Senior Permitting Services Specialist (Well & Septic Section), Grade 26

Montgomery County, MD Government

Department of Permitting Services

Wheaton, Maryland

$70,377 - $116,825

This position may be under-filled as a Permitting Services Specialist II, Grade 24.  Salary range:  $64,102 – $106,250

Or a Permitting Services Specialist I, Grade 21.  Salary range: $55,771 – $92,211　

The Department of Permitting Services is seeking an individual with an appropriate engineering or technical background to fill a Senior Permitting Services Specialist position in the Well and Septic Section as an Environmental Health Specialist or Environmental Health Specialist In-Training.　

The Well and Septic section is responsible for protecting residents and the environment through enforcement of State and County regulations and standards for private water supplies and onsite sewage disposal systems.  This is accomplished through the review process of various plans and field inspections to ensure code compliance for the proper installation of wells and septic systems. This section also processes all applications for well and septic permits/services and assists in matters relating to public health concerns such as water quality. This work directly affects the accomplishment of the program goal of protecting public health and the environment.　

Roles and Responsibilities　

The position will be responsible for plan review duties including complex reviews and analyses of subdivision plans, water well and on-site sewage disposal plans, and building permit applications for compliance with applicable engineering principles and practices and County and State codes, laws, and policies. The position will also be responsible for occasional, various inspection duties in an assigned area of the County, in response to certain requests for permit approvals, or both. The work requires the application of highly technical knowledge and skill to address problems and issues, which often do not fit standard protocols, standards, or expectations. Employees meet with engineers, developers, attorneys, surveyors, and other government agency staff to discuss and resolve engineering, compliance issues, and exemption requests relative to water well and on-site sewage disposal system installation and design requirements. Incumbents meet with clients on pre-design issues and resolve requests for exceptions from code requirements, helping clients to meet the intent, if not the letter, of the code where there are areas in the codes which are subject to interpretation. Fluctuating workloads, shifting priorities, and emotionally charged client interactions compound this complexity. This position requires the ability to attend meetings or perform work at locations outside the office. 　

Duties　

Examples of duties will include but not be limited to:

• Performs engineering/scientific calculations/analyses, reviews engineering plans for compliance with applicable well and onsite sewage disposal system principles and practices and applicable codes, laws, and policies. This work may involve overseeing as well as performing investigatory or corrective field investigations or inspections.

• Maintains daily contact with real estate professionals, home buyers and sellers seeking consultation on well and septic matters concerning homes being sold.

• Meetings with architects, engineers, developers, attorneys, contractors and property owners as a subject matter expert to discuss and/or resolve code compliance issues for proposed building projects.

• Prepares or leads the preparation of analyses, reports, and correspondence on highly technical engineering issues relating to wells and septic systems and explaining departmental positions on a variety of issues.

• Inspects construction of new or existing water wells or septic systems to determine compliance with County and State codes and regulations and to ensure protection of the groundwater resource.

• Conducts percolation tests and water table observations, examining plans in the field to confirm the accuracy of the plans provided and the proper location of test holes.

• Assists with the response to homes with failing septic systems and other public health nuisances or hazards.

• Inspects scavenger vehicles annually and as necessary to ensure safe disposal of sewage.

• Communicates effectively both orally and in writing and applies effective computer skills.

• Works effectively as a team member to establish and maintain effective working relationships among staff, community representatives, and representatives from other jurisdictions. 

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate engineering or technical field.

Experience: Five (5) years of professional experience in an engineering/technical field appropriate to well and on-site sewage disposal systems.

Substitution: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.　There will be no substitutions for licensure requirement.

If under-filled at the Permitting Services Specialist II, Grade 24:

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate engineering or technical field.

Experience: Three (3) years of professional experience in an engineering/technical field appropriate to well and on-site sewage disposal systems.

Substitution: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.  There will be no substitutions for licensure requirement.

If under-filled at the Permitting Services Specialist I, Grade 21:

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate engineering or technical field.

Experience: One (1) year of professional experience in an engineering/technical field appropriate to well and on-site sewage disposal systems.

Substitution: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.  There will be no substitutions for licensure requirement.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements: There will be no substitutions for this section.　

Positions in this classification assigned to Department of Permitting Services (Well & Septic): Must possess and maintain a registered Environmental Health Specialist License issued by the Maryland State Board of Environmental Health Specialists, and in conjunction with the State law. Incumbent must maintain a current registration, which may include continuing education requirements.　

If under-filled at the Permitting Services Specialist, Grade 24 or Grade 21:

Positions in this classification assigned to the Department of Permitting Services (Well & Septic): Must possess and maintain a registered Environmental Health Specialist License, Health Specialist　In-Training Certificate, or Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Maryland State Board of Environmental Health Specialists, and in conjunction with the State law. Incumbent must maintain a current registration, which may include continuing education requirements.

Montgomery County Government offers competitive salaries and excellent benefits.

To view the complete job announcement and to apply,

please visit our website at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HR/Recruitment/MCGCareers.html 

click on the “Search Jobs" tab, and then on the Job Search link

https://tinyurl.com/MCGJobSearch 

Read the full job description under the “General Professional”  Job Category.

Interested candidates must create an online account in order to apply.

The requisition number is IRC50102 

This Recruitment will remain open until position is filled

All resume submissions must address the preferred criteria for the position,

which are listed in the full advertisement, preferably in a separate section of the resume.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Resume Preparation Tips

listed under the “How to Apply” tab on the Office of Human Resource’s MCG Careers webpage.

EOE. M/F/H.