The Public Water Supply Bureau is responsible for protecting the health of all people within the state that receive drinking water from a public water supply system. We do this by applying the requirements of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and applicable Montana laws and rules. This Senior Drinking Water Scientist position is responsible for developing a process/program to implement the new federal PFAS drinking water rule, to manage Emergent Contaminant grants, and will become the bureau's PFAS expert. This senior position will work with the PFAS rule writing team to draft, adopt, and implement the new PFAS rule, develop and deliver educational materials and presentations for PFAS and for the emerging grant program, and communicate with other programs within the division. This position is responsible for presenting PFAS and Emergent Contaminant information to a wide range of audiences that may include various legislative committees, town councils, the media, mayors, boards, professional organizations, and etc. upon request. The Senior Drinking Water Scientist will work with public water supply systems to determine contaminated sources through sampling events, assist systems in determining appropriate methods for addressing that contamination, and will manage the grant funds. Duties associated with managing the grant will include reviewing proposed projects to ensure qualification for funding, and ranking applications to determine funding options.
At the Department of Environmental Quality, our ultimate goal is to champion a healthy environment for a thriving Montana. DEQ employees are the heart of our organization. We value people and invest in their professional growth, promoting a culture of cross-agency collaboration as we find solutions to the environmental challenges we face. DEQ values - leadership, accountability, customer service, efficiency, excellence, and decision making - are fundamental to our work. Come be a part of the Department of Environmental Quality!
The position includes a career ladder for professional development and pay progression.
Bachelor's degree in business administration, physical science field, an emphasis in chemistry may be beneficial. or a related fieldThree years of directly related work experience.Preferred Experience:A basic understanding of fiscal management.Self-motivated and able to work within a team.Ability to create and present educational materials, both in written and verbal forms.Other combinations of education or experience may be substituted.Current valid Driver's License and clean driving record in accordance with State of Montana Vehicle Use Policy
Alternative combinations of education and experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
In your cover letter, describe how your education, knowledge, and skills have prepared you for this position.
Applications, including supplemental materials such as cover letter or resume, must be submitted through the State of Montana Careers site (https://statecareers.mt.gov/) by the closing date of the announcement.