Description
Section Chief, Stormwater Inspection & Maintenance Program (Manager III, Grade M3)
Montgomery County Government Department of Environmental Protection
2425 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, Maryland 20902
Salary Range: $101,474 to $ $179,619
WHO WE ARE
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is a nationally recognized and award-winning agency with the mission to en-hance the quality of life in our community by protecting and improving Montgomery County’s air, water, and land in a sustainable, innovative, inclusive, and industry-leading way while fostering smart growth, a thriving more sustainable economy and healthy communities. DEP is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and values diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and cultures. DEP encourages BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), immigrants, women, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabili-ties and veterans to apply.
The Stormwater Management BMP Inspection and Maintenance (SWIM) Section, part of the Watershed Restoration Division, ensures that more than 27,000 stormwater management facilities and County stream restoration projects are properly inspected, maintained, and compliant with State law, County Code, and the County’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit. We coordinate across agencies, municipalities, and the business community to solve complex engineering, regulatory, and compli-ance challenges.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
The Department of Environmental Protection seeks an experienced leader and technical program manager to serve as Section Chief, Manager III, for the SWIM Section. The ideal candidate brings deep stormwater management expertise, strong program administra-tion skills, and demonstrated success managing large operation and maintenance programs
The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience, knowledge, skills and abilities in the following areas:
- Stormwater management principles, practices, requirements and systems
- Developing, implementing, managing, and evaluating stormwater programs
- Stormwater management BMPs inspection, operation, and maintenance -- including environmental site design (ESD) and low im-pact development (LID)
- Stream restoration inspection and maintenance
- Asset management, databases, and GIS platforms
- Procurement and contract administration, budget development and financial oversight, and human resources management
- Strategic planning and program evaluation
- Coordinating operations across multiple organizational units.
- Managing large-scale projects and mission critical assignments
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Exercising sound judgment and making consequential decisions
- Applying racial equity and social justice principles in program design, community engagement, and evaluation
- Supervising professional, administrative, and field staff
WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING
As Section Chief, you will be the strategic leader driving Montgomery County’s stormwater inspection and maintenance programs. You’ll set the vision, establish priorities, and ensure the County meets its legal, environmental, and MS4 obligations with excellence. You’ll lead complex countywide operations—directing triennial inspections, overseeing major maintenance and engineering contracts, and guiding compliance efforts for privately owned stormwater systems. You’ll make high-impact decisions that shape program direction, resource allocation, and long-term infrastructure performance.
You’ll also be the chief integrator and problem-solver: coordinating across agencies, advising senior leadership, and using data and asset-management tools to strengthen program accountability, transparency, and results. Most importantly, you’ll lead and inspire a multidisciplinary team—cultivating collaboration, developing staff talent, and building a workplace that delivers strong environmental outcomes for every community in the county.
Key duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:
- Leading the County’s stormwater and ESD maintenance programs.
Guide the maintenance of Montgomery County’s growing stormwater BMP infrastructure. You’ll set priorities based on triennial inspections, manage multiple high-value maintenance contracts, ensure contractors deliver quality work, and drive performance through modern asset-management systems. Your leadership will directly contribute to cleaner waterways and stronger climate resilience across the County.
- Driving the triennial inspection program for stormwater BMPs.
Oversee one of the County’s largest environmental compliance efforts. You will ensure all BMPs meet inspection requirements, manage complex engineering and technical contracts (including high-hazard dam inspections), maintain rigorous standards for safety, quality, and on-schedule delivery, and ensure accurate reporting for MS4 compliance.
- Leading compliance and enforcement for privately owned stormwater BMPs.
Protect the integrity of the County’s stormwater BMP network by steering a fair, effective compliance and enforcement program. You’ll oversee notices of violation, citations, and court actions when needed, and refine processes using data to improve efficiency and equity—while supporting responsible property stewardship.
- Expanding and managing the single-family residential ESD inspection program.
Shape a growing program that engages residents directly in stormwater stewardship. You’ll coordinate inspections with homeown-ers, lead community outreach and education--strengthening public understanding and participation.
- Overseeing the County’s stream restoration inspection and maintenance program.
Ensure the long-term performance of the County’s restored streams by directing a rigorous inspection cycle, prioritizing mainte-nance needs, and ensuring contractors meet all environmental and engineering expectations.
- Providing executive-level leadership in budgeting, procurement, and policy.
Guide the strategic use of approximately $11 million across three operating budgets. You’ll lead procurement efforts—RFPs, IFBs, engineering task orders, negotiations—while shaping policy, programs, and interagency agreements that advance the County’s environmental goals.
- Building and inspiring the SWIM team.
Lead a talented group of professional and technical staff. You’ll set clear directions, coach and develop employees, coordinate work programs, recruit new team members, and cultivate a collaborative, supportive, high-impact workplace where people are motivated to excel.
Additional Information
This position requires possession of a valid driver’s license and the ability to drive a County vehicle to attend meetings, visit sites for field investigations, meet with residents, attend meetings with state officials, and perform other work at locations throughout Mont-gomery County.
Occasional evening or weekend work outside of normal business hours may be required.
As a manager/supervisor of unionized employees, this position has a responsibility for fostering a positive labor relations environment based on mutual trust, respect, and cooperation.
To ensure a positive workplace and to comply with federal, state and County laws, the incumbent is responsible for completing man-datory trainings within the first three to six months or within the specified timeframe.
Why Join Us? Montgomery County is committed to sustainability, innovation, and improving the quality of life for its residents. As a Section Chief in the Watershed Restoration Division, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on water quality and environmental protection efforts at a local, regional, and even state level. The position offers a dynamic work environment, a support-ive team, and opportunities for professional growth.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Experience: Five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in the management of programs related to storm-water management, environmental engineering, environmental science, or water resources planning. Supervisory experience is required.
Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree.
Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
License: Possession and maintenance at all times of a valid Class “C” (or equivalent) driver’s license from the applicant’s state of residence.
Medical Exam: Medical History Review – This position requires completion of a pre-employment Medical History Form to assess the candidate’s ability to safely perform the essential duties of the role.
Financial Disclosure Statement: The selected candidate will be required to complete and submit a Financial Disclosure Statement upon hire and annually thereafter. All statements are publicly available.
PREFERRED CRITERIA, INTERVIEW PREFERENCES
All Applicants will be reviewed by the Office of Human Resources (OHR) for minimum qualifications. Those applicants who meet mini-mum qualifications will be rated “Qualified,” placed on the Eligible List, and may be considered for an interview
Preference for interviews will be given to applicants with experience in the following.
- Extensive experience and technical knowledge in the inspection, maintenance, and operation of stormwater management facilities and best management practices (BMPs), including environmental site design (ESD), low impact development (LID), green infra-structure, and stream restoration projects.
- Proven experience in managing complex technical programs with a focus on optimizing system performance, ensuring regulatory compliance, and improving operational efficiency, including leading multidisciplinary teams and contractors, coordinating preventive and corrective maintenance activities, and implementing data-driven strategies to enhance asset reliability and program outcomes.
- Strong background managing a diverse workforce, supervising professional staff, and overseeing key human resources functions including coordinating work programs, developing performance plans, conducting evaluations, and leading recruitment and hiring processes to build high-performing teams aligned with organizational goals.
- Demonstrated experience in administering technical programs, including the development and management of budgets, oversight of procurement processes, and leadership in contract development and administration.
- Extensive experience delivering clear and effective oral communications, including presentations and public speaking engagements with diverse audiences such as homeowners’ associations, property managers, and organizational leadership as well as skilled in preparing a wide range of written materials, including technical reports, memos, letters, and proposals to convey complex informa-tion in an accessible manner.
- Proven experience in designing and implementing environmental programs that integrate principles of racial equity and social jus-tice to promote inclusive and sustainable outcomes.
- Proven experience in developing strategic plans and establishing program evaluation criteria to guide and assess the performance of complex technical programs, aligning program goals with organizational priorities and using data-driven methodologies to mea-sure effectiveness and inform continuous improvement.
If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and
abilities indicated on your resume.
To view the complete job announcement, review our comprehensive benefits and to apply, please visit here .
The Job Number for the Manager III (SWIM Section Chief) recruitment is 2026-00425.
Interested candidates must create an online account in order to apply.
This Recruitment Closes August 12, 2026.
If interested in other DEP job opportunities,
please filter by “Department” and click on Department of Environmental Protection.
All resume submissions must address the preferred criteria for the position, preferably in a separate section of the resume.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Resume Preparation Tips listed under the “Career Resources” tab at https://www.Work4MCG.com.
EOE M/F/H
