Overview

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) oversees clean air, land, and water. MassDEP’s Bureau of Water Resources seeks an experienced manager to serve as Director of the Drinking Water Program (DWP). The Boston DWP team of about 32 staff is responsible for ensuring Massachusetts public water systems provide safe drinking water that meets state and federal standards.

Responsibilities

• Regulate and oversee water quality, treatment, distribution, reporting, and compliance for Public Water Systems (PWSs).
• Lead programmatic efforts addressing key drinking water issues, including:
  • Lead and Copper Rule Revisions
  • Lead in Schools Expanded Assistance Program
  • Revised Total Coliform Rule
  • PFAS (Per‑and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances)
  • Cybersecurity
  • Source Approval and Protection
  • Distribution Protection
  • Consumer Confidence Reporting
  • Monitoring Waivers
  • Safe Drinking Water Act compliance database development and maintenance
  • Other current and emerging contaminants
• Manage a multidisciplinary team of 30 staff, including Section Chiefs, engineers, and analysts.
• Direct programs such as Source Water Approval and Protection, Capacity Development, Sanitary Survey Inspections, Water Quality Monitoring and Reporting, and Public Health Orders and Notices.
• Coordinate with MassDEP regional and Boston program staff to ensure consistent policy and regulatory implementation aligned with State Revolving Fund Program goals and priorities.
• Ensure DWP programs include training, technical assistance, and compliance support for PWSs.
• Oversee DWP’s budgeting, staffing, and program operations.
• Monitor and manage water supply projects, including grant tracking and reporting.
• Maintain and oversee the DWP Communication Hub to provide real‑time communication, regulatory updates, technical assistance, and funding information to water suppliers, consultants, regulated entities, and partners.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of drinking water, water quality, watershed management, wastewater, and environmental/public health, including relevant laws, regulations, and policies.
• Experience in program management, policy development, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Proven ability to lead and develop staff, manage teams, and oversee complex technical projects.
• Skilled in project management, process improvement, and change management.
• Proficiency in data collection, analysis, and interpretation to support decision‑making and policy development.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to present technical information clearly and effectively.
• Ability to build consensus, manage competing interests, mediate conflicts, and collaborate with state, federal, and stakeholder partners.
• Proficient with analytical and computer‑based tools to support program and project management.

Minimum Entry Requirements

• Applicants must have at least six (6) years of full‑time or, equivalently, part‑time professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, public management, or a related field.
• At least two (2) of those years must be in a supervisory or managerial capacity.
• Substitutions:
  • A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.
  • A bachelor’s degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience.
  • A graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required experience.
  • A doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required experience.

Equal Opportunity

An Equal Opportunity / Affiliated Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self‑select out of opportunities if they don’t meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.