Municipal Wastewater PFAS Coordinator Job ID 71339

Job Summary

This position will play a vital role in coordinating the municipal wastewater program’s efforts to understand, characterize, mitigate, and manage the human health and environmental risks from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater treatment systems. This position exists to perform administrative and coordinative duties under the day-to-day direction of the Technical Services Unit supervisor.

The role of the Wastewater PFAS coordinator is to promote and ensure integrated management of PFAS activities within the Wastewater Section, to serve as a communicator and conduit for information between other Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) programs and external parties on issues related to PFAS, and to track and understand PFAS wastewater and biosolids issues on a national level. The person in this role will serve as the wastewater representative on the PFAS staff lateral team and, as such, have a role in integrating the agency’s response to PFAS issues and raising and making recommendations to Wastewater Section leadership. The PFAS Coordinator will also be primary contact/liaison for wastewater sector contacts and communication. The person in this position will lead coordination and implementation of any initiatives undertaken by the section, including additional phases of monitoring and source reduction efforts. 

The roles of this position are both organizational and technical in nature; providing information as an agency expert to the sector and in public forums; establishing goals and objectives; coordinating with consultants, project leaders and other staff at all levels as they relate to implementation of the action plans; monitoring and coordinating the activities of partners and stakeholders and evaluating policies and procedures for program administration; monitoring and evaluation of federal and other state’s approaches.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree in an environmental protection or related science and two years of advanced environmental professional-level experience that includes working with Wastewater, Per – and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) in wastewater treatment systems, stormwater, biosolids, septic systems, or environmental project management. (Advanced professional-level experience is equivalent to Senior Environmental Specialist/Environmental Specialist 3 level work.)

OR

Four years of advanced environmental professional-level experience that includes working with Wastewater, Per – and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) in wastewater treatment systems, stormwater, biosolids, septic systems, or environmental project management. (Advanced professional-level experience is equivalent to Senior Environmental Specialist/Environmental Specialist 3 level work.)

Candidates must possess good communication skills to work with others who possess varying knowledge of Wastewater and build networks with the ability to organize projects, coordinate groups, establish goals and timetables and evaluate results.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in or ability to develop a strong working knowledge of PFAS chemicals, their uses in commerce, their movement in the environment, and their health and ecological effects.

A demonstrated understanding and strong working knowledge of the principles of major environmental regulatory programs impacting NPDES municipal wastewater permittees including, but not limited to, the pretreatment and biosolids programs.

Experience with NDPES/SDS wastewater permits, and state and federal water quality rules and environmental regulations.

Ability to understand and communicate basic principles of sound environmental science; demonstrate the ability to work with the specific interests involved in environmental issues and policies and big picture view of state, national and global environmental problems and solutions.

Effective human relations skills and knowledge of community-based social, political, and economic considerations sufficient to work with a variety stakeholders and staff, and lead and facilitate communication with members of governmental and non-governmental groups on complex and potentially controversial issues.

Ability to successfully prepare and deliver presentations and training.

Ability to identify and evaluate information/data and develop policy and program management recommendations and to conceptualize alternative solutions to complex issues.

Physical Requirements

Requires occasionally lifting and/or carrying such articles as file folders, ledgers, and small office equipment.

About Pollution Control Agency

Our mission is to protect and improve the environment and human health. We work with many partners (citizens, communities, and businesses, all levels of government, environmental groups and educators) to prevent pollution, conserve resources, and to help ensure polluting does not have disproportionate impact on any groups of people. We emphasize work-life balance with flex schedules, compressed schedules, and options to telework for some positions.