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Ecological Restoration Engineer

Deadline:
Employer:
Division of Ecological Restoration

Job Field:
Water and Soil Resources
GIS/Technology
Other
Job Type:
Full Time
Location:
Massachusetts
Location Detail:
Boston, Massachusetts
Job Description:

DER seeks an experienced professional to join our team as an Ecological Restoration Engineer within the Technical Services Branch. The Technical Service Branch provides restoration planning, engineering assistance, knowledge management, and other services in support of DER’s restoration programs, operations, and communications.

 

The Ecological Restoration Engineer (Restoration Engineer) works across restoration programs to build and support the Division’s restoration engineering and project management approaches. The Restoration Engineer works closely with Restoration Section staff to support and enhance the quality, efficiency, and technical rigor of DER’s restoration work. The position requires significant leadership, sound professional judgment, and a high level of professional expertise with ecological restoration, engineering in riverine and wetland settings, and the discipline of project management. They will develop and launch DER’s Project Engineering and Management strategy, implement technical QA/QC processes, and provide engineering technical assistance to DER staff, partners, and projects. The position will support project engineering and management capabilities for a diverse range of restoration activities, including wetland restoration, river and stream continuity, dam removal, retired cranberry bog restoration, and regional restoration partnerships. The outcomes of this work will build DER and partner capacity to reduce project risks, improve project management practices, and increase the pace, scale, and impact of restoration throughout Massachusetts.

 

The Ecological Restoration Engineer will be based in DER’s Boston office; the position will follow a hybrid schedule, consisting of in-office and telework. In-state travel to meetings and site visits is required.

 

 

DETAILED STATEMENT OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 

These duties will be carried out in close collaboration with DER’s Habitat Restoration and Capacity Building branches and other Division staff.

 

· Develop and Implement DER’s Restoration Engineering Approach (40%)

 

o Assess DER’s current approach to restoration engineering, including dam removal, culvert upgrade, coastal wetland restoration, and other restoration project types.

 

o Develop and implement a comprehensive restoration engineering approach that includes ecological restoration engineering best practices, policies, procedures, and standards.

 

o Ensure projects use best engineering practices, incorporate climate change appropriately into design work, and utilize DER’s internal knowledge base of proven methods and lessons learned.

 

o Develop and implement the Division’s approach for technical QA/QC review of restoration engineering and design products. Determine appropriate QA/QC measures to mitigate risks and ensure successful outcomes from project selection through post-construction monitoring and adaptive management.

 

o Serve as a restoration engineering advisor on select restoration projects with complex engineering, hydrologic, and other needs.

 

o Regularly review and update DER’s restoration engineering strategy and services to respond to changing needs.

 

 

 

· Develop restoration engineering and project management tools, trainings, and other resources (30%)

 

o Develop restoration engineering tools and resources including manuals, templates, punch lists, training materials, presentations, scopes of work, and standards and specifications.

 

o Fully document DER’s project management approach, principles, processes, and practices, and distill into comprehensive and standardized project management manuals, guidance, tools, and trainings.

 

o Develop and deliver training programs and workshops restoration engineering and project management best practices.

 

o Support the incorporation of project manager knowledge and other PEM resources into DER’s knowledge base.

 

o Help DER share restoration engineering and project management best practices with outside audiences.

 

 

 

· Serve as the Division’s expert in the science and practice of project management (20%)

 

o Maintain knowledge and expertise in the science and practice of project management.

 

o Identify project management best practices that would be useful for DER’s restoration work.

 

o Help Division staff integrate project management best practices into their work.

 

o Lead development of a project management manual and a knowledge base of related resources, including standards, best practices, and lessons learned.

 

o Provide ongoing project management training, learning, and other structures, services, and resources.

 

 

 

· Perform duties in support of DER operations (10%)

 

o Contribute to DER’s strategic and annual work planning processes.

 

o Collaborate with the Technical Services Branch Manager and staff to build the capacity of the Branch and support programmatic development and budget planning.

 

o Provide PEM information to support project, program, and division-wide reporting and communications needs, including budget planning, grant reporting, newsletters, website, and social media.

 

o Maintain accurate, organized data, files, and other information.

 

o Represent DER in public forums and present at professional conferences.

 

o Provide technical and organizational support to other DER staff and directors.

 

o Collaborate with other DER staff to enhance professional, project, program, branch, and Division development.

 

o Contribute to interagency coordination and policy activities.

 

o Represent the Division in public forums and present at professional conferences.

 

o Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Five or more years of professional experience in wetland, river and/or other aquatic ecosystem restoration, water resources engineering, wetland and river ecology, hydrology, and/or fluvial geomorphology.

Experience interpreting, reviewing, and commenting on hydrologic and hydraulic calculations and models, engineering plans and technical specifications, opinions of cost, and other aspects of aquatic habitat restoration projects.

Experience working on partner-driven aquatic ecosystem restoration projects with infrastructure components or constraints such as roads, bridges, dams, culverts, utilities, and buildings.

Infrastructure project management experience, including developing project plans, directing and coordinating project teams, preparing and managing budgets, developing public support, preparing scopes of work, and managing consultant contracts.

Knowledge of the field of project management and best practices; professional project management certifications are a plus.

Solid knowledge and work experience with environmental permitting at local, state, and federal levels.

Demonstrated excellent written and verbal communications skills, including ability to formulate and author written materials for a variety of audiences, and ability to prepare and present information through public speaking engagements.

Ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment on multiple tasks with varying deadlines. Ability to work independently and with self-initiative, and to exercise sound judgment and discretion.

Excellent all-around computer skills, including full competency with MS Office.

Excellent organizational and documentation skills.

Ability to travel statewide and to participate in occasional evening and weekend site visits and meetings.

 

 

 

Qualifications

 

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 civil engineering work in such areas as construction, survey, design, transportation, hydraulics, structural, sanitary, drafting, environmental, highway, architectural, airport, soils and materials 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 civil engineering** or civil engineering technology** may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required (A) experience.*

II. A Bachelor's degree with a major in civil engineering** or civil engineering technology**, may be substituted for a maximum of two years of the required (A) experience.*

III. A Graduate degree with a major in civil engineering**, may be substituted for a maximum of two years of the required (A) experience and one year of the required (B) experience.*

 

**NOTE: The terms civil engineering and civil engineering technology include related engineering disciplines, such as construction, survey, hydraulics, design, transportation, structural, soils, sanitary, environmental, drafting, highway,

architectural, mining, airport and materials.

Miscellaneous:

Please note that requisitions will remain open for 90 days; however, first consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days of the posting, by 2/12/2024

Salary:
75,604.36 - 110,675.24 Yearly

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 at mass.gov

How to Apply:

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