reporting requirements are met for permitting, variances, compliance, and enforcement.
• Supervises 18 Wetlands Program and 401 Water Quality Certification staff across permitting, technical, and outreach functions, providing program leadership and coordinating with regional staff to ensure consistent statewide operations.
• Oversees permitting timelines, tracks program performance, identifies and resolves potential issues, and reviews wetlands variance decisions, 401 Water Quality Certifications, and other superseding approvals for issuance.
• Manages regulatory reform and process improvements, including grant-funded initiatives such as permit streamlining and statewide hydraulic modeling, and tracks proposed legislation and regulations affecting the program.
• Leads the development and revision of wetlands-related policies, regulations, technical guidance, and procedures, coordinating internal reviews and approvals with MassDEP leadership, the Office of General Counsel, the Commissioner’s Office, and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
• Coordinates public hearings, stakeholder comments, final regulatory revisions, and outreach and training to communicate proposed and newly promulgated regulations.
• Oversees compliance and enforcement activities, consults on post-construction matters, and coordinates Wetlands and 401 Water Quality Certification activities with Chapter 91 Waterways and other DEP programs.
• Coordinates responses to emerging issues and new initiatives, supports restoration projects, provides pre-application guidance, and represents the program on restoration work groups in collaboration with MEPA, the Department of Fish and Game, and other agencies.
• Coordinates with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on regulatory and policy matters, including water quality certifications, federal wetlands regulations, and guidance on wetlands delineation, functional assessment, and mitigation.
• Develops applications for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Wetland Program Development Grants, administers grants for wetland protection and restoration, and coordinates grant application reviews with other agencies.
• Provides technical outreach, training, presentations, and program updates to internal and external stakeholders, including local governments, conservation professionals, development organizations, watershed groups, and nonprofit organizations.
• Represents MassDEP and the Wetlands Program at interagency meetings, stakeholder forums, and professional events, including the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions annual meeting, while coordinating communications with internal leadership and external partners.
   

Preferred Qualifications:

• A minimum of 10 years of permitting, compliance and enforcement of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (MGL C. 131, sec 40), and the Federal and Massachusetts Clean Waters Act.

• Advanced wetland identification using vegetation, hydrology and hydric soils within the various eco-regions of Massachusetts OR Advanced knowledge of hydrology and hydraulic modeling desirable.

• Development of state wetland policy and regulation desirable.

• Advanced understanding of coastal processes and identification of Coastal Resource areas that are jurisdictional under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and the Federal and Massachusetts Clean Waters Act.

• Advanced understanding of inland wetland processes and identification of inland Resource Areas that are jurisdictional under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and the Federal and Massachusetts Clean Waters Act.

• Knowledge of and experience with the Massachusetts GIS maps and layers related to wetlands and waters.

• Excellent skills in public presentation development and addressing audiences.