Performs professional level planning activities within a wide range of assignments, typically under the supervision of senior staff, and will be responsible for general program and workgroup support functions; may serve as program/project manager for specific program(s)/project(s) carried out by COG or under the auspices of affiliated groups or agencies; does related work as required.
This position will perform work primarily in the following areas:
Lead’s COG’s Chesapeake Bay and Water Resources Policy Committee (CBPC)
Lead CBPC planning efforts including developing agendas, booking speakers meeting preparations, staff updates, presentation development, and meeting notes.
Lead Chesapeake Bay advocacy efforts including coordinating with elected officials, tracking initiatives in the Chesapeake Bay, tracking legislative and regulatory changes, and writing advocacy documents.
Support COG’s Regional Stormwater Assistance Efforts
Support COG staff with the regional stormwater work program, focusing on peer exchange workshops, tracking state regulatory developments new permitting requirements, and coordinating with other local government groups developing stormwater policies. Supports the Water Resources Technical Commitee (WRTC) through assisting with developing agendas, meeting notes, webinars and workshops. Help COG staff coordinate these efforts with COG’s broader initiatives focused on resilience to climate change.
Coordinates COG’s Water Quality Monitoring Analysis Efforts
Working with other staff, lead COG’s efforts to track and interpret regional water quality monitoring data for our members and carry-out COG’s new regional monitoring program focused on the freshwater salinization syndrome.
Support COG’s Chesapeake Bay Program Tracking and Coordination Efforts
Support COG staff to track Bay Program initiatives and analyze the various parts of the Bay Program’s modeling framework, particularly the watershed model, and its use in documenting nutrient and sediment reductions under the watershed implementation planning process.
This position performs planning, technical support, public information, coordination, and management activities required to accomplish the objectives of the project(s) or committee(s) to which assigned, typically with guidance and supervision from senior COG staff.
EXAMPLES OF WORK
- Lead committee activities including booking speakers, developing agendas, providing updates, coordinating with elected officials, developing meeting summaries, providing staff updates for committee activities.
- Coordinating with elected officials on the Chesapeake Bay
- Help COG staff develop presentations and potential policy on stormwater issues for the WRTC and CBPC.
- Work with COG staff to help coordinate MS4 permittees to work jointly on permitting issue.
- Assist COG staff in updating COG’s information on local government costs and revenues for meeting stormwater regulatory requirements.
- Work with COG staff to identify stormwater workshop topics and help conduct stormwater peer exchange workshops.
- Track and relay to COG staff development of the Bay Program’s modeling tools for use in setting policy for addressing new loads under the Bay TMDL, including Conowingo dynamic equilibrium, climate change and accounting for growth.
- Take lead tracking monitoring results from the USGS and other parties and scheduling presentations or workshops for the WRTC.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This position does not supervise other staff.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
The position requires demonstration of excellent research, writing and verbal communication skills, as well as good working knowledge of Microsoft Office products (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, etc.). Applicants are expected to have initiative, responsibility, accuracy, good professional judgment, people skills, and the ability to work in a team setting. The ability to effectively summarize technical material for non-technical audiences is also essential. Experience in policy development and coordination with elected officials is a plus.
Education and Experience
BA/BS or Master’s degree in water resources management/policy, hydrology, biology, aquatic ecology, natural science, plus one to three years relevant work experience, or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities requires to carry out the work described above.
Computer Knowledge and Skills
Applicants are expected to have good working knowledge of Microsoft Office products, particularly Teams, SharePoint, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Having a basic working knowledge of Arc GIS and related database applications, such as Microsoft Access is a plus.
Communication Skills
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to write talking points and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to management, public groups, elected officials, and/or boards of directors. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with researchers, public officials, and with a range of stakeholders and across organizations.
Research and Analysis Skills
Ability to analyze qualitative and quantitative data, and synthesize technical information for non-technical audiences. Ability to critically assess challenges and identify effective solutions. Ability to engage in multiple complex research projects simultaneously. Ability to distill, prepare, and communicate complex information for a variety of audiences across various platforms (publications, presentations, web-based media).
Reasoning Ability
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. A high level of self-motivation, self-direction, and intellectual curiosity.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
No requirements
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Work is typically performed in an office environment, but the employee may occasionally be exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
WORK LOCATION
The candidate will be required to report to work at the COG offices in Washington, D.C. This is not a fully remote work position. COG is currently conducting a pilot telework program that allows staff, upon approval of employee’s supervisor and departmental leadership to telework up to two days a week; it is subject to change.
Job Levels, Depends on Qualifications
Environmental Planner I - $62,652 - $87,713
Environmental Planner II - $66,422 - $96,512
Environmental Planner III - $73,728 - $107,128
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