Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Assistant Environmental Engineer

Opening Date: May 8, 2023

Closing Date: May 22, 2023

Job Class Code: 6320
Grade: 04-22 (Pro/Tech)

Salary: $47,944.00 - $64,334.40/yr*

• Inclusive of an 11% stipend

Position Number: 02000-2269

Position Location: This is a full-time position located in Augusta. This opportunity allows partial telework with management approval.

The Maine CDC Drinking Water Program (DWP) is looking for a Rules Specialist/Environmental Engineer to join our Rules Group. The Drinking Water Program’s main focus is on public health. Our program regulates over 1900 public water systems to ensure the safety of Maine’s public drinking water supplies. The Rules section of the program is responsible for the oversight and interpretation of the federal drinking water rules and regulations.

This position will be responsible for reading, understanding and disseminating details on all rules and regulations related to drinking water. You will be responsible for making compliance determinations, based upon review of information/data provided by public water systems, to ensure they are meeting required water quality and operational performance standards. This engineering position, while working with all the federal and state drinking water rules, will have a strong focus on the Surface Water Treatment Rule and the technologies, treatment and best management practices that go along with the complexities of maintaining a surface water treatment system.

Core Responsibilities

As part of our drinking water program team, your core responsibilities will include:

• Making compliance determinations and issuing violations for public water systems
• Tracking total coliform positives and issuing required level assessments
• Assisting public water systems with staying in, and returning to, compliance
• Setting, evaluating, and modifying sample schedules to make sure water systems collect all necessary samples
• Providing rule assistance for the new well approval process, treatment reviews and other public water system issues
• Utilizing engineering skills to assist with managing Surface Water Treatment Rule requirements and to aid in appropriate treatment determinations for surface water systems
• Developing and providing training to help DWP staff as well as water systems and other entities understand rule requirements
• Providing rule expertise during the development of policies, rules and procedures related to drinking water

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A Bachelors Degree in Environmental, Civil, Sanitary, Mechanical, or Chemical Engineering, or related Engineering field. Related experience may be substituted for education.

LICENSING/REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: (These must be met by all employees prior to attaining permanent status in this class).

For non-engineering college graduates and non-degreed candidates: Certification of Engineer-in-Training as issued by the Maine State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers.

Preferred candidates will also have:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Knowledge and experience with public water systems
• Knowledge of and understanding of the Safe Drinking Water Act and Maine Rules Relating to Drinking Water
• An understanding of water chemistry and treatment processes, especially as it relates to surface water treatment, including but not limited to disinfection and filtration processes
• Knowledge of environmental sampling/monitoring/testing methods and practices
• Thorough knowledge of federal and State laws and rules/regulations related to the safe and reliable provision of public drinking water
• Knowledge and experience with EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Information System
• Ability to develop/implement training sessions related to drinking water data
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse group of internal and external partners
• Computer skills, including Microsoft Access

Agency information:

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers.

The mission for the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), within which this position is located, is to develop and deliver services to preserve, protect, and promote the health and well-being of the citizens of Maine.

For additional information about this position, please contact Amilyn Stillings , Rules Administrator, at (207) 287-6472 or Amilyn.Stillings@maine.gov

To apply, please upload a resume and cover letter with your application.

• In your cover letter, you must provide the following information:

1) explain what prior education and/or experience you have had doing the elements under “Job Description,” above; and

2) explain which, if any, of the attributes under “Preferred candidates will have” section, above.

Please submit all documents or files in a PDF or Word format.

To request a paper application, please contact Ashley.Smith@Maine.gov .

Benefits

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Balance – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($10,150.80-$11,942.16 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.

• Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.

• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($350.40 annual value).

• Retirement Plan – The State of Maine contributes 13.16% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
• Gym Membership Reimbursement – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts – Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness – The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office.
• Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.

• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive four weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation – Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.
• Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Thinking about applying?

Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart.